Hi everyone,

I am trying to get some advice as to how to unscrew the brass flange nut, holding the tank to the base of a Europiccola I have. (It developed a leak through the top gasket, and only when the machine cools off; does not leak hot).

So, in order of importance:

1. How do you remove the flange? (it is brass. Do you use any tools? Specialized tools? Like the one sold by Orphan Espresso?)
2. Having removed the heating element (easy) I realized there is no gasket in there. Brazz is tightened against brass. Is this normal or am I missing something?
3. I realize there are 2 gaskets. Is there anything else I should be watching for? Traps/pitfalls?
4. I can see my heater look somewhat oily, and there is some stale smell coming from it. Any advice as to how to clean it?
5. Heater has a metal cylinder. It holds by the heating coil with some bent bracket. Do I just unbend it to remove the cylinder to clean the heater? Or do I even need to?

Will appreciate any sound advice.

Best regards, Mike.

The only gasket to allow a leak is the heating element gasket. The boiler to base gasket only hold the boiler in alignment and prevents rotation of the boiler so unless the boiler is loose, changing these gaskets would not cure the leak. You need a new heating element gasket.

orphanespresso wrote:The only gasket to allow a leak is the heating element gasket. The boiler to base gasket only hold the boiler in alignment and prevents rotation of the boiler so unless the boiler is loose, changing these gaskets would not cure the leak. You need a new heating element gasket.

I think you also answered me about the removal tool today at OrphanEspresso. Thanks.

I gave it some more thinking.

1. Heating element has no gasket. As I understood, only old elements had gaskets, newer ones do not.
2. As I though about it, none of these gaskets could cause the leak, occurring on top of the base (not under the base). The only tap into the tank is the level gauge. Maybe this is what leaks.

I probably will re-assemble the machine and see if the leak occurs from where the gauge goes into the boiler.