In my experience you don't usually have to replace the whole vacuum breaker, just the o-ring on it. The o-ring sits at the top of the steam boiler, and as a result is subject to quite a lot of heat, it tends to perish/go hard after a while causing it too leak as a result. It could however just be some calcium deposits on it which will also cause it to leak.
If mine is hissing a bit I usually first try just tapping the top of the vacuum breaker with a wooden spoon to let steam escape, if it is just a bit of loose calcium on the o-ring it will sometime blow it out and no more hissing. If that doesn't work I switch the machine of, let the machine cool down and screw off the breaker, dismantle it and change the o-ring. As they o-ring gets older they also tend to get harder which causes them to leak easier. When I got a replacement for mine I was asked if I wanted a "Viton" or "Rubber" variety. Viton is apparently more resistant to the heat but is harder, I got a Viton one and seems to work just fine. JohnB On Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 3:36 AM, HERMAN <[email protected]> wrote: > there are several o rings etc in the group that could cause a leak. todd @ > wll could probably tell you what parts you need and whether or not he has > them in stock. I know that some of the part numbers have changed depending > on when yours was built. is it drippin down into the drain pan out of the > group? there could also be wear and tear in the parts connected to the brew > handle. I had to replace a couple of parts in there.h > > ------------------------------ > *From:* "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > *To:* Brewtus <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Saturday, February 25, 2012 7:28 PM > *Subject:* Re: Houston We Have a Problem(s): Manometer, Group Head Leak, > & Hissing > > Thanks for the reply. The group gasket & shower screen are new (a > couple months old or so). I'll clean a/o replace the vacuum breaker, > but the group gasket does not seem to be the problem (that's not where > it's leaking from at any rate). > > -Cheers > > On Feb 25, 6:14 pm, [email protected] wrote: > > How's the gasket under the portafilter? It it hasn't been replaced I'd > do that first. You will probably have to clean or replace the vacuum > breaker again as well. > > Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to brewtus+ > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en.
