Taking Things Apart and Fixing Them

At the start of the week, I noticed that the shower head on my coffee machine wasn't working properly. This was unfortunate for the wasted coffee from the already prepared coffee puck, but I then switched to a V60 filter for the week. Over the weekend, I diagnosed the issue and found that the solenoid valve was clogged. I'm still not sure why this happened, as there were no visible chalk deposits. After removing the boiler and taking the valve assembly apart, I unclogged the valve with a needle and changed the gaskets. The machine was up and running again for the next morning.

Sometimes, talking to non-engineering friends about taking things apart can evoke a sense of fear about breaking things. If, like me, you have been taking PCs apart since childhood, this is not really the case. However, it helps to follow some rules:

• Don't take things apart if you can't afford to break them (further). This is particularly the case when taking things apart for the first time, find something to practice on first. On the other hand, I definitely took expensive things apart when I knew what I was doing, as this was the only option.
• RTFM! Or, at the very least, check to see if anyone else has already done that. There will be a screw hidden somewhere.
• Take pictures of everything and label as much as possible. This includes separating screws, as some vendors like to use just slightly different screws. It saved me countless times.
• It's fine to work on dangerous things, but don't be stupid! Read the safety instructions, wear protective gear and ensure you have the right workspace. This means for example shutting off the electricity and double-checking with a multi-meter.
• Make sure you have the right tools, or know how to build them. For me, at least, the last time I broke something was because I didn't have the right tools and tried to do something quick and dirty.
• Parts can often take more force than you think. However, with plastic parts in particular, make sure you are putting them in the correct way.
• Lastly, ask people who might know more for help when you get stuck. Sometimes, a second pair of eyes is all it takes to solve the problem.

Yes, you will occasionally break things, but it's a good learning experience for next time you encounter something similar. Speaking of the coffee machine, some of its parts are definitely not original anymore because of that. Don't be afraid to repair and tinker your own things. It's fun!