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Pickin Your Brains!

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  • Pickin Your Brains!

    I dont usually ask for help on this sort of thing but I want to arm myself a bit to "encourage" the boss to fix my machine!! So, any help, advice etc on my little problem will be appreciated!

    The Question:

    My Brasilia has a OPV on top of the boiler. At the moment, that OPV is hissing like a cut snake. Evidently, there is either a problem with the valve itself and hopefully not something else that weve missed. But that is not the question I put to you, as the boss has something to fix it (he says!), just has to get around to doing it. Of course, everytime Ive come to work over the past few days, it seems to be hissing louder!

    My question is...whilst this is not being repaired instantly, how much potential damage are we doing to the boiler by not repairing it? If any at all.


  • #2
    Re: Pickin Your Brains!

    Hi scoota,

    Ahhhhh.... OPVs are there for a purpose.... to protect the machine (and the operator)....

    It could be that it is releasing pressure at less than its design value.... and that is no biggy - other than it is annoying.

    But it could also be that the pressurestat is faulty and allowing the pressure to build up beyond the 1.2 Bar )or whatever the machine normally runs at (does it have a steam pressure gauge? and is that higher?)...... if that is the case, it is doing its job correctly - but that is also a potentially dangerous situation - stressing the boiler and eventually something might give ----- not good!!!

    But as the OPV is a safety device - it should be working correctly in any case - and should be fixed ASAP...... something has a problem on the machine..... and there is a potential for injury to you or a customer....

    Not getting it fixed is just slack!!!!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Pickin Your Brains!

      Thanks Java for your words! And yes I agree, not getting it fixed is slack!

      The gauge appears to be at its normal level. However, I say that but if the valve is constantly releasing pressure, I wouldnt actually be seeing if its really over pressure in the boiler on the gauge, would I?

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Pickin Your Brains!

        Originally posted by scoota gal link=1195510074/0#2 date=1195540583
        The gauge appears to be at its normal level. However, I say that but if the valve is constantly releasing pressure, I wouldnt actually be seeing if its really over pressure in the boiler on the gauge, would I?

        Scoota,

        Yep the valve would reduce the pressure.... but they generally only open at a pressure noticeably higher than the normal boiler pressure...... but because it is working now (when it shouldnt be) there is a very real possibility that it could become damaged and then if ever really required to work..... might not function....

        Anyone who takes risks with large boilers containing lots of water well above boiling point (just dying to become steam at many times the volume) is a fool..... considering the potential injuries.... and the relatively small cost to have it fixed..... Maybe you need to mention OH&S!!!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Pickin Your Brains!

          i second that, JB...

          could it be that your heating element is not shutting off when it should, Scoota...?

          scary stuff...sounds like you need some protective gear....leather jacket, full face helmet and riding gloves! ;D ;D

          L

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Pickin Your Brains!

            hit the top of the OPV with your temp and it should reseat it self. if this dosnt work have it replaced by a qualified teckh.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Pickin Your Brains!

              Originally posted by Lizzi link=1195510074/0#4 date=1195542247
              i second that, JB...

              could it be that your heating element is not shutting off when it should, Scoota...?

              scary stuff...sounds like you need some protective gear....leather jacket, full face helmet and riding gloves! ;D ;D

              L
              I am SO dressing like that tomorrow...maybe that will scare him into doing something! Good thing hes got a great sense of humor! ;D ;D

              Originally posted by no BS Coffee link=1195510074/0#5 date=1195542247
              hit the top of the OPV with your temp and it should reseat it self.
              I seriously suspect that this was the bosss first response to the leaking valve... :

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                Its called percussive maintenance.


                I think the helmet will give him the hint.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                  Originally posted by scoota gal link=1195510074/0#6 date=1195560357
                  scary stuff...sounds like you need some protective gear....leather jacket, full face helmet and riding gloves! ;D ;D
                  L


                  I am SO dressing like that tomorrow...maybe that will scare him into doing something! Good thing hes got a great sense of humor!  ;D ;D

                  Pic... Pic... Pic...!! Pic... Pic... Pic...!! Pic... Pic... Pic...!! Scoota in full armour in front of the group , gotta see that!!............... ;D ;D ;D

                  L

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                    Just tell him that losing all that steam means the element is on constantly & itll cost him a small fortune in increased electricity... thats usually the sort of incentive a boss needs...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                      Originally posted by Lizzi link=1195510074/0#8 date=1195600324
                      Pic... Pic... Pic...!! Pic... Pic... Pic...!! Pic... Pic... Pic...!! Scoota in full armour in front of the group , gotta see that!!............... ;D ;D ;D

                      L
                      You so know that that will be forthcoming shortly... ;D

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                        oh, i do, sweetpea, i do!! i can jus feeeeel the sweat running down your forehead, and making your fingers stick to your gloves, standing in front of that heat!!!

                        LOL  ;D ;D

                        L


                        PS... i DO miss my bike, but only if the ambient temp is no more than 20C
                        as far as i am concerned, black leather and the sun are not good play-mates!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                          Originally posted by Lizzi link=1195510074/0#11 date=1195723170
                          as far as i am concerned, black leather and the sun are not good play-mates!
                          Ah, well, thats where the beauty of a mesh jacket with armour and a removable liner come in handy...

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                            Some pressure relief valves are what Id class as serviceable, but even then you have no way of knowing (other than through a very frustrating and time consuming application of trial and error) what pressure youve set it to respond to after pulling it apart and replacing/reseating whatever sealer that happens not to be sealing. Best option is to replace it with a modern pre-calibrated valve. Note that depending on the age of the machine and valve you acquire, you may have to add extra fittings to attach a new one.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Pickin Your Brains!

                              As much as I wanted to take the photos this morning of me all kitted up, I was kind of glad I didnt...

                              Today, I was not wearing my happy face when I saw what the machine was doing. I was definitely Not. Happy. Jan... >

                              Suffice to say, the valve was blowing off so much steam that with the cup tray on top, there was just water everywhere. Now, I know that no one else except myself and the two bosses know anything about the machine but really...if you saw the bl**dy waterfall this morning, youd have fainted too!

                              Anyway, I immediately removed the cups and the tray and just let the damn thing vent off into space. The male customers stuck their noses in, some I even had to warn off (as they did stupid things like put their hands over the steam! Um...Heres your sign!! :-?)

                              My bosses are currently away so, it was even more angering for me. Also, not to mention the sheer embarrassment to have the machine in that state. Truly, it was just plain embarrassing to have to work like that. :

                              Berate me as much as you like, folks. Im as pissed as anyone about this. This was our biggest Saturday morning to date, being election day and to top it off, raining as well! That means EVERYBODY is in town. I am positive and Ive got the till record to back me up, that we fed every resident of our town this morning! To me its purely irresponsible to have gone away without fixing the thing but we do have some things that work against us here.

                              One is the tyranny of distance, meaning that we have to fix stuff ourselves. The other, being a bakery and the boss is the baker, is the time factor. BUT I know, in this instance he will now need to fix it.

                              Im not going to tell you lot what the temporary fix is going to entail over the next few days. If you knew, youd probably try and reach through your computer screen and throttle my boss! ;D



                              Oh and the most asked question today...

                              "Are you blowing off some steam??" ;D

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