Lelit Elizabeth - creaking steam wand

europa

As per the title, the steam wand now creaks when i move it. Could this be scale? My Lizzy is about 11 months old. I don’t think it creaked when i got it (ca. two months ago). I use Lockhills water and i understand the original owner did the same.

MediumRoastSteam

europa - Not to worry. It simply means the lovely silicone grease is now wearing out.

Undo the nut carefully, as the ball valve is pushed against the tap with a spring.

Dry the ball valve thoroughly

Apply a thin layer of molycote 111 or other food grade silicone grease on its surface;

Apply a little bit on the o-ring inside the nut where the ball valve rests.

Carefully push it back in, straight and level, making sure you do not cross-thread!

Job done.

europa

Just got around to doing this… Didn’t realise how tricky it would be to get that nut back on! Anyway job done and it still creaks. Any ideas?

MediumRoastSteam

It doesn’t look like you lubed well enough? Were all the surfaces completely dry? In essence you want to put grease where any part touch on another part.

DavecUK

Also don’t move it about loads until it’s hot….because that graunching might be the lower O ring

As @MediumRoastSteam said, it does sound like a lubrication issue.

Grif

Overtightened the nut?

europa

Thanks, guys. Nut was only hand tightened, so it’s not that. The surfaces were completely dry. Any previous grease was completely gone. The silicone grease i used - FilterLogic CFL651 - seems quite thin…i did take the nut off and put a bit more on….but maybe i need to be even more generous with it!

Re the o ring, that didn’t come out with the nut (so i left it in place). Should i remove it to grease it as well? Also, should i not be doing this procedure when the machine is cold?

MediumRoastSteam

europa - You lubricate when the machine is cold. You do not need to remove the o-ring from the inside of the nut. Things are less noisy when the machine is warm. :-)

europa

The o ring was not inside the nut… It was stuck to the machine. Hence why I was asking if I should remove it to lubricate it.

MediumRoastSteam

europa - Sorry. I’m getting confused it seems. I’m not sure which o-ring your are referring to then.

If this o-ring is on the “tap” itself (I don’t remember as I’ve done mine a while back), then just add some grease on the surface as it will touch the ball valve. The ball valve moves against it, so it should be well lubricated.

Hope this helps, and hope I’m speaking about the right o-ring.

europa

Sorry, I guess I’m not explaining it very well. I’m referring to the o ring that goes in the groove within the nut. When I remove the nut it doesn’t come out with the nut, but rather stays stuck in the machine…

MediumRoastSteam

europa - Yeah. Sorry, without a picture, I’m finding it hard to picture the o-ring you are referring to. Really sorry. Maybe Someone else could help.

DavecUK

MediumRoastSteam I’m a little lost as well.

Elcarajillo

Check the ends of the spring for roughness / coarse marks from grinding. If rough, carefully rub the ends on an oilstone or a piece of very fine wet & dry paper.

Any roughness causes the spring to catch and drag = creaking as it moves.

europa

When the machine is cold i’ll remove the wand and take some pics…

europa

here you go. I’m talking about the white o ring / gasket that remains in the machine.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eArBQGvQMci8TGKi6

BTW, the spring does appear quite rough on the top end.

DavecUK

europa The white O ring plays no part in the creaking noise, it’s simply a seal against leaks (it’s a hard PTFE seal). The part that needs lubricating is the O ring here…if it’s split, the ball of the wand may be rubbing against the metal of the nut. Check it and see if it’s OK. The spring will sit on a metal cup (which itself sits on the ball of the wand) with a large hole in it and that needs to be lubricated as well

The O ring actually looks out of place…which won’t help

Elcarajillo

Remove the cup and spring,slide the nutdown the wand, unscrew the ball joint using the 2 small flats with a spanner taking care not to lose or damage the tiny ‘O’ ring.

Slide the nut off the wand and carefully remove the (misplaced) ‘O’ ring and check for damage / nicks.

Wipe out the nut,lubricate and refit ‘O’ ring and reassemble. That spring does look rough on the end.

MediumRoastSteam

Elcarajillo unscrew the ball joint using the 2 small flats with a spanner

europa i need a 9mm spanner,

I personally would not do that. It’s a no burn steam wand, so I’m not sure how that’s done inside, and whether that has threadlock on. It’s a common problem for the steam wand to unscrew itself as you move, so presumably Lelit has secured it.

If you can, I am don’t remember if you can, I’d slide down the nut to the other end of the wand, remove the steam tip, and see if you can get it out that way instead.

europa

Got it. Will give that a go in the morning. Thanks!

europa

Seems i need a 9mm spanner, so this will have to wait till later. Argh!