Three-way valve
When the group gives no water
Water at the wand but none at the group, or nothing draining into the tray when you stop a shot, points to a blocked three-way valve (Clive Coffee). Scale is the usual cause, often loosened by descaling (owner report).
Check the screen first: the manual's own check for slow coffee is a clean filter and shower screen. Rancilio gives owners no method for this. Its manual says to unplug and let the machine cool before opening it, to use only original spare parts, and, for any problem it does not list, to contact its technical support. Treat it as technician work.
Clive Coffee's photo method is on the next two screens. A technician's video (Stefano, 2022, version not stated) agrees on the 3 mm key.
Take the valve apart
Clive Coffee's method, with the coil nut size from Stefano's video.
- Unplug, let the machine cool, and take out the tank and drip tray.
- Remove the two screws and the face plate below the group.
- Remove the black bottom cover and the three wires.
- Undo the nut and lift the coil off. Stefano uses a 14 mm spanner.
- Remove the armature tube. It is very tight at first; Stefano uses a bench vice.
- Remove the two 3 mm socket screws. Stefano notes Rancilio uses two where others use four.
Clean it and refit
Still Clive Coffee, with Stefano's checks.
- Clean the valve body and the housing.
- Clear the two ported holes, without damaging the O-rings.
- Check the seat, spring and plunger for wear or pitting (Stefano).
- Refit the body with its two screws, then the armature tube.
- Refit the coil, its nut and the three wires.
- Refit the cover and the face plate. Pull a shot and check water drains into the tray when you stop.