Bricoletta on timer is cold, no pressure - vacuum breaker?

[Grant]

Twice now in the last week, I have had a problem with the vacuum breaker on my Bric. Wake up, start to perform my morning ritual, and notice that the machine is cold and the boiler is sitting at 0 (then I cry a bit and go to work empty handed). I have the Bric on a heavy duty clock timer. Opening the steam valve get's it going.

Skyryders90, I noticed in another thread you mentioned replacing a vacuum breaker on your Bric (it appears I caught this disease), and I was wondering 1) how it went, and 2) if there are any "gotchas" you ran into, 3) which one you replaced it with, any 4)...which one is the vacuum breaker? On the top of the boiler, I see two "valves"....one large one with holes in the sides....looks like a silencer on a gun....and a smaller one with a spring washer of sorts that hisses a bit when the boiler is heating.

TIA...

Grant

[HB]

....and a smaller one with a spring washer of sorts that hisses a bit when the boiler is heating.

That's the one. It is pictured nearest the bottom:



and another pair of vacuum breakers:



The one on the left is well known for sticking and its recommended replacement is shown on the right. What's interesting is that the Bricoletta's vacuum breaker appears to be the reputedly reliable one. Skyryders90, was this the one you replaced? I wonder if a good cleaning with vinegar to remove any stray scale buildup would accomplish the same end.

[barry]

the one on the left might stick shut, but the one on the right will leak steam if it is cycled often.

[Grant]

The one on the left is well known for sticking and its recommended replacement is shown on the right. What's interesting is that the Bricoletta's vacuum breaker appears to be the reputedly reliable one.

My Bricoletta has the one on the left....

Grant

[skyryders90]

The one on the left is well known for sticking and its recommended replacement is shown on the right. What's interesting is that the Bricoletta's vacuum breaker appears to be the reputedly reliable one. Skyryders90, was this the one you replaced? I wonder if a good cleaning with vinegar to remove any stray scale buildup would accomplish the same end.

Mine had the smaller one, but it wasn't the small one listed here - the post barely protruded out of the top. I replaced it with the larger one on the right. It was a simple as unscrewing the small one, taking the washer off of it, putting the washer on the big one, and screwing it in. Done.

As far as above-view picture already having the "good" breaker, it might have something to do with supplier. Mine came with the same "new" steam wand as malachi's has, but also has a fully-articulating hot water wand. Maybe I got a newer water wand in exchange for an old breaker ... who knows. Mine came from Chris.