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Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

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  • Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

    When the boiler is active right from the time I switch on the machine, some drops of water comes out of my steam wand. No major problems but I end up with a little puddle after the 45 minute warm up sometimes. Was willing to live with that until I read about the wsher change in the latest Silvia classifieds. Now I think this leakage can be fixed, so I looked up the provided link and it looks fairly straightforward, except, where do I get the replacement washer? Is it just a typical plumbing washer that I can get from Bunnings or is it more specialised?

  • #2
    Re: Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

    Youll need a specialised washer - theyre much smaller than the average tap washer

    I suggest you contact a site sponsor eg. Coffee Parts, Di Bartoli, if there isnt a local repairer where you live and am sure theyll post one out to you.

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    • #3
      Re: Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

      nte

      Not meaning to tell you how to suck eggs, but you may not need a new washer/steam wand rebuild.

      If you are switching off the steam wand tightly at the end of your session, when the machine is warm, you will find that it hasnt fully closed when the machine is cold. [metal expands when warm]

      Suggest, nextime you turn on a cold machine, tighten the steam valve at the same time, you may find you get a "smidge" more of a turn and this will be just enough to keep the drips at bay.
      I do this as a daily switch-on habit.

      if you still get the leak then by all means change the valve, but I suspect it will solve the problem [especially if you have a relatively new machine].

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      • #4
        Re: Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

        Thanks for the tip Reuben, will try that next time I have it on. Funny you should mention that it will turn a bit more because everytime I see the leak, I tighten it a little and it stops but Im left thinking "couldve sworn I closed that pretty tight last night"...

        My machine is quite old though. Got it second hand from Maxie. When I got 8 months or so ago, I had to change the gasket. Now Im wondering about the steam wand washer because it also seems to make an unusual click sound when I tighten it a little too tight.

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        • #5
          Re: Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

          The steam valves need an overhaul every so often. My machine was a few years old when I got it and made a few funny noises in there but its been good as new since I did the overhaul. Theres a writeup on what to do here which I found after Id photo-essayed my own renovation (thanks Murphy :)

          The only thing Id add to that is its worth soaking everything in descaler while its apart (everything thats black turns coppery-pink - cool!) and to get some steam valve grease while you get the parts and give the mechanism a good lube so it moves freely. Mine was a bit sticky and squealed a bit. FWIW I got all my parts from mocopan / cerebos as I couldnt find a sponsor who had them.

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          • #6
            Re: Changing the washer for Silvia steam wand?

            reubster is spot on with his explanation.
            My Silvia has suffered from the cold start up wand drip since new.
            I wised up pretty quick and now routinely give the knob a little tighten as soon as I see a drip start to appear. It always turns a bit and the drip stops.

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