La Marzocco Pico adjusting gear – when the grind setting no longer stays where you put it
The Pico's grind adjustment works via a gear. It transfers the rotation from the outside to the burrs and holds the set position as long as its teeth engage cleanly. The manufacturer lists the part as an adjustment gear under number 1045.
If the gear is worn, you don't notice it on the grinder but in the cup: the setting drifts, a click no longer feels like a click, and the same grind setting gives a different extraction time today than it did yesterday.
When it's due
The adjustment feels soft or spongy, no longer clicks cleanly into place or springs back when you let go. At one point along the adjustment range it engages less well than over the rest.
The second sign is a drifting setting: you set the grind, grind two doses, and the third one runs differently – without anyone having touched the grinder.
Check the obvious first: is the bean hopper seated correctly, are the burrs clean, and is the adjustment path free of old coffee oils? These three things explain the majority of cases.
At a glance
| Type |
Grind adjustment gear |
| Installation location |
inside the unit, at the grind adjustment |
| Compatible with |
La Marzocco Pico |
| Scope of delivery |
Adjusting gear; the exact scope depends on the manufacturer's specification for number 1045 |
| Part number |
1045 |
| Version |
Adjustment gear for the grind setting |
| Installation |
Installation by a qualified technician recommended |
| Brand |
La Marzocco |
Important for installation
Replacing it requires opening the housing, and the grinder must be unplugged beforehand. We deliberately do not provide step-by-step instructions here.
The reason is the same as with a burr change: after fitting, the adjustment has to be re-referenced, otherwise the scale no longer matches the actual distance between the burrs – and in the worst case the burrs run into each other. Have the work done by a qualified technician, or bring the grinder to us.
Who it's for
For anyone whose Pico no longer reliably stays at the grind setting it was set to, and who has narrowed down the fault. As a rule, this is a job for the workshop, not the kitchen table.
And for workshops that have a Pico open anyway: the gear is a small part that is easily dealt with during an overhaul.
What goes with it
A mechanical overhaul of the same grinder calls for the drive belt Rebuild Kit. The cutting edges are renewed by the conical burr set 39 mm and, in the newer version, the New F. set.
On top of the grinder sit the complete bean hopper and the bean hopper lid. On the Swift, the adjustment is on the outside: there we carry the grind adjustment knob as a separate item.
The related categories are La Marzocco Pico and Swift spare parts, La Marzocco accessories and spare parts and service parts. For care: grinder cleaning with Puly Grind.
The workshop tip from Bern and Zurich
Before we order an adjusting gear in Bern or Zurich, we clean the adjustment. Old coffee oil in the thread feels deceptively similar to a worn gear, and it is by far the more common case. Only if the adjustment is clean and still drifts do we talk about the part. This is our workshop routine, not a manufacturer's specification. For the test shots afterwards, we reach for Nutty Delight and Cozy Chocolate, and for maximum body without acidity for Very Nutty; you'll find the full selection under coffee beans.
No returns
Service parts are excluded from exchange and return. They are sourced specifically for each order and cannot be resold after installation or a trial fit on the machine. So before ordering, check your machine's model, year of manufacture and serial number – or drop us a quick message and we'll clarify compatibility together. Your rights in the case of defective goods remain unaffected.
Frequently asked questions
Is my problem really the gear?
Often not. A drifting setting is more often caused by a dirty adjustment path or a bean hopper that is not seated correctly. Clean first, and if the adjustment still gives way afterwards, the gear is the next suspect.
Does the part come with instructions?
No. Our documentation does not state what the manufacturer supplies under number 1045, and we deliberately do not provide installation instructions for a part inside the unit.
What material is the gear made of?
Our documentation doesn't say, so we don't state anything. If it matters for your decision, we'll ask for you.
Does the gear also fit the Swift or the Jay?
The item name refers exclusively to the Pico. Our documentation does not say whether a version fits beyond that – we don't guess.
Can I look at the part in your showroom?
Yes. In Bern at Gerberngasse 44 and in Zurich at Hagenholzstrasse 50b, service parts are on hand, and we'll check together with you whether the version fits your grinder.
Not sure whether the part fits your grinder? Write to us at [email protected] with the model and serial number, and we'll check compatibility together. We deliver across Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2-4 working days.
