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  • Another Boema Restoration Thread

    Hi all!

    So I took a small financial plunge and picked up a Boema single group volumetric to restore.

    The machine follows the common sad tale for these tanks: passing through the hands of a few small cafe owners, never given much by way of maintenance, and never given much by way of water treatment.

    I have a tonne of photos and have made significant progress in bringing this superb piece of Australian engineering back to a close level of its original glory. I will post these soon.

    For now I need the assistance of the brains trust:

    I want to replace the element, it’s in poor shape but I feel replacing regardless is an inherently safe option to extend the life span of the machine. The problem is the element is stuck firm in place and needs a 46mm spanner (which I don’t own - thanks to LeroyC for the info in another thread). Should I manage to acquire such a spanner does anyone have any fancy tricks for getting this thing to budge and/or any other method (without the 46mm spanner) that might see the element break free from its shackles?

    Click image for larger version

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    The other question relates to the boiler, for which I have descaled and removed a MASSIVE amount of crud! I am just curious if my efforts are enough or should I try and remove more scale (see pics)?

    Probably have spent 4ish hours scrubbing and soaking the boiler, I am just unsure if I should be aiming for zero white or black residue or if there is an ‘acceptable’ level? I am a bit of a neat freak so my instinct is to go until I am back to original metal only but I am also logical and I don’t feel that is necessarily achievable!

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    Many thanks!

  • #2
    I'm assuming in the first photo you have the part requiring the 46mm spanner in the jaws of the vice? From the looks of it there you could throw a strap wrench around the boiler plate and use the vice as your spanner.

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    • #3
      You are spot on level3ninja, and good thinking. I was attempting to use the vice as my spanner but my mere mortal strength wasn’t enough to even remotely budge the element from its housing in the boiler plate.

      Need to head to the big green shed tomorrow so will add strap wrench to my shopping list.

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      • #4
        The area circled isn't damage to the HX Tube is it solace?

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        Mal.

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        • #5
          Wow Mal, you had me stressed for a moment there mate!

          Just checked, there is no damage - just an awesome trick of light!

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          • #6
            Phew...

            Thank goodness.

            Mal.

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            • #7
              What descale product are you using and how long are you soaking the boiler for? I’d be hoping to get it a little better than that if possible, but it looks like you’ve made a pretty good start.

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              • #8
                I’m using a solution of vinegar and citric acid (20:1). It has worked wonders in the past, in this instance the build up is close to the worst if not the worst I have seen.

                For reference this was my starting point:

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                • #9
                  If you want to do a thoroughly excellent job of descaling, you can't go past Clean Machine Triple Action.
                  Have used this on a few jobs over the years and has always been great...

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                  Mal.

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                  • #10
                    Similar element mount to my Musica. I dug out as much of the rubber ring as I could as I thought it was a gasket. Anyway, removing that, and then feeding WD in around the sealing surface helped loosen mine.
                    Maybe better to reassemble boiler so you have some grip area.
                    Also rocking it to try grinding down the crud in the threads.
                    More descaling might help too

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                    • #11
                      I agree with Mal- grab a bottle of Clean Machine descale from a site sponsor. Jetblack usually have it, I’ve bought it from them before.

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                      • #12
                        Thanks Mal & LeroyC, will definitely give the Clean Machine Triple Action a go. Have looked through pretty much every other resto thread for these machines and can see that I have some improvements to be made in the descaling.

                        Jackster, thanks for advice too!

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by solace View Post
                          Thanks Mal & LeroyC, will definitely give the Clean Machine Triple Action a go. Have looked through pretty much every other resto thread for these machines and can see that I have some improvements to be made in the descaling.

                          Jackster, thanks for advice too!
                          Some Scalex from Bunnings is the other option. Liquid descale is definitely better though.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by LeroyC View Post
                            Some Scalex from Bunnings is the other option. Liquid descale is definitely better though.
                            I did actually look at Scalex today when I was at Bunnings but decided the Clean Machine offering would be the better option.

                            Couldnt find a strap wrench that would be big enough to fit around the boiler plate but did find an adjustable wrench that expands to 75mm so hopefully that will help get this stubborn element out? Had a quick crack at trying when I got home but not even a inclination of movement, currently have some WD-40 soaking around the element housing so will try again later.

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                            • #15
                              Being a boiler getting hot and cold maybe try heating the bolier not the nut to get the elememnt to budge

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