Lelit Elizabeth slow leak into steam valve

Milko

The silver L-shape valve in the centre of the photo there is slowly leaking where the (narrow clear) input pipe comes into it. It starts to happen as it comes up to temperature, just a slow drip. This collects underneath and then eventually pools enough to mostly run out around the steam wand itself. I’d noticed that happening just this last week or so, but going by the deposits it’s been doing it a while! Sneaky.

I guess I need to track down and replace the L-shape part but if anyone has an alternative fix or guidance on how to actually swap it, I’d be grateful. Looks a tight place to try and work and I’ll be approaching it as a novice. Thanks!

DavecUK

Milko It’s a simple John guest type fitting, I doubt it’s seen enough use for the o ring inside the fitting to have perished.

press the fitting in (I don’t think it’s pull) at this point

Then pull the tube out and reinsert it fully. If it still leaks, pull it out, inspect the end, if it all looks good, no scratches or damage, then make sure it’s clean and pop a vit of vaseline around it and then reinsert it. You don’t need loads and the internal teeth that grip the pipe should grip through the vaseline.

Milko

DavecUK thanks. I got it out and the tube felt like it had a little scratch around it where I suppose it was being gripped. Anyway, tried putting that back in with a smear of Vaseline but no improvement. Then I tried snipping off a minimal amount so it’s got a fresh insert and same result. The tube isn’t long enough to risk doing that again I don’t think now. I’d say if anything I’ve made it a bit worse now, the leaks a bit faster. I can see a little corrosion from the underside of the connector where it’s been leaking.

New tube and connector? Argh, the search for part numbers begins!

DavecUK

Milko New tube and connector?

Sounds like it…yes.

Milko

9700038 for the connector. The pipe is being a little more elusive, I might have to get the calipers out!

DavecUK

Milko I think it’s 6mm OD and 4mm ID

Milko

The new part solved the issue, without changing the pipe in the end. Thanks again for the assistance here. The new part is brass and I wonder if they’d had similar problems elsewhere with the older material, mine was quite corroded I think.

I have now discovered a new issue! The steam boiler seems to be very slowly letting water bubble up under one of the pipe joints on the top as well. I think the one with the blue wire going into it. I suppose I might try to tighten up that connection’s nut? Quite awkward to get a spanner onto it though, is the wire plug easy to remove to get it out of the way?

Milko

Oh hello, known issue explored here before!

https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/761-lelit-elizabeth-small-leak-at-steam-boiler

Milko

hmm. AND a little bit of bubbling around that central push-fit connector as well. Is this thing about to start falling apart on me?! It’s a bit old but not that old.

MediumRoastSteam

Milko - mine is 5 years old (almost) and is good as new!

Gio999

Hello, I am facing a similar issue as you. There is a small leak where the connector meets the tube(shown with the blue arrow). Did just replacing the connector fixed the issue for you? Did you need anything other than tha connector? And how difficult was to to change it? Thanks in advance if you take the time to reply!

Milko

Gio999 yes it fixed it just fine.

Part number 9700038 which I got from Bella Barista, albeit I had to ask them in the chat as it doesn’t appear in the standard spares list on the website.

It’s not too hard to change, a bit fiddly getting enough leverage in there to unwind it is all. I may have said some swears at some point trying to do that. I used some PTFE tape on the threads with the new one.

Before you change it, it might be worth checking it you can just reseat the tubing into the push-fit connector as Dave described further up the page? Yours doesn’t look as bad as mine for corrosion etc.

Gio999

Milko Thank you for getting back to me and for all the info. At first I tried to rotate a bit the o ring/collar and it became too loose and seemed to worsen the problem. I tried to push it back in and now seems to be better. The tube is just push-fit into the connector? So first thing I should try is just try to pull off the tube only, cut a bit and push it back in, without messing with the collar or connector itself.

DavecUK

Gio999 I should try is just try to pull off the tube only, cut a bit and push it back in, without messing with the collar or connector itself.

Remember it’s a john guest style fitting, so push the outer ring in before pulling the tube out, so the teeth inside don’t score the tube.

Gio999

DavecUK Sorry im not that familiar with all that stuff. So the outer ring is not removable from what i understand. And in order to remove the tube i just have push the ring in and just pull the tube out. Sorry for asking things that you already said yourself, im just making sure before try it and avoid to make the situation worse. Appreciate your input.

dndrich

DavecUK Oh that is interesting. So if you push the outer fitting it will release the tube? I wondered about that when I worked on it because I could not figure out how to release the tube.

Milko

Cutting the tube cleanly is actually also tricky as it’s very thick plastic, so I’d try without doing that first of all, just do the re-seating maybe with Vaseline? Unless it looks scored. If you do need to cut it I wonder if a junior hacksaw would be the best way. I’ve got some pretty decent cutters and they were just going to crush it as much as cut it.

Gio999

Milko Thank you! First i will try to readjust it and see how to goes. Next step would be to try and cut if off a bit.

MediumRoastSteam

Milko Unless it looks scored. If you do need to cut it I wonder if a junior hacksaw would be the best way

You can use a very sharp Stanley knife, or a plastic pipe cutter.

MediumRoastSteam

Gio999 to remove the tube i just have push the ring in and just pull the tube out

That’s my understanding. 👍

Also the Lelit Insider youtube channel. Mauro demonstrates many repairs on various Lelit machines.

Gio999

I tried to just push the ring in and push the tube in before plugging it off and messing with it. For now this seemed to do the trick. Will have to test a bit more but for now there is only a small leak when it reaches temperature but it stops after few seconds.