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Nice find! Sage machines are very much designed to try and dissuade you from opening them up - I got to >30 screws before giving up on my Barista Express.
It does sound like scale is the issue (mine did this when it wasn’t descaled frequently enough). As others have said if you persist and take it apart to descale that way ideal, otherwise it will probably require multiple rounds of descaling, and then a descaling cycle every month if you live in a hard water area. The Sage machines in general are very user friendly and the user guides are worth looking up as they get you to making serviceable espresso / milk drinks without too much hassle.
Finally, do you have a grinder? If not I’ve got some pressurised 54mm baskets that I don’t use for my machine so if they would be of use (they’re what you need to use for pre-ground coffee in espresso machines) I’d be very happy to pop them in the post for you.
kimchi-
Thank you, that's a very kind offer and I may take you up on it if I get it to stage where I think it may work as I don't have a grinder at the moment. Life has got in the way so not managed to make much progress. I ran it after cleaning the shower screen,etc. and it makes all the right noises but doesn't emit water at all, I think something is probably loose or broken inside and water is seeping, hence the massive amounts of rust in the screws at the base.
Will update if/when I hopefully make progress!
ElGonzo
Picked this up off a neighbour free, he was going to bin it as not working. No portafilter for now (neighbour thinks he has it somewhere in the house and is looking for it).
Plugged it in and it powers up, the dial was almost seized and had to get a big adjustable wrench on it to get it moving. Tried to de-scale but it simply won't pull any water through either main head or the wand so will try to open it up I guess.
I have no idea what I'm doing, never had an espresso machine and am mechanically inept at best. If anyone has idiot-proof advice it'd be most welcome! Would be sweet if I can get it working but I'm not going to throw money at it.