Inspect, replace and grease the piston gaskets: Odyssey Espresso Argos

Before you start

Tools

None listed

Supplies

Argos piston gasket set (a spare set ships with the machine), optional; Molykote or equivalent food-safe grease

Warnings

• An upside-down lowest gasket can leak through the shower screen once the boiler is hot. Source: Odyssey Espresso knowledge base: All Replaceable Gaskets and O-rings
• Too little grease or coffee debris left around the gaskets wears them out early. Source: Odyssey Espresso knowledge base: Leak - Shower Screen
• The wrong linkage hole leaves the piston too high or too low, letting boiler water into the group or blocking the inlet. Source: Odyssey Espresso knowledge base: Piston Linkage Assembly

Steps

1. Take the piston out of the grouphead.

   From the manual: “remove the piston from the grouphead and carefully inspect each gasket for damage”

2. Look over every piston gasket for tears or wear.

   From the manual: “One or more piston gaskets are torn or worn.”

3. If unsure, email photos of the piston to Odyssey support for an assessment. Optional

   From the manual: “send photos of your piston to [email protected]”

4. Swap any torn or worn gasket for one from the spare set. Only when: if a gasket is damaged

   From the manual: “Your Argos will come with a spare set of Piston Gaskets”

5. Fit the lowest gasket with its widest part pointing up.

   From the manual: “the widest part of the lowest gasket must face upward”

6. Grease the piston gaskets well with Molykote or an equivalent food-safe grease.

   From the manual: “Not using enough Molykote or equivalent food-safe grease on the piston gaskets”

7. Ease the piston back into the grouphead so no gasket snags on the grouphead’s sharp edge.

   From the manual: “Gasket tearing during piston installation if it catches on a sharp edge of the grouphead”

8. In Direct configuration, reattach the linkage with the Chicago screws through the lower hole. Only when: Direct configuration

   From the manual: “When in Direct Config you will want to attach the chicago screws to the lower hole.”

9. In Spring configuration, use the upper hole for the Chicago screws instead. Only when: Spring configuration

   From the manual: “When in Spring Config you will want to attach the chicago screws to the upper hole.”

Sources

• Odyssey Espresso knowledge base: Leak - Shower Screen Maker’s support page
• Odyssey Espresso knowledge base: All Replaceable Gaskets and O-rings Maker’s support page
• Odyssey Espresso knowledge base: Piston Linkage Assembly Maker’s support page

Researched on 2026-09-23.

Published: the sentence is on the maker’s own page or in the maker’s own document.

Applies to

• Odyssey Espresso Argos