Elizabeth - Strange noise

Uncletits

I’ve seen this discussed before perhaps on the other forum? Elizabeth this morning making a strange loud kettling type noise. This has happened before and I’ve turned down the steam boiler temperature as mentioned in aforementioned forum thread and it stopped it for 12 months or so.

I’ve seen water flowing slowly from the pipe from the steam boiler to the cross fitting and up into the water tank. The water in the water tank was very hot after a while.

I’ll try to capture it on video and upload.

Three years old so OOW

DavecUK

Uncletits Sounds like the safety valve was opening…

What was the temp displayed for the steam boiler when this happened?
Did you open the steam valve to see what was what? e.g. were you getting super de dooper ultra high powered steam compared to normal
what was the brew pressure gauge showing as the steam preinfusion pressure when making a shot?

Uncletits

DavecUK thanks Dave for your reply

I believe the steam boiler was reading 128° which is where I set it to prevent this happening

Yes the Steam was ferocious compared to normal

Unsure of the pre infusion pressure but I’ve turned it back on to try it

Neil

Uncletits

So tonight it’s not done it 🙄 but I could see the water slowly going up that pipe.

@DavecUK do you think the safety valve is allowing water through itself before it should?

Is it this one circled?

MediumRoastSteam

Uncletits Is it this one circled?

Yes 👍

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam are either of these suitable?

MediumRoastSteam

Before you go ahead and replace components… could you make sure that’s really what the problem is?

Just remove the the silicone hose from the X connector and then block that port with a piece of silicone hose diverting to the tank, or remove the one which joins to the steam wand dead end and loop around.

Make sure the tube is dry - the one which comes out of the safety valve - and then see if it blows steam out.

If it does…

Replace with a like for like part. Bella barista should be able to supply you with the right one. Ps: I think that 3 bar for the Elizabeth is too low.

The one on the left is the anti vac valve. That one is the correct one I think.

Good luck.
Looks like Elizabeth’s safety valve is rated at 5.5 bar.

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam thanks I’ve been away for a couple of days with work so will have a play at the weekend - it’s worked fine while I’ve not been around while it’s only been on for an hour or so. All of our drinks are with milk so I had it up quite high 140°? but as I had this issue a while ago I turned the steam temp down to 128° and it’s worked happily like that for probably 12 months

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam so I’ve added the pipe for testing but as it heated I found a leak, well two leaks from fittings I’ve not touched but close to that valve. Removed and replaced the small pipe quite a few times but still leaks and the bottom part is just turning so appears that it’s supposed to be like that

MediumRoastSteam

Uncletits sorry it’s hard to picture what you are trying to say. A picture would help, or a video. 👍

Ando

Uncletits I had to swap this part out a couple of months ago, water had been hissing out the push fitting.

I was guilty in early ownership of leaving steam boiler on for long periods of time - had wondered if that contributed to its failure.

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam can you not see the photo above?

MediumRoastSteam

Only photo I can see is from 5 days ago.

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam so this fitting is leaking in two places

DavecUK

Uncletits It’s quite a common fitting, it comes in 2 versions, the swivel version which has an O ring in the body and a fixed version which doesn’t.

Lelit chose the swivel version so it’s easy to ensure it lines up exactly with the high pressure pipe. It’s subject to a lot of heat for long periods and removal refit, with associated unavoidable swivel motions probably hastens the demise of both o rings…because there is one in the John Guest style end as well. sometimes they last decade or more, sometimes..not.

https://www.devecchigiuseppesrl.com/e-commerce/welcome/ordini/dettagli.asp?codice-articolo=6R1806&c2=FITTINGS&c3=Push-in&c4=&c5=&Offset=

They are inexpensive and easy to replace.

MediumRoastSteam

Ando…. This is what I can see….

Edit: oh dear…. Looks like photos are not being attached/displayed

Uncletits

DavecUK Brilliant thanks Dave I’ve got one ordered from BB already - should I use PTFE on the threads?

DavecUK

Uncletits Yes about 7 or so wraps (perhaps 9) …the threads a ¼ inch and quite fine. You will feel when it’s right and you can just insert and tighten it by hand. Don’t have to tighten all the way down of course.

MediumRoastSteam

Uncletits - Looks like Dave got you covered. I can now see the image (for whichever reason it stopped working on my mobile phone yesterday).

dndrich

DavecUK 7 wraps? That seems like a whole lot of tape. Really?

Uncletits

MediumRoastSteam yes hopefully but a few days of V60 🤡

DavecUK

dndrich 7 wraps? That seems like a whole lot of tape. Really?

It’s quite thin stuff, but you can always use less if you find 7 too much, the tape is very cheap and you get a lot of it (£1 per roll). I’m just trying to give guidance. Sure I could have just said wrap with PTFE tape, but that’s not very helpful (except to me😉).

Uncletits

dndrich just for some context it is a very small fitting