La Pavoni Europiccola with steam tee leak at boiler
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: 10 years ago
Got the Pavoni all polished and rebuilt, so I ran some water through it last night an found a small leak at the steam "Tee" into the boiler. I'll take the boiler back off to remove the nut and the washer to the "Tee". Interference with the boiler top threads is the problem.
Any tool/technique suggestions for best getting to the nut?
-Charlie
For extra credit: This pavoni has a copper tube that sits around the elements in the boiler (element dated '93). I have not seen this collar in anyone else's pictures or parts diagrams. It looks 'factory'. It's pretty beat up, so I'm going to leave it out. Any ideas about the history or necessity of the part?
Any tool/technique suggestions for best getting to the nut?
-Charlie
For extra credit: This pavoni has a copper tube that sits around the elements in the boiler (element dated '93). I have not seen this collar in anyone else's pictures or parts diagrams. It looks 'factory'. It's pretty beat up, so I'm going to leave it out. Any ideas about the history or necessity of the part?
- drgary
- Team HB
- Posts: 14371
- Joined: 14 years ago
My first instinct is to leave in any factory installed parts. It may help protect the elements from running dry if water gets low or it may help distribute heat better. If that's copper it just needs cleanup with something like Barkeeper's Friend and then a good rinse.
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
- algue
- Posts: 318
- Joined: 11 years ago
Never seen a collar like that.
How is it locked to the machine?
How is it locked to the machine?
- algue
- Posts: 318
- Joined: 11 years ago
Looking at it more carefully, it seems to me a part of a copper gutter. Maybe a junction.
I think that it could not be a factory part.
But I'm wondering why it has been placed there.
I think that it could not be a factory part.
But I'm wondering why it has been placed there.
- homeburrero
- Team HB
- Posts: 4892
- Joined: 13 years ago
I know I had seen something like that, and it was going to drive me crazy til I found out where. Located it on Francesco Ceccerelli's site (should have looked there first.) Is about the 6th picture down on this page: http://www.francescoceccarelli.eu/La_Pa ... za_eng.htmtaildraggin wrote:For extra credit: This pavoni has a copper tube that sits around the elements in the boiler (element dated '93). I have not seen this collar in anyone else's pictures or parts diagrams. It looks 'factory'. It's pretty beat up, so I'm going to leave it out. Any ideas about the history or necessity of the part?
On the one in the Francesco picture it looks like it has a tang on the bottom that rests on upper surface of the thermal safety fuse well. I'm thinking it might fit tight enough that it is in contact with the element and in theory might have been there to buffer and dissipate element heat and conduct it to the thermal switch when the water level is below the element. (That is just a guess.) Since most boilers/elements (of identical design) don't have it I can't see it as a necessity.
Pat
nínádiishʼnahgo gohwééh náshdlį́į́h
nínádiishʼnahgo gohwééh náshdlį́į́h
- algue
- Posts: 318
- Joined: 11 years ago
Bingo!
Pat, I'm really impressed by your photographic memory.
Pat, I'm really impressed by your photographic memory.
-
- Posts: 1375
- Joined: 11 years ago
That's where I saw that thing! I think I've seen it documented somewhere else too - someone rebuilding a machine was very puzzled by it and finally got an answer from Francesco that it was at one time a La Pavoni part.homeburrero wrote:I know I had seen something like that, and it was going to drive me crazy til I found out where. Located it on Francesco Ceccerelli's site (should have looked there first.) Is about the 6th picture down on this page: http://www.francescoceccarelli.eu/La_Pa ... za_eng.htm
LMWDP #445
- drgary
- Team HB
- Posts: 14371
- Joined: 14 years ago
Great catch, Pat!
I asked Francesco and he replied that it fits loosely in the bottom and has a metal tongue that touches the middle of the element where there's a rounded thermofuse. It transmits heat to the fuse. He says it can be easily removed (I take that to mean it can be removed without causing a problem since the thermofuse would be heated without it).
I asked Francesco and he replied that it fits loosely in the bottom and has a metal tongue that touches the middle of the element where there's a rounded thermofuse. It transmits heat to the fuse. He says it can be easily removed (I take that to mean it can be removed without causing a problem since the thermofuse would be heated without it).
Gary
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
LMWDP#308
What I WOULD do for a good cup of coffee!
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: 10 years ago
Yes, that's it. It has a tang that went to the center. It's all quite frail right now. My guess is that it provided earlier response to the fuse. It's a 2 coil europiccola though, not a Pro element. I think I can remove it safely.
Any tips on tightening the steam tee nut?
-Charlie
Any tips on tightening the steam tee nut?
-Charlie
-
- Posts: 2973
- Joined: 10 years ago
There is a brass washer between the inner nut and the boiler shell. If it is not perfectly smooth it will leak tightening may result in stripped threads. Loctite 515 would probably fix it if the washer is in good condition.