Hi all, I have a millennium LP which I've been using happily for just over a year. Lately I've been working with a finer grind than usual which has meant putting some serious pressure on the lever - as in leaning down on it with my right hand sort of in my armpit using body weight while bracing the water refill knob with my left hand to stop the machine tipping over, whereas I would normally just hold the portafilter handle. The shots have been out of this world (thanks, Lido E), but I've started to notice what seems to be a tiny water leak happening in the part that connects the tank to the grouphead business - it started as an occasional tiny fizz of water instantly drying on the hot surface, and seems to be getting worse in that now it's bubbling the entire time I'm pushing down.
My problem is that I have no knowledge of what this part of the machine is called and google hasn't been my friend. It's that little bridge that seems composed of two parts, where it's the seam between them that's the source of the leak, and I don't know if there's a seal inside that needs replacing or if there's something I can tighten. There's a fairly large hexagonal screw on either side of the sort-of diamond-shaped front face of it, sitting just behind the grouphead. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
While I'm here, the bit of googling I have done has reminded me that I probably should look into replacing the group head seals. I'm not very mechanically minded or, more to the point, experienced, but I can follow instructions. Is it a terrible idea to want to do it myself rather than take it somewhere for servicing? I'd like to save the $$$, plus when I got my second-hand machine serviced after buying it on eBay, it was in the shop for three long weeks and obviously that's a situation I'd like to avoid if it's something I can do myself. It feels like coming down in the world to buy even the fanciest cafe's offering now, it's never as good as mine!
My problem is that I have no knowledge of what this part of the machine is called and google hasn't been my friend. It's that little bridge that seems composed of two parts, where it's the seam between them that's the source of the leak, and I don't know if there's a seal inside that needs replacing or if there's something I can tighten. There's a fairly large hexagonal screw on either side of the sort-of diamond-shaped front face of it, sitting just behind the grouphead. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?
While I'm here, the bit of googling I have done has reminded me that I probably should look into replacing the group head seals. I'm not very mechanically minded or, more to the point, experienced, but I can follow instructions. Is it a terrible idea to want to do it myself rather than take it somewhere for servicing? I'd like to save the $$$, plus when I got my second-hand machine serviced after buying it on eBay, it was in the shop for three long weeks and obviously that's a situation I'd like to avoid if it's something I can do myself. It feels like coming down in the world to buy even the fanciest cafe's offering now, it's never as good as mine!

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