I used Loctite paste, 442, I think. I'd have to double check. I tried Teflon tape and they both leak rather quickly.
> On Jul 10, 2015, at 1:59 PM, Ben McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: > > I have the machine completely disassembled and in the process of cleaning it. > Even the group is torn down. Collett the ultimate descaling and backflushing. > What is your favorite method for reinstalling the heating elements? Teflon > tape, paste, combination? > best > Bmc > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jul 10, 2015, at 10:27, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> OK. Wow. A quick lesson to share. >> >> So I called WLL, and she said they usually try a reset on the high limit >> switch before reversing wires on the p-stat. As it were, I had pushed the >> tiny pink/orange button on that before reversing wires, and that actually >> reset the switch so the reversed wires on the pstat gave a false positive. >> >> So, with wires back in correct locations on the pstat, I pushed on the high >> limit reset with a paperclip as suggested, and the machine was working. The >> plastic of the button was fragile and the whole thing pushed into the switch >> housing. There was a quick ground fault that popped my GFI, and without >> thinking too much about it, I reset the GFI and the boiler kept heating. >> >> As it turns out, when the switch broke and caused the fault, it was >> disabled. As I was talking to WLL about another question, the steam boiler >> heated all the way, and passed right on by its normal 1.45 bar, until the >> mechanical over-pressure valve blew. HOLY SHIT is that exciting, especially >> with the machine cover off. Fortunately I was a few feet away--it blows >> steam in extravagant form in six directions at once. My total fear of >> pressure vessels is even stronger now...but very grateful some engineer >> added a fail-safe for when the electronics fail. As a side note, the >> blowoff included a lot of thick grey sludge--a lot like oatmeal without the >> chunks. Which made me finally decided to get off my lazy a$$ and pull the >> clogged hot water wand. >> >> No surprise, it is stopped end-to-end with the same thick grey sludge. That >> is some seriously high total dissolved solids, since it's been clogged for >> about three years. The good news is, pipe cleaners and an air compressor >> had it opened up in five minutes. I'm moving on to boilers now, as I'm sure >> they're totally nasty also. Pictures to follow. >> >> Lastly--I've posted before, lamenting the fact that when the steam or water >> wand seals fail, you have to buy a $14 part instead of the 5-cent white >> teflon disc on the end. Finally got WLL to sell me those by themselves, for >> the low low price of $5.71 each. Ridiculous, but I guess it beats $14. Ah >> well. >> >> All the best and more to follow. >> bmc >> >> Sent from my apple IIe >> >>> On Jul 10, 2015, at 08:50, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Yeah, that was my thought/concern--perhaps both heating at once--not sure >>> if there's any way that can happen via a fault. Anyone know? I'll try WLL >>> at some point also. >>> best, >>> bmc >>> >>> Sent from my apple IIe >>> >>>> On Jul 10, 2015, at 08:30, Graeme Burton <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Benjamin, >>>> >>>> Brew heat light will be on because PID is calling for heat - it won’t be >>>> getting any though. Probably heating through the HX as you suggest. >>>> >>>> Yes will work but it’s giving priority to the brew boiler. I would leave >>>> the steam boiler disconnected in case the switch is completely stuffed >>>> somehow - hmmm is it possible both boilers are heating and thats why the >>>> cord is hot? Could just try adjusting the pstat to see if it is just >>>> sticky and frees up but should replace as its an indication it has become >>>> u/s or at least unreliable. >>>> >>>> Graeme >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> On 10 Jul 2015, at 11:23 pm, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> OK--reversed the NC and NO, and the steam red light came on, and it >>>>> started heating. Interestingly, at the same time, the brew boiler light >>>>> on the PID display stayed on steady, and though I know it shouldn't >>>>> actually be heating, the temperature was climbing. Perhaps from the HX >>>>> circulating a bit? >>>>> >>>>> When I went to unplug the unit again at the wall outlet, the power cord >>>>> was very hot, almost too hot to touch. I don't ever touch the cord on a >>>>> daily basis, so I have no idea whether this is normal for the machine >>>>> during initial heating, but seemed pretty hot. >>>>> >>>>> So Graeme, would this test indicate the p-stat needs replacement, or is >>>>> there a fix for a stuck p-stat? And will the machine function with these >>>>> wires reversed until a new pstat arrives (sorry, weak on pstat theory...) >>>>> >>>>> best to all, >>>>> bmc >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my apple IIe >>>>> >>>>>> On Jul 10, 2015, at 08:15, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks Graeme. I forgot to mention that I installed a Jaeger as well, >>>>>> but it's also about 5-6 yrs old. Will try... >>>>>> bmc >>>>>> >>>>>> Sent from my apple IIe >>>>>> >>>>>>> On Jul 10, 2015, at 07:53, Graeme Burton <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sounds like pstat might have got stuck in position as if pressure set >>>>>>> point has been reached. Can test by switching the NC and NO wires on >>>>>>> the Pstat to reverse it's normal operation. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> IMO much cheaper to repair and descale than buying another machine. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Graeme >>>>>>> Original Message >>>>>>> From: Benjamin McCafferty >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, 10 July 2015 22:43 >>>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>>> Reply To: [email protected] >>>>>>> Subject: Dead steam boiler, but... >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Morning all, >>>>>>> Woke up to the dreaded cold steam boiler this morning; B2 that's about >>>>>>> 7-8 years old with PID and rotary pump upgrades that I did maybe 5 >>>>>>> years ago. I did some quick searching in the archives and found Eric's >>>>>>> excellent piece on replacing elements. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> This is my first time to troubleshoot a dead boiler, so a couple of >>>>>>> notes/questions. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> First, my brew boiler is at normal temp and recovers when I pull a >>>>>>> shot. With the steam boiler getting heating prioritiy, and not hot, how >>>>>>> is this possible? For what it's worth, the red light for the steam >>>>>>> boiler never comes on. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Second, I found Ira's comments about testing the boiler, but open to >>>>>>> any suggestions on how to quickly diagnose the element, pressure stat, >>>>>>> etc. and any other related parts. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Third, is it worth fixing this machine, i.e. cost vs. expected life, >>>>>>> etc. For example, will there come a day when the E61 group clogs (like >>>>>>> my hot water line) and is no longer useable, etc. Or would a >>>>>>> replacement of elements, p stat, etc. give this machine another >>>>>>> near-decade of life? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> All the best as always, >>>>>>> Ben McCafferty >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my apple IIe >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "Brewtus" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>>> email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "Brewtus" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Brewtus" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Brewtus" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
