What you don't want to see if you open up your Cremina....

[oliof]

After having gotten replacement gaskets for my Cremina, I set forth to use them after having them lying around for about two months. Halfway into dismantling the Cremina, I realize the schematics sent to me with the gaskets are for a maxi-matic. I should have realized that earlier on, but thought that might be OK, since the numbers of the replacements parts match on the olympia website.

Then, finally, I removed the front plate. Now I know why I found this beauty on the street. zombiesque, no? Pictures are here.

Now, what to do with a busted asbestos coating of this magnitude? Do I just put it all back and ignore it, leading a happy cremina life until my lungs collapse? Any other ideas?

Regards,
Harald

EDIT: corrected URL. D'oh!

[Gatewood]

Well, phooey. I'm "not authorized to view this page" so I can't see the gunk. Pity.


edit: thanks for fixing the link. Ook! I'd hate to consider using that.

[hperry]

I wonder about just replacing the boiler if removing it doesn't disturb the asbestos.

[oliof]

Good idea! I already looked at the website and the boiler itself seems to be about the only part that one cannot order. I will give Markus a call on monday to find out what he thinks of it.

[Hogfire]

Hello Oliof,

I recall seeing a thread here awhile back, I believe it was by RCman, where he removed the asbestos with an acid wash. Looking through his posts you might find the details and decide if this is a procedure you're comfortable with performing on your own. Sounds much cheaper than replacing the boiler. Good luck, you've got a much coveted machine, asbestos or no asbestos.

Hogfire

[oliof]

I found the link to RCMann's thread here. It encourages me to try and get rid of the asbestos cement, although it would be either expensive or illegal to dispose of it.

I have some hope that I can keep my machine now. I probably need to find out what kind of acid wash RCMann used.

[RCMann]

It didn't require an acid wash, that was for general cleaning of the internal parts of the machine that had mineral deposits.

All I did to get rid of the asbestos was to soak it overnight in a bucket of water, then scrape off the soft asbestos with a putty knife, and sand the remaining bits off the tank with 220 wet/dry sandpaper.

All of the sanding was done under running water, so no worries about breathing in asbestos.

It's not like asbestos is some radioactive biohazard, just put it in a plastic garbage bag and throw it away.

I had covered the bare tank with insulation for a couple of days, but it didn't seem to have any affect, so I took it off and it's been fine with just the bare tank.

I'd be concerned with why the tank is scorched to begin with-whatever caused that very likely ruined the heating element or possibly some of the wiring...RC

[oliof]

It didn't require an acid wash, that was for general cleaning of the internal parts of the machine that had mineral deposits.

All I did to get rid of the asbestos was to soak it overnight in a bucket of water, then scrape off the soft asbestos with a putty knife, and sand the remaining bits off the tank with 220 wet/dry sandpaper.

[...]

I'd be concerned with why the tank is scorched to begin with-whatever caused that very likely ruined the heating element or possibly some of the wiring...RC

Thanks for the instructions, RC!

It wasn't quite clear to me from your instructions. Since the machine works properly, I have a new theory - it might be leaking water that weakened the asbestos cement and then the added heat from the boiler let the coating burst. Not a nice sight anyway. I will try to get rid of the cement coating and see how the boiler looks underneath. Unfortunately, that will have to wait a weekend or two....

I'll ask the olympia tech hot line for better ideas nonetheless.

Regards,
Harald

[oliof]

Hello,

I need some more input. If you look at the full size picture, you can see that the nuts at the top and bottom are encrusted by a mix of rust and scale. The nuts are incredibly tight. Will it suffice to spray them with some light oil and let it sit for a day?

Also, the steam pipe leading to the microswitch is very very tight. Any tips besides 'apply some more force' to loosen that? I almost bent it when I tried to remove it the first time.

The boiler looks very good from the inside, which puts my 'water running into the cement and weakening it' theory in favor. I will post photos from the 29 year old heating element (before and after descaling) and the inside of the boiler later.

Regards,
Harald