Well, having recently picked up this Carimali Uno e and getting some foul smells from the steam wand and hot water tap - I followed the advice of Atillio in freshening up that boiler without pulling the machine apart. I got good results and the water was looking and smelling much better. However, I was left wondering what is that boiler like, what was in it to make it smell that way (probably milk taint, especially since the anti-vac valve was stuck closed), how dirty is it still and how much better will it be if I strip it.
All those questions floating around in my head led me to a full strip, clean and rebuild.
A big thanks to those who replied on my pitfalls for beginners thread before I began this job who have definitely made it an easier job and may have saved me grief. So far I havent broken anything or stuffed anything up along the way. Heres hoping this smooth sailing continues.
So here it is so far:
The machine - crappy photos but it is a dark garage on a little point and click camera which couldnt handle all the bling with the flash, but couldnt get a crisp image with my handshake on a slow enough shutter to handle the dark light. Anyway, the blurred machine:


Topless:

Nude:


HX piping removed. Does anyone know what that yellow crud on the thread is? Im assuming some form of thread sealant. It was a cross between rubbery and powdery and was on several threads. None of the threads had the crush washers or gaskets as per the exploded parts diagram - but I have a set of the washers and gaskets to put on during the rebuild. Im assuming with these, I dont need any thread sealant? Please correct me if Im wrong - Id rather not have to redo all the joints because of leaks - especially given Id then need to reco all the crush washers or buy more. Anyway, HX pipings removed:

Boiler out: (and I managed to not break any piping!
) Looks pretty dirty on the outside. Some of the Armaflex insulation has stuck to the outside of the boiler :-?. Should this happen? Has me in two minds about reusing it when rebuilding.

Water from said boiler - not too bad, but this is after a lot of onboard cleaning earlier:

Not much left to come off now:

The group and wastewater paths came off the next morning but I didnt take any photos. The motor, pump and electronics are staying onboard as theyre all working fine - this rebuild is about cleaning rather than fixing.
Its all been soaking in a descaling solution for a couple of days, with group being switched to an espresso cleaner solution on the 2nd day - and wow a lot of coffee oils came out of it - YUCK! Water almost went black. Changed it all and it still went a light brown, changed again and stayed clear.
Then Ive been rinsing, rinsing and rinsing again. Soak in water and rinse and rinse. Now its sitting in a bicarb soda solution in an attempt to make sure there is no residual stink in there. Then it will be time to keep on rinsing and maybe blow some compressed air through the pipes, before beginning the task of putting it all back together. More photos to come on the rebuilding part.
Im after some advice on the insulation. Given that armaflex stuff stuck to the boiler - should I reuse it? Should I buy something else like insulbrite? Or should I not bother insulating at all? It will be on duty in my kitchen for me - the sole coffee drinker in the house, and guests which would be less than once a week. On days where I just want to wake up, have a quick coffee and leave I will be using my Breville DB, but on days where Im home it will be the Carimali. Eventually the BDB will go to my workplace (but that will be another year before that will work out) and then the Carimali will be the workhorse of the house (and the occasional Pavoni when I want to play levers). What are your thoughts?
Thanks for any tips and enjoy the rebuild
All those questions floating around in my head led me to a full strip, clean and rebuild.
A big thanks to those who replied on my pitfalls for beginners thread before I began this job who have definitely made it an easier job and may have saved me grief. So far I havent broken anything or stuffed anything up along the way. Heres hoping this smooth sailing continues.
So here it is so far:
The machine - crappy photos but it is a dark garage on a little point and click camera which couldnt handle all the bling with the flash, but couldnt get a crisp image with my handshake on a slow enough shutter to handle the dark light. Anyway, the blurred machine:


Topless:

Nude:


HX piping removed. Does anyone know what that yellow crud on the thread is? Im assuming some form of thread sealant. It was a cross between rubbery and powdery and was on several threads. None of the threads had the crush washers or gaskets as per the exploded parts diagram - but I have a set of the washers and gaskets to put on during the rebuild. Im assuming with these, I dont need any thread sealant? Please correct me if Im wrong - Id rather not have to redo all the joints because of leaks - especially given Id then need to reco all the crush washers or buy more. Anyway, HX pipings removed:

Boiler out: (and I managed to not break any piping!
) Looks pretty dirty on the outside. Some of the Armaflex insulation has stuck to the outside of the boiler :-?. Should this happen? Has me in two minds about reusing it when rebuilding.
Water from said boiler - not too bad, but this is after a lot of onboard cleaning earlier:

Not much left to come off now:

The group and wastewater paths came off the next morning but I didnt take any photos. The motor, pump and electronics are staying onboard as theyre all working fine - this rebuild is about cleaning rather than fixing.
Its all been soaking in a descaling solution for a couple of days, with group being switched to an espresso cleaner solution on the 2nd day - and wow a lot of coffee oils came out of it - YUCK! Water almost went black. Changed it all and it still went a light brown, changed again and stayed clear.
Then Ive been rinsing, rinsing and rinsing again. Soak in water and rinse and rinse. Now its sitting in a bicarb soda solution in an attempt to make sure there is no residual stink in there. Then it will be time to keep on rinsing and maybe blow some compressed air through the pipes, before beginning the task of putting it all back together. More photos to come on the rebuilding part.
Im after some advice on the insulation. Given that armaflex stuff stuck to the boiler - should I reuse it? Should I buy something else like insulbrite? Or should I not bother insulating at all? It will be on duty in my kitchen for me - the sole coffee drinker in the house, and guests which would be less than once a week. On days where I just want to wake up, have a quick coffee and leave I will be using my Breville DB, but on days where Im home it will be the Carimali. Eventually the BDB will go to my workplace (but that will be another year before that will work out) and then the Carimali will be the workhorse of the house (and the occasional Pavoni when I want to play levers). What are your thoughts?
Thanks for any tips and enjoy the rebuild














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