I have been rebuilding a Brasilia Portofino and just got the composite gaskets for the brewhead to the boiler. I thougt this was the last thing to fix as I tried it like a week ago, and everything was working at that time.

But when I powered it up and the pump began to fill the boiler I saw a leaking under the machine. So I looked and it was the fitting on the copper tube that goes from water inlet to pressure gauge. I looked closer and the fitting was cracked

I wonder if i need to buy a whole new copper tube or is it possible to solder the crack? Or maybe a plumber can help me to get a new fitting on the tube if that is possible also?

I also wonder if its possible to plug the connection and run the machine anyway? I know I cant see the inlet pressure if I do so , but that doesnt really matter as long as the machine doesnt take damage from it.

Here is a picture on it.


Thanks in advance

Can you post a picture?

Just did . The tube/pipe goes to this.


And then to the pressure gauge.

If the only thing it goers to is the gauge, it should be able to be capped without a problem to the machine. The fitting looks like a brass compression fitting. If the other end comes off the gauge, a plumbed could either put a new fitting on (would probably be about 5mm shorter when done, of they could just make a new pipe with the correct fittings. I assume that the end of the copper pipe is flared inside the fitting? If not, it would be even easier.
And PS. I have three Volvos here at the house!

Yes its flared on both sides. I will try to get a plumber to do a new fitting for it. But in the mean while I will try to plug it and use the machine while I wait

The pipe just go to the gauge, but the gauge shows both the inlet/brew and the boiler pressure, but they are separated or? Or do I need to plug the connection on the pressure gauge also?

Thanks for the quick help

The old Volvo's are great cars.

is the nut cracked or the pipe?
if is the nut and you have enough slack
you can cut the flare, remove nut replace (is a 1/8BSP) contact me if you need one from my cemetery
replace nut and re-flare
if is the copper pipe same process
re-using the nut

Normally, the tubing which connects the source to the gage is very small capilliary tubing - around 2.0 mm OD. If this is the size of your tubing, I would be very surprised to see it having flared ends. Maybe some words and/or terminology are being lost in translation.

One end of typical gage tubing is shown below using soldered end fittings and 1/8" BSPP nuts.



A 1/8" BSPP cap with a copper or teflon crush washer would be the least expensive temporary solution.

It is the nut that is cracked. The copper pipe looks like this in the end.


Im going to contact a plumbing company today, I hope they can help me.

Stefano: If the plumber dont have this connection I will contact you . Thanks

I am paranoid about breaking one of these fittings every time I have to disconnect a steam wand or hot water tap valve. Hope you can sort this out quickly and easily.

I probably found a used pipe that will fit ( after some bending ). In the meantime i plugged the connection which work good.