I can’t seem to find an E61 service kit for my Bianca - 3 years into ownership and being used every day by myself and 3 sons! Any recommendations on other brands/parts that are compatible (Faema etc)?

@"LJDUK"#p56523 welcome to the forum…perhaps this will help understand how the group works..the E61 service kit mentioned is old now and I wrote this almost 15 years ago.. I find it's best to replace parts on an as needed basis and that kit had the group to body gasket, which never really needs replacing. http://coffeetime.wikidot.com/e61-group-servicing In general the parts that need replacement in the E61 after many years are: * valves, upper, middle lower * if you can buy them and undo them from the valves without breaking the threads, instead of the 3 valve assemblies (above), just the cam follower pins and 3 little Viton seals * New springs after only about 7-9 years * any Teflon sealing rings that appear knackered * The 2 rubber thick sealing rings on the E61 lever spindle * The o'ring on the bottom of the E61 mushroom These can be purchased from many spares shops

Thanks Dave, that’s really helpful

So I have a vapour leak coming from the bottom spout - is this likely to be a lower valve issue or something else?

can you take a video, upload it to youtube as unlisted, then past a link here please..

Here it is - https://youtube.com/shorts/Mta7qZ8SVLw?si=vDDdvYIljLsELeQc I also checked the water hardness - it’s reading 30ppm- that’s quite low isn’t it? I have a BWT Premium Bestmax filter which is due for replacement but I thought whilst readings were still low it was still ok to use.

That looks pretty normal to me , mine does it as it’s heating up then the valve ( OPV ? ) shuts when the boiler comes up to temp/pressure.

> @"Waitforme"#p56570 then the valve ( OPV ? That’s the vacuum breaker. 👍

@"LJDUK"#p56565 - if this is during start up as the service boiler approaches 100C, that’s normal behaviour and there’s a hiss for about 5 seconds and then you hear the vacuum breaker shutting, which then allows the boiler to pressure. The vapour and a bit of water comes from the outlet at the front. If this is happening any any other time other than the service/steam boiler reaching operational temperature, then there’s a problem.

Unfortunately it keeps dripping/releasing vapour. Initially I just thought it was due to cold weather /cooler kitchen but the drip tray is filling up. @"MediumRoastSteam"#p56574

> @"LJDUK"#p56580 Unfortunately it keeps dripping/releasing vapour. Initially I just thought it was due to cold weather /cooler kitchen but the drip tray is filling up. It's sounds like you need to replace the vacuum breaker, unless you can remove and clean it, or replace an O ring in it….I have not taken that type apart to know if they can be cleaned or the O ring replaced. It's an easy enough job. Ideally take the lid of and identify which fitting it is…one is a safety valve, the other is a vacuum breaker and they look similar, both have tubes on them…see which one it is, take a photo and identify it…then post the image on here. If it does it as soon as the machine reaches 100, then it's more likely to be the vacuum breaker….but both vent into the drip tray.

Lelit Bianca E61 service kit

MediumRoastSteam

LJDUK I removed the vacuum breaker, cleaned it and replaced the o ring but still the problem exists!

Then it’s not the vacuum breaker :-) - Could it be the safety valve?

It’s quite hard to understand the noise the machine is making as there’s quite a lot of background noise, a tumble dryer maybe?

LJDUK

Now wondering if the o ring I replaced in the vacuum breaker is the wrong size - the spares I have are BS007. See Bella Barista lists the correct o ring as Lelit Silicone O ring Diam. i5 t1 - I think that’s 5mm diameter but not sure what t1 means!?!

DavecUK

LJDUK - I think that’s 5mm diameter but not sure what t1 means!?!

1mm thick. I think that is the vacuum breaker leaking.

LJDUK

As I was taking this video I touched the water probe and it started to disintegrate (!) - you can also see water bubbling. I’m guessing the extreme heat over time causes the plastic to deteriorate.

MediumRoastSteam

There’s only one way to find out (and please replace that insulated connector) :-)

Remove all the hoses from that 4-way connector, making sure you catch any drips, and, if you turn the machine pump on and make a coffee, there’s a possibility water will come from the expansion valve;
Find out which part is leaking;
When you put it back, make sure you secure the hoses in the connector with cable ties. They DO come undone.

Let us know.

LJDUK

I’m having a go at removing/cleaning the safety valve - when I remove the tubing to it once it’s heated up the vapour drip disappears so this is the problem. Inside the valve is a spring, a flat circular thing with a dimple and a square thing with a dimple hole. The thing fell apart when I unscrewed it - I’m assuming the dimple circular side fits the dimple hole?!

MediumRoastSteam

LJDUK - personally… I’d buy a new one. It’s not worth mocking about with a safety valve - clue is in the name…. That’s your last resort before it explodes… Think about it… And moreover… You won’t be able to test it easily either, so you’ll never know if it’s working or not.

LJDUK

You’re right of course. Better safe than sorry! Many thx

LJDUK

Can’t find a replacement insulator connector for the one shown disintegrating on the water probe- any one know where to go/what it’s called?!

DavecUK

LJDUK Can’t find a replacement insulator connector for the one shown disintegrating on the water probe- any one know where to go/what it’s called?!

Don’t worry about it, let it fall of if it wants to, there only about 5V DC in it. On lots of makes of machines the spade end connector isn’t even insulated!

LJDUK

DavecUK

Is it normal for the water probe to bubble like this?!

MediumRoastSteam

LJDUK - No. It should not.

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