mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Mon Aug 20, 2012, 2:59pm Subject: [Silvia] Screw-snapping streak continues. This time, the high temp thermostat
Major bummer. I had the high-termp. thermostat torqued thumb tight into the new boiler and figured, "well, I should take the wrench to it."
Bad idea.
Its post has sheared off about 1/4" down... I have a micro-screw extractor on order...but I'm not sure it's going to fit.
I think someone needs to hit me upside the head for being an idiot. Usually my wife is eager to do this, but she doesn't want any involvement in this rebuild whatsoever.
(any ideas for screw extraction or something else are welcome)
So, if you're working with this part, remember: FINGER TIGHT!
stefano65 Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2004 Posts: 1,336 Location: Eugene OR Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Vibiemme,Elektra, Grinder: Vario,Macap, Vac Pot: not Drip: not Roaster: not
Posted Mon Aug 20, 2012, 4:05pm Subject: Screw-snapping streak continues. This time, the high temp thermostat
well the extractor will be the possible best BUT you are right needs to be pretty small I personally have one that small, but the main concern will be drilling the pilot hole for it without messing the boiler,
option 2 very carefully re drill and re tap a new hole
option 3 find a long, spring with rounded ends stretch it, make a little bracket with some spring body and use thermal conductive grease/paste for the best contact (well use it anyway no matter which solution you can come up with) if you ever seen a older marzocco steam boiler safety thermostat that's the idea of option 3 or a way to go around the diameter of the boiler with something "wirey" I'm sure somebody else might come up with some other solutions but this is my monday afternoon brain consumed thoughts
mojoneill Senior Member Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Iowa Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2012, 10:15pm Subject: Re: [Silvia] Screw-snapping streak continues. This time, the high temp therm
Well, it's fixed now.
I bought this set of micro screw extractors from amazon. I was able to back the broken screw back almost flush with the face by using an ice pick/awl. After that, the largest screw extractor in the micro set linked above did the trick and got the rest out.
I did have to buy a cheap drill with a very low speed. My regular variable speed drill was impossible to hold at a slow enough speed for the extractor to work.
In the photo below you can see the broken high-temperature thermostat, the broken end of the screw I pulled out of the boiler, and the boiler itself. All is right with the world now.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,679 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 Tue Aug 28, 2012, 12:55pm Subject: Re: [Silvia] Screw-snapping streak continues. This time, the high temp therm
I'm glad you got it out. Not everything requires a wrench .... as you found out. If I remember, that is a blind hole that does not go through into the water side of the boiler. All the threads are there for is to hold the sensor on, not to seal anything. Looking at the screw first, before you screw it in is a good way to decide on how much torque needs to be applied, not much on a small brass screw like that!
Congrats again!
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 Tue Aug 28, 2012, 5:58pm Subject: Re: [Silvia] Screw-snapping streak continues. This time, the high temp therm
@calblacksmith Thanks for the well-wishes! You remember correctly, that's a blind hole...there's no entrance into the boiler interior...and yeah, I'm an idiot. In my defense, however, the high-temp probe does have a bezel fitted for a wrench. For someone like me who doesn't know what he's doing (and yeah, that's the crucial part), that screams, "Take a wrench to me." It's only in retrospect do I look at the diameter of the screw and wonder, "WTF did I take a wrench to THAT!" :P
I hope this is how we learn and that this is a mistake I won't be repeating. :P
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