Afternoon, My previous post on this seems to have vanished so hoping this is all good - I bought a Minima with a known fault that the steam was watery, which was predicted as boiler overfill. Also potential steam boiler overheating I haven’t yet tried this as I wanted to firstly take a look inside to check the earthing was now on the frame, but when doing so I found the jacket around the steam boiler to be wet! I also saw that the wire I was looking for on the other boiler to remove and reposition wasn’t there, but also didn’t seem to be in the place instructed. On further investigation of the dampness, and to check the wire, I released the steam boiler off its supports and took some pics, as I found some gunk around the joints on the bottom! This also seems to be where there’s some moisture. So, my initial questions are: With the gunk and moisture around joints on the bottom of the boiler - would this directly relate to the watery steam and/or overfilling, assuming a slight leak will mean pressure loss? Is there anywhere else this black wire (that was on the boiler but needed moving to the the frame) might be? I’ve attached a few images showing all of this, including damp jacket, gunk on joints and earthing area. I’m new to this so any advice and help would be fantastic. A friend has suggested some work on those joints may sort, but welcome any other comments from those that know here. Thank you! [URL=https://i.imgur.com/Iydq9EP.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/Iydq9EP.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/esRWjEs.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/esRWjEs.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/XRD7P68.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/XRD7P68.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/RjzZWXi.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/RjzZWXi.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/1KqQVLK.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/1KqQVLK.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/xY5spUN.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/xY5spUN.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

Blimey. How old is the machine? Is it covered by a warranty?

@"HarveyMushman"#p62433 2019 I believe. I don’t know what ACS warranties are but unlikely I guess

@"DavecUK"#p62435 @"DavecUK"#p62435 Hi Dave - ok so first up the entire machine from the top, hopefully that’s the pic you mentioned having? All of this is on the steam boiler And I did spot the earthing wire just now, at the bottom of the frame which is the third image. if the first image top down is correct I’ll await your thoughts and then run through the questions Top down: [URL=https://i.imgur.com/RzrR6Yq.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/RzrR6Yq.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] Steam boiler: [URL=https://i.imgur.com/JeiDvWd.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/JeiDvWd.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] Found the earthing (it’s reflected in the metal hence showing 2 of them!) this is in the middle of the machine, hard to do a wide view [URL=https://i.imgur.com/UFGvK6E.jpeg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/UFGvK6E.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]

@"DavecUK"#p62439 Sure OK. So I know, which are the vacuum breaker and safety valve?

@"Mr_H"#p62440 Red vac breaker, green, safety valve. [upl-image-preview url=https://i.imgur.com/iQfvkC0.png]

Minima repair advice

HarveyMushman

Sorry to see, I remember the thread where you were offered the machine with ‘minor repairs’…

Mr_H

HarveyMushman It’s no biggie, was a risk being unknown but I’m still hopeful it’s not too serious and can be sorted, just trickier identifying what may be the issue.

DavecUK

Mr_H I can’t tell anything for sure, could be leaking safety valve, vac breaker not sure…they might even be fine…just a weirdly dirty machine inside.

Mr_H

DavecUK Sure OK. So I know, which are the vacuum breaker and safety valve?

DavecUK

Mr_H

Red vac breaker, green, safety valve.

Mr_H

DavecUK Thank you.

Mr_H

@DavecUK - very quickly as a generic thing, reverting back to my post quickly as I have a friend coming over soon to take a look with me, IF there was a leak in those joints underneath anywhere (i will get it checked and go through the questions), would said hypothetical leak be linked/cause the watery steam and boiler overfill issue, due to lacking pressure?

DavecUK

Mr_H Dunno, probably not, who knows….go through the points I made first. Oh and clean it up, much easier to see leaking on something clean!

Your other option is ask ACS for a cost to refurbish it.

simonc

I have had similar issue. When it occurs the Steam boiler overfills then leaks out of the vac breaker and can be enough to run down the side. It only occurs when heating to 100. The vac breaker seals at 100.

Watch the steam boiler heat with top off to see.

I rarely have the issue now with slightly harder water used, including Epsom salts rather than bicarbonate only and pull water from it regularly.
It’s also obvious when you purge the steam wand. If it’s watery pull some water out of the hot tap and then purge the steam wand again and should be good. Not fixed but gives you useable steam.

Mr_H

simonc sorry missed this - however this may be a good time to ask - I’ve had the boiler out, relocated the earth, swapped the blanking plugs, and have now put back together and followed the startup process.

As it gets into the 90’s I hear a bubbling and notice the vac breaker spitting a small bit of water exactly as you describe - is this normal/what you mention?

MediumRoastSteam

Mr_H As it gets into the 90’s I hear a bubbling and notice the vac breaker spitting a small bit of water exactly as you describe - is this normal/what you mention?

Yes. No worries there. That’s exactly what it should do. 👍

DavecUK

Mr_H It’s worth mentioning those vacuum breakers can be repaired for the simple cost of small FKB/Viton O ring (10p). I can’t remember the size, but a whole FKM box set of different sizes from Amazon is only about £8

Important: DO NOT remove the circlip until after the vacuum breaker is removed from the boiler

simonc

Mr_H a little, few drops is ok. If there is lots then that’s a problem.
Best test is to open the hot water tap. It should hiss immediately. If it doesn’t then likely too much water and the steam will be watery.

Normally the steam wand should take no more than 1-2 seconds to produce only steam.

I’ve not had the problem now since adding Epsom salts to my water recipe.

Could you share a photo or detail on relocating the earth wire as I might have to do that. Mine is a very early one.

Mr_H

MediumRoastSteam excellent. I noticed it lifted slightly to ‘seal’ I guess not long after I posted

As I’m a novice, what is classed as ‘watery steam’ so I know whether I’m good on that side? Would there be a small water residue in a bowl after a blast of steam?

MediumRoastSteam

Mr_H - it should seal at 100C or thereabouts. Essentially the steam and the positive pressure (as soon as water reaches 100C at sea level) pushes it up, seals it and then it allows the pressure to build up. If that’s what’s happening… all good.

You need to purge the steam wand well before steaming. The minima is an excellent steamer. And remember, steam is water as vapour state. When it hits a cold surface, it condenses.

simonc

MediumRoastSteam the minima issue is the boiler is too full so when it hits 100 it seals but before that the water is bubbling so close to the valve that bubbling water at 90-99 degrees escapes.

DavecUK

simonc Do you have a video…as it may be normal.

Can you explain why you believe the boiler is “too full”:

How did you measure this?
Have you done any tests to confirm this might be the case?

Just trying to save you any unnecessary work.

simonc

DavecUK
I’ve shared videos before. Pump runs excessively for no reason putting much more water in then taken out, to point of A7 error.
Water leaks out of vac breaker before 100 as it’s bubbling as boils but seals perfectly at 100 and over.
Not an issue when I drain water out hot tap then let it reheat.

Although as I said have changed water recipe and seems ok now.

Cuprajake

Only advice I can give is
Giphy - Big Plays Workout GIF by Patrick Paige II

Mr_H

DavecUK

DavecUK You want to look at the vacuum breaker and see if it is leaking all the time, or on warmup…but as I can only guess the type until I see a photo, I don’t know for sure.
Clean all the stuff off everywhere really well, cos you don’t want to do more work than necessary
The tea staining/mild rust will always be a thing on a weld in stainless, or when exposed to water with chloride Ions…this can happen if water leaks from the safety valve or vac breaker, down the side of the steam boiler.
Is the 3rd and 4th photo down the steam or brew boiler?
The corrosion on fittings and blanking plugs might be from water that has run down from the top, or it might be they are leaking?
If those fittings and plugs are leaking, there is a simple explanation and solution.
The earthing wire is in the correct place.

Hi Dave, I have been through this list and answered each

You want to look at the vacuum breaker and see if it is leaking all the time, or on warmup…but as I can only guess the type until I see a photo, I don’t know for sure. - small ‘bubbling’ as warming up but visibly closes when heated. Can hear ever such a slight noise now and again, but no bubbles and nothing visible
Clean all the stuff off everywhere really well, cos you don’t want to do more work than necessary - have done
The tea staining/mild rust will always be a thing on a weld in stainless, or when exposed to water with chloride Ions…this can happen if water leaks from the safety valve or vac breaker, down the side of the steam boiler. - noted
Is the 3rd and 4th photo down the steam or brew boiler? - already answered
The corrosion on fittings and blanking plugs might be from water that has run down from the top, or it might be they are leaking? - have changed blanking plugs now
If those fittings and plugs are leaking, there is a simple explanation and solution - nothing new leak wise
The earthing wire is in the correct place - yes

Next I will post a video link to show the steam process so someone can tell me if it’s correct or still classed as ‘watery’. I had a first go at the weekend and seemed to make nice milk but I am still of course just starting out in the prosumer category!

DavecUK

Mr_H You want to look at the vacuum breaker and see if it is leaking all the time, or on warmup…but as I can only guess the type until I see a photo, I don’t know for sure. - small ‘bubbling’ as warming up but visibly closes when heated. Can hear ever such a slight noise now and again, but no bubbles and nothing visible

This is the one you want to keep an eye out for….you can cheaply fix it by removing the entire thing only then removing the circlip and replacing the O ring with a correctly sized FKM one. Buy a selection box kit of small FKM o rings from amazon.

simonc

Mr_H can you confirm where your earth wire is located? Want to compare to mine