L Elizabeth - Minor Issue

Ando

Greetings all - I have noticed a funny noise from machine last week or so and on inspecting internally today noticed what I think is the problem. One of the tubes appears to have a hole - no idea how this has happened but here we are.

Am I right in thinking this is the steam boiler? Any clever ideas how to fix?? Looks like it will be a PITA to swap out the piece of tubing.

Thanks in advance for any help

MediumRoastSteam

Ando - They are push fit, so very easy. But are you sure it’s a hole? It’s not very clear from the picture - At least I can’t see it.

See:

Watch from 3:00 and it show you how to remove it.

So you could buy some PTFE tubbing (from ebay) and, as long as they are the same outer diameter and inner diameter, you should be good.

Question: With the machine open, steam boiler on and at full pressure… If it’s a hole, them steam will be escaping from it. Can you confirm this?

DavecUK

Ando if you can upload an unlisted video to youtube and link to it here, it might be helpful

Waitforme

If it is a hole , and as mrs said it’s not very clear, I’d see if there is enough slack in the tube to cut the holed bit off and reinsert the tube into the fitting.

DavecUK

Waitforme If it is a hole , and as mrs said it’s not very clear, I’d see if there is enough slack in the tube to cut the holed bit off and reinsert the tube into the fitting.

Exactly, if there is not enough slack, you can buy 1 metre of tubing from ebay…just measure the ID and OD to calculate wall thickness, you want PTFE tubing.

Ando

Thanks very much all. I put my finger close to it when it was heating up today - v hot! Then once up to temp it was ok.
There should be enough slack so will get on that soon.
Just out of interest - what is that parts purpose?

MediumRoastSteam

Ando That brings hot water from the steam boiler into the brew boiler when the hot water tap is open. Also used to pressurise the brew boiler when using “steam pre-infusion”.

Can you confirm this? “With the machine open, steam boiler on and at full pressure… If it’s a hole, them steam will be escaping from it. ”

Ando Then once up to temp it was ok.

the hole will not magically close itself up when the machine is up to temp….

Ando

There’s no visible steam - just a weird hissing noise. When I put my finger over it it hurt whilst heating up - but tried again once up to temp and nothing.
I noticed one morning last week that the steam pressure dropped whilst I tried to steam at same time as making a coffee (I rarely do this but was in a rush). That and the weird noise caused me to investigate today.
Will do further investigations on Sunday / Monday and report back (going away for weekend)

MediumRoastSteam

Ando - good stuff. Try a dental mirror or a spoon and see if there’s visible condensation/water.

Unless I’m mistaken, if the boiler is at full temp and approx. 2 bar pressure, then if there’s a hole in that pipe water should be squirting out of that as it has otherwise nowhere else to escape.

I’m not saying there isn’t an issue, but you might be barking at the wrong tree.

Ando

So to update on this - there is no hole in the tubing, it’s just black marking that you can see in the video posted earlier by MRS.
It’s escaping from just under the bit that you push to insert the tubing.
Will this just be a case of replacing that part u think?

DavecUK

Ando It’s escaping from just under the bit that you push to insert the tubing.
Will this just be a case of replacing that part u think?

Should just be able to remove it from the boiler, clean up the threads, wrap with PTFE tape (probably 7-10 turns) and then replace it.

When removing, get a spanner on it and try to shock it off (sharp knocks with a heavier object), not torque it off.

Ando

DavecUK Thanks Dave. So grip the whole part at the bottom and knock it loose? What’s reason for not removing it normally just out of interest?
Below is photo with tubing removed

MediumRoastSteam

Ando What’s reason for not removing it normally just out of interest?

Threadlocker.

Ando

It’s loosened up a bit but struggling to get it out - will keep hammering away

DavecUK

Ando Move it backwards and forwards a tiny bit and it will soon loosen up a lot.

Ando

DavecUK might have to take this somewhere to try get it sorted - it’s loosened up to point where I can turn it with fingers, but only moving ever so slightly back and forward.
Is it normally quite hard to remove it?

DavecUK

Ando I’m confused, you should be able to remove it with a spanner easily now….video please showing exactly what’s moving backwards and forwards. Because you don’t want to pay £80-100 for a 5 minute job.

Elcarajillo

DavecUK Possibly a bit of scale built up on extended thread ?

DavecUK

Elcarajillo Possibly a bit of scale built up on extended thread ?

Could well be, yes..

Ando

There wasn’t anything obvious scale wise - the part has been cleaned, replaced and same problem (see video). The small top piece that you press on to remove the hose doesn’t feel right, almost a bit flimsy

DavecUK

Ando You may need to replace the brass john guest type fitting.