Faema Urania steam switch, needs some TLC

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Marcelnl
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#1: Post by Marcelnl »

Can someone point me to a place where I find some info on how to dissasemble the steam valve? After two years it feels a bit squeeky and it seems full steam is less powerfull than before until I wiggle the knob a bit, it's likely the sort with a rotor operating an oval disc pushing the valve stem in.
I had a quick peek but so not see an obvious point to squirt in some lube, if that is OK to begin with.....Is there a service manual for the Urania/Zodiac group?
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coffeefrog
Posts: 146
Joined: 19 years ago

#2: Post by coffeefrog replying to Marcelnl »

The steam valve is just a conventional tap, the body unscrews. If you suspect that the steam tube is getting blocked, on mine it also unscrews. What do you mean about wiggling the tap? Could it have a build up of scale in it?
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Marcelnl (original poster)
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#3: Post by Marcelnl (original poster) »

I don't know what is wrong but the tap opens inconsistently and it schreeches when I do so I'm guessing it needs some Dow 111, scale is hard to believe as I use water without minerals most of the time.
I'll see if I can unscrew the valve, thanks!
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Marcelnl (original poster)
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#4: Post by Marcelnl (original poster) »

a whole lot later steam is now insufficient to steam properly, flat whites are working out great though...

the valve does not appear to be a regular valve but seems to have a tumbler connected to the rod and that tumbler appears to push in a rod likley sprung loaded, does that sound familiar to anyone?

dissasembled:
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Marcelnl (original poster)
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#5: Post by Marcelnl (original poster) »

cured, a good clean after disassembling and reassembly with some Dow 111 worked, back to full on steaming where my skills are the limit. Now only to check if the Sirai needs replacing, seems to settle at a highish pressure all of a sudden...and see where the slight hiss originates from.

What do you guys use to find steam leaks, water does not work as it evaporates instantly on anything connected to a hot boiler so soap solution is nogo I assume?
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LObin
Posts: 1792
Joined: 7 years ago

#6: Post by LObin replying to Marcelnl »

2 little tricks I've used before to find small leaks:

1. With a small mirror, check all valves and fittings. Condensation on the mirror indicates a leak.

2. Using the inside cylinder of a paper towel roll, listen, with one ear at the end of the cylinder, to every valves and fittings. You're looking for a small hiss.

These obviously only work when the boiler is fully pressurized .
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Marcelnl (original poster)
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#7: Post by Marcelnl (original poster) replying to LObin »

great, I have an inspection mirror, never dawned upon me to use it for steam :D

leak seems to have cured itself, probably some crud in the vac valve or something similar.
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Marcelnl (original poster)
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#8: Post by Marcelnl (original poster) »

back to square one, low steam pressure.

I think the valve stem OR the elliptical shape pushing it may have worn too much, and I want to try repair that as I need a it more steam power...

My options seem to be:

-find a new valve (ha, likely unobtanium)
-try make a new stem, likely difficult as it comes with the plunger sealing it off attached
-try make a new rotor, likely as difficult
-add some material to the stem, probably using silver solder
or
-other ideas and suggestions please....

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turboyeast
Posts: 143
Joined: 11 years ago

#9: Post by turboyeast »

Marcelnl wrote: -other ideas and suggestions please....
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This seems to be a (cold) water inlet valve....not a steam switch.
Cheers, TY

Marcelnl (original poster)
Posts: 3831
Joined: 10 years ago

#10: Post by Marcelnl (original poster) »

TSE.AT might just have what I need....
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