I love my Keurig B60 coffee maker but every once in a while it fails me. I am not the only one, Google is full of searches for "how do I fix my Keurig coffee maker". Most of the time I can slip in a coffee packet (K-Cup), push the button and get a perfect cup of coffee. However after a few months of stellar performance, it will sometimes sputter and die with only a few teaspoons of coffee in my cup :(There are several different symptoms and fixes with these things. Lets make sure you are fixing the right thing here.
Symptom 1: Coffee brews and pours into a mug, but makes less than expected. This gets progressively worse and can get down to a trickle.
Fix: This is most likely just water scaling from hard water. You should descale the machine first and if that does not fix it, try my fix below.
Symptom 2: Water will not draw from the tank to fill the maker.
Fix: This is again a scaling issue and the Machine should be descaled, but you will want to clean the water intake in the base of the machine with a vibrating or ultrasonic toothbrush first.
Symptom 3: Coffee was brewing normally, then suddenly stops. Water seems to draw from the tank then cycles out just as quickly but never pours any coffee.
Fix: This is most likely a clogged dispensing valve which is what I am fixing in the instructions below. This can happen from hard water build up but it is more often caused by coffee grounds getting lodged in the valve.
I have taken this little guy apart a few times to fix it and I thought I would share how in case you have one of these too. The B50 through B100 seem to have similar architecture so it should be similar for most of those models but this one is specifically a model B60.
What you will need:#1 Phillips screwdriver
#15 Torx driver
canned air
long tweezers
small cable tie
cable snips
Broken Keurig B60 Coffee Maker
Unplug it. There are heaters, pumps, sensors, etc here that are powered and could be potentially dangerous. Right under the top cover there are a few sensors and switches as well, so unplugging first is prudent. It is also important to remove any coffee packet that may be left in the machine and leave it out until the fixing and cleaning is done.
Remove the top access handle. Remove the two Torx screws at the handle pivot points. Before you lift the handle off, use it to open the top like you are going to load it. Now take the handle off.
Remove the lower cover. There are two black screws holding that in place. This just gives you room to get to the upper screw you need to remove next.
Looking up under the front of the top cover, there are two silver screw - remove them. Be careful with these as they are easy to drop and lose. It is a good idea to use long tweezers for taking these out and re-installing them as well.
You should now have 3 sets of screws - don't mix them up.
Push the hood back and lift - it should come off easily. If it gives you any resistance, you probably have it open too far, close the top slightly and push back, then lift.
At the front of the unit there is a hose that terminates into a valve that eventually injects hot water into the coffee packet. Carefully snip the cable clamp and remove the hose.
There are two silver screws holding this valve in place, remove them and the whole assembly will drop out.
Clean out the outlet side with caned air or high pressure water. Be careful, this is really sharp and is normally the part that pierces the top of the coffee packet so it can just as easily pierce your hand.
If this is the problem you will likely find bits of coffee or hard water deposits built up in here. after it is cleaned out you should be able to blow air through from the hose connected side easily.
Reassemble in the reverse direction. Attach valve, then hose and cable tie. Screw in the upper cover (may need tweezers for this), then the lower. Screw in the access handle.
Now plug it back in and run it without a coffee packet so that clean water flows through the system. You may want to also take this opportunity to descale your Keurig and if you have hard water like we do, use an electric toothbrush (the vibrating kind) to clean out the water intake.
You should now have a working coffee maker again.
25 comments:
Thanks for the hot tip Tom! You`re great!
From a fellow Calgarian.
I can't believe this post is almost a year old, lol. My B60 is about 18 months old and every once in awhile it stops brewing about halfway through, and gives me about half what it was asked for. I was afraid the motherboard was going in it, since it was only on occasion, and was starting to make backup plans that didn't include another Keurig, as much as I love the thing. I have descaled it, but not to the extent you outline. I will try cleaning it real good first per your instructions. I'm not afraid to open it up and tinker. ;-)
Thanks so much!
You are welcome. :-)
This article helped me out a lot. Thanks!
i didn`t take my b60 apart. just clean the outlet in the water resevoir and the bottom water inlet to the pump base with a toothbrush. just like new. that`s it!
I was ready to take my friend's B-60 apart like you suggested (she was going to put it out on the curb - it hadn't worked in over a year) until I read wk's comment about "just clean the water inlets/outlets." I did (electric toothbrush and some baking soda). Voila! Drinking a cup of Mountain Roast as I type! Perhaps I'll run a few cups with a vinegar solution through it (no coffee - LOL), then some clean water ... ??? THANKS!!!
I have a Keurig B31, but you are right, the architecture is pretty much the same as the directions for the B60 or B100. I can't thank you enough for having this wonderful information out there for frustrated consumers!! With your directions, it was only a matter of minutes and it was working like new. :-)
Great step by step description. Sadly, it did not work for me. I have experienced two problems. 1) it will not close properly unless I leave out the two screws that hold on the top cover--somehow taking it apart caused it to misalign. 2) when I try it (w/out the two screws so it will close) it makes heating noises, but then just stays on the "NOT READY" screen, which is a new development, post disassembly. Any ideas?
Thanks for the post! Having some extra Krups parts can really come in handy sometimes. I am just not the same person without my cup of coffee so know all the little tips and tricks I can to keep my coffee flowing is always welcome
Thanks. I didn't take it apart. Just cleaned the "needle" opening, turned it upside down and spanked, gave it,plenty of time to warm up....and the first cup was perfect. Don't know about the future, but this was better than fight the on/off wall plug.
Thank you, before taking it apart though it's worth trying a paper clip in the top where it pierces the top of the cup, that's where my clog was and saved me some time! Descaled after of course!
Thank you @Scott St.Amand I had tried cleaning the injection needle many times and this was a last resort. I agree though, it is definitely the first thing you should try. I am glad this post could help so many people.
Kendall, I had the same issue regarding the top not shutting appropriately unless I left out the screws. That being said, there are two black tabs towards the rear of the cover that need to be aligned with the insides of the compartment that it rests on or it won't shut correctly. You have to play with it a little, but once you align those tabs, you should be able to screw the top back on and have it shut correctly. Hope this helps!
I have a Keurig "Platinum". The first one I had eventually stopped working properly. It would only produce 1/2 a cup or less of coffee. It was still under warranty, so Keurig replaced it.
Now, my second Keurig draws in water at the same time as it is dispensing it, so it makes about 3 mugs worth per draw. I called Keurig, they said there is nothing they can do to help, but offered a new one to me, but since the warranty is expired on this, could only offer a discount.
I just tried this to see if it would help. I couldn't get the top off completely, but enough to stick my fingers in and "rattle" the hose.
So far it is working properly again.
Hoping it stays "fixed". Thanks for posting this!
Sean,
I still cannot get it to close with the screws in. I don't know what tabs you mean. It seems the only way it can close is if the screws holes are not aligned and the rear of the top comes up and out in the back. But that cannot be right...
Check to make sure you have everything aligned and the cables and hoses are all in the original locations, I did have that same problem once and it was a problem with the drip cover not being seated properly (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sw-M8DDsWso/Tf0_kqzxVFI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VQrxfiwHesA/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG).
I poked a flap hole in the tubing when I used a paper clip to clean the needle. Is there a way to glue the tubing flap shut or can I buy a new L shaped tube?
Ouch - unfortunate. I have never broken one so I don't know for certain, but you could probably get a functional replacement at any hobby store. I doubt Keurig will send you a replacement. I might also try electrical tape -I have fixed many hose problems with Electrical tape.
I had a problem with the water levels in my cup so I followed the initial instructions and got no relief. Then I noticed a screen with three screws under the charcoal filter. I removed the screws and scrubbed the screen. Presto, problem solved ! I had descaled twice with little effect. Thanks ,
Brilliant
Cleaning the outlet in the water reservoir and the inlet at the base with baking soda and a little vinegar. Just rinse thoroughly afterwards. Thanks for all the posts. This helped a lot.
The not closing all the way is because the closing arm was removed. I think you can remove the top cover without having to touch that arm at all. So what you need to do is remove the arm again. Then attach the top cover. Shut the top to its closed position and then reattach the arm. This way when you put the arm on, its already in the fully closed position, and everything should already be automatically aligned, especially the arm. Basically, the reason you could not get it to close, is because the arm was not in its proper position when you reattached it.
Very helpful, still. The upper needle clogged on my B66. Only after some Web searching was I fortunate to find this set of instructions, and the very helpful comments about cleaning and positioning the closing arm. Many thanks.
THANK YOU Tom for your forum with the pictures!! I did my part by finding the most reasonsable sounding post, then turned it over to my husband,,,,followed all the steps and viola!!!!,,,,,it's working!!! My Keurig is 6 yrs old so, I'm pretty happy that your suggestion worked. :-)
Post a Comment