clairebear3 Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Belgium Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Evolution... Grinder: Rossi RR45/SMP Roaster: Whirley Pop
Posted Tue May 20, 2008, 9:30am Subject: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
Hi!
I just recently capped off the self priming valve on my Evolution and since then I have developed a small random leak. Always when priming (I now have to prime by running water through the steam pipe), never when brewing but it seems to only happen about once in every five primes. Two or three drips dripping straight off the bend in the steam pipe, just where it exits the body of the machine.
I can't imagine that I messed anything up when doing the mod but it was a super tight fit to get the plug into the machine and with the flimsy body everything 'jiggled about' a bit. Should I try tightening the screw where the steam arm enters the body? I took the cover off again and primed about 25 times, off course it didn't leak then!!! I couldn't see any evidence of drips inside. I really hope it's that nut because I hate taking the cover off, the clip at the front is now broken off, the screw doesn't do much and I keep taking chunks off the steam knob trying to get it off each time grrr!!
Posted Wed May 21, 2008, 10:04am Subject: Re: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
If the water is running down along the steam wand then it's possible that the nut where the wand attaches to the valve needs some tightening, but if I remember correctly I think there's an o-ring in there also. The best way is to keep watching and see where the water is coming from, which isn't exactly fun but that's the ideal way to do it. If it was me, I'd try tightening the nut where the wand meets the valve and see if that solves the problem, since anything else would probably involve opening the machine up. If something has been leaking for a while, there's usually some evidence of that such as a residue or water spots in that area. Hope you can fix the problem - it just started after you capped off the priming valve?
clairebear3 Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Belgium Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Evolution... Grinder: Rossi RR45/SMP Roaster: Whirley Pop
Posted Wed May 21, 2008, 10:48am Subject: Re: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
Yeah it started the first time after I put the machine back together. I used it for about a week and then opened it up again to look for the leak, inside there is definetly no evidence of a leak. I will first try the bolt on the steam arm then, should be fun trying to get a teeny spanner up there but it's preferable to opening the machine up again! If I undo the bolt, is it there that you say there should be an 'o' ring? I might double check that while i'm there, can't imagine it would be worn thought, the machine is only one year old.
That is my number one pet peeve with the Evolution, i've got the chrome fronted silver model but even when you are twisting the portafilter in you can feel the plastic body twisting, when we where screwing the hex plug in nearly all of the insides where twisting around.
Will post back when i'm done, hopefully next week or so, thanks!!
Posted Wed May 21, 2008, 11:45am Subject: Re: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
Yeah, the plastic body isn't as nice as something heavier, but that's also why it's a little less expensive. Actually the price has gone up quite a bit since I bought mine but a nice metal housing would be nice. I am pretty sure there is an o-ring up where the steam wand inserts into the valve - touches the very end of the wand and you should be able to see it if you remove the nut and pull the wand out. I haven't opened mine up since adding the Silvia wand but I am pretty sure there's a ring in there but as you said, that's probably not worn out. If the nut is loose, it could be that the wand isn't sealing up against the ring, though. Just something I remember seeing inside there.
NickParks Senior Member Joined: 29 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location: UK Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu May 29, 2008, 3:18pm Subject: Re: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
Hi everyone -
I'm a bit of a newbie - have just aquired a Gaggia Evolution, and at present am really struggling to produce steam. I've managed once - but since then I just seem to produce an endless stream of hot water out of the steam wand.
clairebear3 Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Belgium Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Evolution... Grinder: Rossi RR45/SMP Roaster: Whirley Pop
Posted Fri May 30, 2008, 6:45am Subject: Re: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
I just googled a pic of the Trevi Exclusive and (if I looked at the right one) it's a full automatic so it's pretty different to mine, can't offer you any tips unfortunatly but i'm sure someone around here will have some ideas. Hang in there!
clairebear3 Senior Member Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 49 Location: Belgium Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Evolution... Grinder: Rossi RR45/SMP Roaster: Whirley Pop
Posted Fri Jun 13, 2008, 2:05am Subject: Re: Leak on Gaggia Evolution after spv mod
Update - I have tightend the nut where the steam arm goes into the body of the machine and so far - no leaks! I could tighten it quite a lot which I thought was strange, but hopefully it's fixed now...
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