Gaggia Steam Wand.
This is a quick picture guide on how to replace the steam wand on a Gaggia Carezza. This also probably applies to the classic and the evolution (or any of the Gaggias with that stupid plastic frothing attachment) but Im not 100% sure. I did it on the Carezza, so its gospel for that. Its cheap too, so if it dosnt work you arent out megabucks.
The new steam wand - ordered here in Melbourne from MocoPan from a guy named Thomas in "spare parts". It was $20 and I got a couple of o-rings for .50c each also, even thou I only used one. I got it picked up by a friend, but the postage and handling is $13 or so. So overall its a cheap mod, with a good result.
Disclaimer: You could be a total dickhead, and like, TOTALLY KILL YOURSELF if you follow ANY of these instructions. Please, if you are a dickhead, seek help. If you are not, then read the whole guide first, get your head round it, and then crack on coffee soldier!
1. Here you can see the Silvia steam wand - you first remove the tip, and that stupid rubber bit (its just asking to get covered in hot milk - gross). Also remove the female connection so its just the plain arm (mine had a very small stainless washer also)

2. On the Carezza you undo 2 screws, one in the water resoviour, the other on the knob for the steam (which is on top). NB: Classic and Evolution owners may be able to access the steam arm without removing the casing, if this is the case, then youre in luck. You will need access to fit a cresent spanner on the brass section above the steam arm, and another spanner to undo the wand on the stainless section. NB: Be carefull, dont just try to undo the stainless section, becasue the section above is brass, and is quite likely to SNAP! You want a firm grip on both the brass and stainless sections for ANY model.

3. A view from the top of the Carezza. You can follow the line of the brass steam wand from the top near the steam knob, right down till it hits the opening in the casing and becomes stainless. Undo the brass steam wand from the very top of the steam section close to where the knob is on top and remove the arm completely.

4. This is what the whole arm looks like, you can see the brass bit which is inside the machine, and the nice stainless bit at the end. Its too short... its gotta go!

5. Undo the Stainless Gaggia steam arm from the brass section, and slide the male connection off the Gaggia arm. Again, carefull with the soft brass.

6. Now put a single o-ring on the Silvia arm and slide it up. Now put the male connection from the Gaggia arm on the Silvia arm. Now re-screw the Silvia arm onto the Gaggia brass section. NB: You will be slightly alarmed at this point as it doesnt seem to fit properly. I found that with the o-ring you need to leave it a couple of turns short of a complete tighten. This means you can still move the arm around, while stopping steam coming out of the joint. It works great, let me assure you now. Dont overtighten it because youll never be able to re-fit it throught the top of the machine. It should be FIRM, but should still move.

7. Now, refit the whole steam arm (from the top of the machine). This is a right fiddle, and the most frustrating part (because youre so close!!!) But take it easy, because brass is SOFT, and likely to bend. So my advice is to just go easy. Once done, you can re-fit the lid, put on the steam knob, and BOO-YAAA! Youre set to go!. I think you can see here how small the Gaggia arm (without that plastic bit) is compared to the Silvia one.

This really is a simple mod, and bang for buck its so bloody satisfying I dont know how I survived without it. $20 odd dollars, and about 15mins work. Smashing stuff.
This is a quick picture guide on how to replace the steam wand on a Gaggia Carezza. This also probably applies to the classic and the evolution (or any of the Gaggias with that stupid plastic frothing attachment) but Im not 100% sure. I did it on the Carezza, so its gospel for that. Its cheap too, so if it dosnt work you arent out megabucks.
The new steam wand - ordered here in Melbourne from MocoPan from a guy named Thomas in "spare parts". It was $20 and I got a couple of o-rings for .50c each also, even thou I only used one. I got it picked up by a friend, but the postage and handling is $13 or so. So overall its a cheap mod, with a good result.
Disclaimer: You could be a total dickhead, and like, TOTALLY KILL YOURSELF if you follow ANY of these instructions. Please, if you are a dickhead, seek help. If you are not, then read the whole guide first, get your head round it, and then crack on coffee soldier!
1. Here you can see the Silvia steam wand - you first remove the tip, and that stupid rubber bit (its just asking to get covered in hot milk - gross). Also remove the female connection so its just the plain arm (mine had a very small stainless washer also)

2. On the Carezza you undo 2 screws, one in the water resoviour, the other on the knob for the steam (which is on top). NB: Classic and Evolution owners may be able to access the steam arm without removing the casing, if this is the case, then youre in luck. You will need access to fit a cresent spanner on the brass section above the steam arm, and another spanner to undo the wand on the stainless section. NB: Be carefull, dont just try to undo the stainless section, becasue the section above is brass, and is quite likely to SNAP! You want a firm grip on both the brass and stainless sections for ANY model.

3. A view from the top of the Carezza. You can follow the line of the brass steam wand from the top near the steam knob, right down till it hits the opening in the casing and becomes stainless. Undo the brass steam wand from the very top of the steam section close to where the knob is on top and remove the arm completely.

4. This is what the whole arm looks like, you can see the brass bit which is inside the machine, and the nice stainless bit at the end. Its too short... its gotta go!

5. Undo the Stainless Gaggia steam arm from the brass section, and slide the male connection off the Gaggia arm. Again, carefull with the soft brass.

6. Now put a single o-ring on the Silvia arm and slide it up. Now put the male connection from the Gaggia arm on the Silvia arm. Now re-screw the Silvia arm onto the Gaggia brass section. NB: You will be slightly alarmed at this point as it doesnt seem to fit properly. I found that with the o-ring you need to leave it a couple of turns short of a complete tighten. This means you can still move the arm around, while stopping steam coming out of the joint. It works great, let me assure you now. Dont overtighten it because youll never be able to re-fit it throught the top of the machine. It should be FIRM, but should still move.

7. Now, refit the whole steam arm (from the top of the machine). This is a right fiddle, and the most frustrating part (because youre so close!!!) But take it easy, because brass is SOFT, and likely to bend. So my advice is to just go easy. Once done, you can re-fit the lid, put on the steam knob, and BOO-YAAA! Youre set to go!. I think you can see here how small the Gaggia arm (without that plastic bit) is compared to the Silvia one.

This really is a simple mod, and bang for buck its so bloody satisfying I dont know how I survived without it. $20 odd dollars, and about 15mins work. Smashing stuff.


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