Elektra Microcasa a Leva maintenance!

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narc
Posts: 306
Joined: 16 years ago

#1: Post by narc »

The Mater pstat needed replacing again in the +11y/o MCal. Removing the bottom plastic plate revealed another issue. A small amount of water. Filled the boiler, powered the machine up to operating pressure. No obvious leaking. After letting the machine cool down to room temp a small puddle of water appeared. Drop of water clinging to the nut that attaches the pstat feed tube to the boiler base plate. Then noticed a stain on one of the two nuts that attach the heating element to the base plate.

Both the boiler and heating element O-rings needed replacements. The heating element o-rings were brittle hard. They cracked off when removing. The boiler base plate was stuck tight after removing the 5 slot head bolts. Just a few light taps required. Thanks to Stefano's for their help. With the boiler base removed it's a good time to check the condition of the group head and pstat filler tubes.

Not sure what the normal o-ring maintenance time frame should be. Do know that a decade plus of use at ~3 times per week was too long a time period. The heating element looked factory new. Zero scale. Have excellent quality well water that I filter down to 2 grains of hardness. Not sure about the relative condition of the heating element. Performs fine. Anyone know what the resistance specs are for pre2005 MCal elements is?

The MCal is an easy machine to tear apart and repair. Just don't remove the piston spring without a jig to preload it. Quality build, functional design makes life easy.
LMWDP #151

summer
Posts: 183
Joined: 12 years ago

#2: Post by summer »

The MCaL is indeed a nice machine!
I recently measured a 220v MCaL 2000 - the element resistance was 59,2 Ohm. Btw, it also had a small leaking at the pstat feed tube.

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narc (original poster)
Posts: 306
Joined: 16 years ago

#3: Post by narc (original poster) »

Thanks for the info. Hopefully no need to replace the heating element for a few years. Will double check with Stefano when placing the next order for parts.

Pstat feed tube on the pre-2005 has a fitting that resembles a pressure fit plumbing fixture.
Part of the maintenance was making sure it was clean of any matter. Wrapped some Teflon plumbing tape around the threads before reassembling. No leaks now. Doubt if it was the leak. Thinking based on the condition of the element o-rings and the stain mark on the boiler plate around the heating element nut positioned next to the pstat feeder tube. Guessing the leaking water flowed along the boiler base until hitting the pstat feeder tube base plate nut. Then gravity took over. Amount of water leaking was very small. Could have been leaking for last few months of use.

Noticed that the post-2005 MCals have a one piece boiler base plate and heating element. Two less nuts and o-ring gaskets to deal with. But at an increase$$$. Hopefully it's compatible with pre-2005 in the event the older heating elements become unavailable.
LMWDP #151