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Busted Silvia... little help?

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  • #16
    Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

    Originally posted by adrian_lovell link=1141116117/0#14 date=1141801814
    Any tips on where I can buy a new boiler?
    Many of the site sponsors seem to stock silvias and might have spare parts. If not, coffeeparts.com and mocopan are probably worth contacting.

    Hope that helps,

    Luca

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    • #17
      Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

      Originally posted by adrian_lovell link=1141116117/0#14 date=1141801814
      Dang,

      After doing some searching I can see that the whole boiler is going to have to be replaced. After about 2000 they started welding the heating element into the boiler (presumably to stop the common leaking problem). That will up the price a bit.

      I checked 1st-line and they only have the 110v version ($86US). coffeeparts.com.au dont list it on their site (as far as I can see) but Ill e-mail them and see if they can get it.

      Any tips on where I can buy a new boiler?
      Wow,

      Thats really nasty. I wouldnt have thought that a company like Rancilio would pull a crappy trick like that to overcome a leaking problem . Can the boiler be split as per the original Adrian? If it can, Im sure an enterprising machinist could remove the original element for you and then machine the appropriate countersunk holes underneath so that you could fit a standard replacement element and seals.

      Ive had my boiler apart a couple times for one thing or another, even stripped down completely in one instance and never had leaking problems after re-assembly. Im sure this could be overcome for a lot less grief than having to replace the entire boiler every time an element bites the dust. But anyway, if you have to go down that route then as Luca says, one of our sponsors will probably be able to help and failing that, the importers Moccopan(Cerebos) should be able to help you; you can find them here...... http://tinyurl.com/o4xok. Just scan down the page and youll see several phone contact numbers for various States,

      Cheers,
      Mal.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

        Thanks guys.

        I just heard back from Mocopan:

        The cost of a new boiler is $182.10 plus GST and $3.47 plus GST for a new
        boiler seal. Postage is $13.50 plus GST.

        You are able to bring the machine to us to service in either Seven Hills in
        Sydney or Preston in Melbourne. Our fee is $15.00 plus GST per 15 minutes.
        We do not do call outs for domestic equipment.
        My goodness. That comes to $218.98 even if I do all the work myself .

        There must be another way of getting a replacement... surely?

        Mal, I like your thinking re modifying the boiler, but I dont really know anyone whod be capable of that sort of work.

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

          Can the boiler be split as per the original Adrian? If it can, Im sure an enterprising machinist could remove the original element for you and then machine the appropriate countersunk holes underneath so that you could fit a standard replacement element and seals.
          Are the boiler walls thick enough and made from a suitable material that you can tap it for the screws and have enough threads present so that the screws dont immediately strip when torqued down or even worse, are blown out when the boiler comes up too pressure? :-?

          Emulating a geyser in your kitchen is usually not a good thing. :-[

          Java "Trys to avoid being up close and personal with a geyser" phile
          Toys! I must have new toys!!!

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          • #20
            Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

            Hi Java,

            I would hate to think that Rancilio would go down the route of installing boilers that are only barely able to handle the pressures required. In this instance, they wouldnt be allowed to import them into Australia because of minimum requirements required by federal regulations for pressure vessels, which an espresso machines boiler certainly qualifies.

            Makes you wonder though, if Rancilio are starting to introduce this type of manufacturing creed into their flagship domestic machine, maybe the pressure is starting to be applied by companies manufacturing in Asia? Very interesting, no?

            Mal.

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

              Before you go spending too many hundreds of dollars, try calling Barazi (a site sponsor). At one time they mentioned the boiler replacement cost and it was far cheaper than wht you listed. However, it wasnt a quote and I havent gone back asking for a new boiler (its on the cards though). If they quote you a price ove $200, then Id think about what Mal suggested. It will be more footwork to find an engineering shop, but they should be able to drill out the old elements and fit an element meant for either the Mokita (or similar) or the Faema Family element that coffeeparts sell ($80). I happen to have both an old Silvia boiler and an old Faema Fimily element, so could check the dimensions. If it fits, then youll just have to drill out the old elment and machine a flat surface on the inside of the boiler around the holes for the o-ring seal. Then the Faema Family element will just bolt in (the nuts are included and the o-rings are just a few dollars). I refitted the element in my Faema and it has been resurrected without any leaks.  A machine shop will have that job done for you in an hour at a cost probably no more than $50 and then if you ever blow another element, youll be able to get a replacement at 1/3 of the price of a new boiler.

              Anyway, thats what I would do and what I will be doing with my old Silvia boiler, which is just too good to throw away.

              I hope that helps a bit, and good luck.

              Mark.

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                Well said Sparky [smiley=thumbsup.gif],

                What I shouldve said in the first place ,

                Mal.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                  Its an unfortunate dilema to face -- for the sake of a heating element you have to spend a third of the cost of the entire machine to fix the problem.

                  If you go down the repair path as sugested above, and the replacement element terminals are wider or narrower than Silvias, you or the engineering shop will have to drill out the old terminals, weld the holes, and drill new holes to fit the new element. Depending on how long youve had the machine... you may want to consider whether its really time for a new one.

                  Robusto

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                    Ive had a check of the Silvia element vs the Faema Family replacement element from coffeeparts. The Faema element is about 3mm wider. With the threaded section, that would just fit in as a replacement element for the Silvia by offsetting the drill by 3mm.

                    So it might be worth going this route, but it is not without risk due to the slightly different spacing. So I cant recommend this as a safe way of proceeding. But if it can be made to work it will be cheaper in the end. Thats the way Id go, but then I have a machine shop on tap and a dead Silvia boiler and dead Faema element, so it will cost me nothing to try.

                    Sorry I cant be of more help.

                    Good luck.

                    Mark.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                      Thanks again guys.

                      Rethreading the boiler sounds a bit too risky for me. Im going to try and source a new one from overseas (still waiting on return e-mails) but Ill post again if I find something. If it drags on too long I might just have to bite the bullet and pay the $220.

                      Were a low income family at the moment (my wife and I are students), so upgrading the machine isnt really an option. Id love to go to a Brewtus or Giotto, but no can do.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                        Most unfortunate.-- maybe you can get the older style removeable element boiler from surplus stocks overseas.

                        Let us all know what happens, as it is a road some of us may one day have to travel too.


                        Good luck,
                        Robusto

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                          Adrian,

                          Tripped over this web site today:

                          http://www.espressotec.com/umpartsRancilio.asp

                          They list a 110V boiler at 99.50 CAD (Canadian) and a 230V coversion kit which has a boiler, 3 way valve and pump for $275 CAD. So they might be able to sell a 230V on its own. Worth a look if you havent already found one.

                          Cheers,

                          Matt

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                            Hey Matt,

                            Thanks for that. I actually e-mailed them last week and still no reply. Ill follow up with them though. Ive had 2 quotes for $220+ in Australia so far, so hopefully someone o/s will be able to supply one.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                              Just a follow up to finish this thread.

                              Silvia is now back in action. I was unable to source a boiler from overseas. After e-mailing at least 5 online stores, I only had replies from a couple. To be honest, I was surprised by the lack of response. Some seemingly large shops just didnt get back to me.

                              So I ended up ordering the boiler from Moccopan. I got the old boiler out ok, but ran into problems getting the new one in. I didnt really have the right tools for the job, so I had to get them to put it back together for me. All up the cost was ~$270.

                              Heres some pics I took when it was apart...



                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Busted Silvia... little help?

                                Scary stuff Adrian, Ive owned  a silvia and had nothing but positive experiences with it but your unfortunate experience would cause me thought before recommending one  to anyone else.

                                I dont think its that difficult to blow an element and I certainly dont think the replacement cost should be close to 50% of the total machine price.

                                I had to replace an element on one of my cimbalis and it only cost $80, this is on a machine with a sticker price of over $3k, but I hate to imagine what it would cost to replace the boiler

                                Sheesh...  welding elements into the boiler to stop leaks    How can every other boiler manufacturer manage replaceable elements??

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