mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 2:51pm Subject: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
So I'm tearing down a 2006 Silvia I bought (broken). I have a boiler + gasket + screws on order (just in case, for the screws). I also picked up some food grade grease & I have teflon tape already.
My question is, aside from the boiler&heater assembly, are there other components I should replace while I'm in the thick of things? Anything I should check while the machine is disassembled?
I've never worked on an espresso machine, but I'm looking forward to the project.
mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sat Aug 11, 2012, 6:12pm Subject: Re: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
Hi Jim!
Thanks for responding. I'm replacing the boiler because it trips the GFI when I try to power it on. When I remove the electrical connections from the heater posts coming up through boiler, it powers on just fine.
My recollection is that before it bit the dust, there it stopped producing warm espresso. What it did produce, had a weird flavor and a gray sediment in it.
Posted Sun Aug 12, 2012, 8:43am Subject: Re: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
Some recommendations: - A steam valve rebuild kit - 4(?) O-rings and the "cock" (valve seal) gasket. other possibilities..... - Some owners have also updated the old style pressure relief valve with the newer, adjustable version. - Add a pressure gauge - a PF mounted variety can be created, or a panel mount (more difficult). - PID kit...?
mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sun Aug 12, 2012, 1:30pm Subject: Re: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
> A steam valve rebuild kit - 4(?) O-rings and the "cock" (valve seal) gasket.
Interesting. I hadn't thought of this. I was actually expecting to see a mention of the pump...but nobody mentioned that. Perhaps they don't go bad very often?
> Other possibilities...
Ahhh yeah, believe me, I've been lusting after a PID, and I'd really like the idea of a pressure gauge. That's going to have to wait though... wife is already a bit skeptical that this is going to be anything but a boondoggle. She's never used anything but the little Capresso EC-100 I was strongarmed into buying her for her birthday. :P And frankly, she doesn't seem to think there's anything to improve upon. To make matters worse, she's from Europe and comes from a coffee culture.
I, on the other hand, cringe every time I use the Capresso and can't wait to get Miss Silvia in working order again. Maybe once she starts using it, she'll free up more funds for a better machine, or upgrades.
tracerbullet Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2012 Posts: 152 Location: Saint Paul Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Aug 13, 2012, 7:43am Subject: Re: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
My standard caveat is that I only know Gaggia's but I believe things are similar. If I got inside a Gaggia to replace a boiler I would:
replace the O-ring between the boiler and group head as well
diassemble the 3-way solenoid and clean it out, verify the rubber on the plunger is still soft (but not too soft as to be disintegrating)
replace the O-ring at the top of the boiler for the steam output and remove any scale
completely disassemble and clean out the grouphead
Is the Silvia similar with these pieces?
I've found that "CLR" is good for removing scale from metal, letting parts sit in it overnight. Make sure of course you clean them afterwards w/ soapy water so the CLR is all removed prior to reassembly. Don't get rubber / plastic parts in it though, they retain the smell of the stuff, if they are scaled up just replace them. Also found that very fine steel wool is good at general cleaning of old coffee muck, it's tough enough to remove that but not so tough as to sand away the grouphead or boiler itself and cause high / low spots to prevent things from sealing.
Across the board some screwdrivers and a set of metric allen wrenches are about all that's needed. Make sure to watch how things come out so you can get them back together correctly, and don't cut any rubber hoses or electrical insulation in the process. Nothing too difficult really. Good luck.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,680 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Aug 13, 2012, 12:28pm Subject: Re: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
Good luck with the rebuild. I documented just such a rebuild so perhaps it might help you through yours. http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machinemods/547829 It is a V1 machine but that really is mainly a cosmetic difference for the most part. The 3 way is a little tough to take apart so if it is working, I would not fool with it. The pressure valve is easy to disassemble so give it a good cleaning. Check the Gh as said above for being warped. A little may be OK but very much at all and it will not seal. I used SS screws and coated them with a little grease on assembly. Longer screws are OK and will not damage anything if you can't find the exact length screws. The carbon steel screws on my machine had rotted and were broken in the GH and it was a little tricky to remove them.
If you need anything, just ask!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Mon Aug 13, 2012, 4:28pm Subject: Re: Repairing a Silvia... What components should I consider?
Awesome, calblacksmith!
Thanks for the encouragement and the tips. I'm kind of curious to see how far I get before I reach my first brick wall/problem I need you help with. :P
Your thread made this whole project seem approachable to me in the first place.
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