mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sun Aug 19, 2012, 11:06am Subject: [Silvia] New Boiler/heating element How do I clean the old lower half?
So I have a new boiler heating element, and I'm working through one remaining stubborn screw (described and pictured here) poking through the old lower half of the assembly (I believe this is called the "group head").
So, how do I get that clean? How clean does it have to be?
I'd imagine the mating surfaces should look as close to "buffed" as possible, but I have no idea how to achieve that. I have all sorts of staining and scale.
I'm trying to scrub with citric acid, but I don't think a nylon brush is going to scour things like I need to. I'm afraid of using a brass brush cause I don't want to mark the surface.
mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Mon Aug 20, 2012, 2:41pm Subject: Re: [Silvia] New Boiler/heating element How do I clean the old lower half?
Well, after 20 hours of filling the bottom half of the boiler with citric acid (dezcal), soaking, and scrubbing with scotch-brite pads, I was able to get things pretty clean. Before and after photos below.
dingdong Senior Member Joined: 25 Jul 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Washington Expertise: Professional
Posted Wed Aug 22, 2012, 4:25pm Subject: Re: [Silvia] New Boiler/heating element How do I clean the old lower half?
The Silvia group head is the lower portion; it's all one solid piece of brass. The only way to really thoroughly clean it is to remove it and soak it in Dezcal or the like. The soft rubber replacement parts will (of course) need to be replaced, as well as the screen, but I'm sure you're already on top of that. Group/portafilter gasket, solenoid flange o-rings and the boiler o-ring - that's it.
Posted Wed Aug 22, 2012, 4:47pm Subject: Re: [Silvia] New Boiler/heating element How do I clean the old lower half?
dingdong Said:
The Silvia group head is the lower portion; it's all one solid piece of brass. The only way to really thoroughly clean it is to remove it and soak it in Dezcal or the like. The soft rubber replacement parts will (of course) need to be replaced, as well as the screen, but I'm sure you're already on top of that. Group/portafilter gasket, solenoid flange o-rings and the boiler o-ring - that's it.
Actually the lower portion of that one piece the way you have it sitting/displayed is on the right, & is the portion that the boiler attaches to of course. The grouphead is higher & on the left (the way you have it displayed). {;-)
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