Hi,

I recently bought an older La Pavoni Europiccola espresso machine from an antique store. I've just started cleaning it up and I'm getting ready to disassemble it to replace all the seals. All the blow-up pictures I've found show that the heating element attaches with 3 bolts. My machine is older, so I'm unsure of how to dismount the boiler and heating element. I see the big nut holding the boiler to the base, but I don't know how to take out the element. Does anyone have experience disassembling one of these older Europiccolas. If so, please reply. Thanks!

Does anyone have any ideas??

Can you take a photo of the bottom of the boiler and post it?

I'd like to hear where you get your seals, and the sizes and such if you are replacing them. I hear La Pavoni doesn't make them anymore for the old models. I have one from the early '60s (with a toggle switch).

thanks

Bill,

Here are the pictures of where the element meets the boiler. You can see the locknut which secures the boiler to the base, but its not clear how the element attaches to the boiler. It looks and acts like the element must come out before the boiler can be removed.





Sean,

Here is a link to the place I am getting my seals from. I haven't received them yet, so I'm not sure if they are all correct. The older machines have a 58mm shower plate, as opposed to the newer machines' 60mm plate. Other than that, I'm not sure about the differences. Mine has one red switch and one white switch. Good luck. http://www.espressoservices.co.uk...acement_parts.html This place is in the UK, I'm not sure if anyone else sells parts for the older machines.

anyone???

Hi,
Sorry for not replying sooner. Your photo doesn't look like what I remember my old Ambassador looking like. I believe it had a large ring that fastened the boiler to the base but I've forgotten how the element was installed. Hopefully your photos will ring a bell with someone.

Thanks for giving it a shot, bill. I've been wondering if the element screws into the boiler. There are three notches on the element, and I'm wondering if there is a special wrench made to grab the element at the notches to unscrew it. Anyone have any thoughts?

Hi,
Try calling Bill, the parts manager, at an espresso equipment store in Arlington, TX. I bought all my parts for my Ambassador from him several years ago. He may be familiar with your machine. It may be worth a long distance call. Bill's number is 817-652-6826. Good luck!

Thanks Bill...He had the answer. The element screws into the boiler. Now if I could just figure out a way to get a good enough hold of it to get it out. I tried an oil filter wrench, which grabbed it well but it just wouldn't budge. Does anyone have any creative ideas about how to get a good hold on the element?? thanks