Great video! Very helpful! I would add two points. 1) IMPORTANT - The longer boiler bolt (that has the two ground wires) has a trickle of current passing through it, and will be subject to galvanic rust. I strongly suggest spending the couple of dollars and replace this bolt when you replace the boiler, or like in my case, it may snap off and create a huge headache to drill out. Make sure you order the longer one. 2) As you said, when you break the seal on the old boiler all the water inside will come rushing out. I removed the bolts then held the unit upside down over the sink as I broke the seal and had no problem. Thanks for the warning!
Crazy this video is over 10 years old but it was still super useful for me to learn from your experience when replacing the leaky boiler gasket on my V3 (circa 2014). Not too much had changed inside the Silvia (mainly just a different boiler like you showed and water lines). Instead of doing the wire wraps I was able to replace the wires themselves. Pretty easy to find on espressoparts dot com. I made the mistake of loosening the over pressure valve (OPV) before removing the boiler. I realized I didn't need to do that to just replace the gasket and it was a bit of a pain to get the OPV angle right again, so if replacing the gasket again, I'd just remove the water lines but leave the valve as-is.
Thank you for making this video -Very helpful for those of use with the V1/V2 boiler. I just wish this kit was cheaper with out loosing the nice build quality.
thank you so much for posting this - I needed to replace the gasket on my boiler, and although I was pretty confident about doing it, your video was really helpful. Miss Silvia will keep me caffeinated for a while yet :)
Thanks for this video, was a big help! I replaced my element following your guide and my Silvia now works perfectly...so good to have coffee once again!
Wow, thanks for taking the time to make this video. It's going to be a big help if I replace the heating element. How did you figure out it was the heating element that needed replacing? My Rancilio's orange light on the right side of the main switch doesn't light up anymore. According to info on the web this isn't a thermostat issue. I believe ti's the heating element since nothing is heating up although it turns on and water flows through.
Doing a job like this offers the chance to add sound absorbing material, and a boiler jacket for heat retention stabilization. If you are super ambitious, you could also add a copper waterline coiled around the boiler to warm incoming fresh water before it enters the boiler.
Good... but I have one very important question though, "is that fire"? LOL. I take it that was your Daughter in the background...lol. On a serious note, well explained and sensible using ID markings for reconnecting wires. I have the same model as you (V2), but when I upgraded the steam want to V3, I was a bit disappointed as I preferred the V2. I have got used to the V3 wand now, but aside from the articulated movement which I like, I still like the V2. Thanks for sharing this info.
Oops. To continue, the Silvia kept tripping my Ktlitchen GFIs. I looked on the forums and that was one of the possible causes. I had a person who services commercial grade espresso machines and he tested the electrical current through the heating element and it was shot. Also after a while, it was also spilling some whitish cloudy material that came from inside the heating element. Plus the machine could not heat up much.
Thanks for vid! Could you kindly provide the diameter of the copper steam pipe connected to the boiler ? I am in process of buying parts for my Silvia. Cheers
Thank you so much for this video!. I just bought an used Silvia V1 from 2006 and it seems ok but steam runs out quickly unless the machine has been heating for more than 20 minutes. Do you think it is advisable tom replace the heating element considering the machine’s age?
It’s been so long since I have had the Sylvia. You might want to consider it. I remember it taking a few minutes but not 20 minutes, to heat to the steam temp.
Hi, what did you use to replace the brittle wire-connection covers? I heard sympak? But that cannot be correct. It seems to be some sort of heat-shrinking material or covers?
It's tough to say if you are having no problems with the wand. Since it is a single boiler, you might have some blockage on the group head or so where along rhe brew cycle. One of the best resources I have found, is Chris Coffee. Their service department can help you troubleshoot
@@docjoe1 yeah. I think I'm a little nervous because of the electrical aspect of it all. I think I found something suitable. Thanks for the reply anyways.
my rancilio started tripping the rcd , when boiler is warm, it is only 2 years old, and i never turnon without water inside the boiler, do you think it is the heating element for sure??? it is posible to be other cause?
I'm not sure. I haven't had this machine for almost 9 years. You might want to contact the service dept at Chris coffee. They're so awesome at answering my questions. Good luck
hi there! just a question: where did you get your shrink wrap for the wire connectors? it looks very organized, i’d love to do the same thing. thank you!
My Rancilio Silvia has the PID, when I brew a shot of espresso, the coffee dispensed doesn't get hotter than 130-140, the steamer is working fine, what could be wrong?
@@JimboJones2022 there is a little red button on one of the sensors. I am sorry but it has been so long since I had the SILVIA and I no longer have it.
Finally a recent comment! :P I'm currently trying to figure this out myself! What'd you end up doing to solve this problem??? So far I tried removing the two washers, and, just as he'd suggested it's leaking. I've tightened the connection to an uncomfortable level, and I've obviously go to try with them in, but then how do you get the damn fitting on right????
SOLUTION: I ended up trying various washers and could still not get it to seal. I tightened it so much that it shredded the washers and started to strip the Over Pressure Valve and Expansion Valve Fitting to the point I had to ordered new ones. When I tried the new pieces without the washers it fit (alignment for attachments) the first time and sealed great. I am not sure I could have gotten it to work without replacing those two (V3) pieces from the start.
Great video! Very helpful!
I would add two points.
1) IMPORTANT - The longer boiler bolt (that has the two ground wires) has a trickle of current passing through it, and will be subject to galvanic rust. I strongly suggest spending the couple of dollars and replace this bolt when you replace the boiler, or like in my case, it may snap off and create a huge headache to drill out. Make sure you order the longer one.
2) As you said, when you break the seal on the old boiler all the water inside will come rushing out. I removed the bolts then held the unit upside down over the sink as I broke the seal and had no problem. Thanks for the warning!
Crazy this video is over 10 years old but it was still super useful for me to learn from your experience when replacing the leaky boiler gasket on my V3 (circa 2014). Not too much had changed inside the Silvia (mainly just a different boiler like you showed and water lines). Instead of doing the wire wraps I was able to replace the wires themselves. Pretty easy to find on espressoparts dot com. I made the mistake of loosening the over pressure valve (OPV) before removing the boiler. I realized I didn't need to do that to just replace the gasket and it was a bit of a pain to get the OPV angle right again, so if replacing the gasket again, I'd just remove the water lines but leave the valve as-is.
Glad it helped you in some way!
Thank you for making this video -Very helpful for those of use with the V1/V2 boiler.
I just wish this kit was cheaper with out loosing the nice build quality.
thank you so much for posting this - I needed to replace the gasket on my boiler, and although I was pretty confident about doing it, your video was really helpful. Miss Silvia will keep me caffeinated for a while yet :)
Thanks for this video, was a big help! I replaced my element following your guide and my Silvia now works perfectly...so good to have coffee once again!
Wow, thanks for taking the time to make this video. It's going to be a big help if I replace the heating element. How did you figure out it was the heating element that needed replacing? My Rancilio's orange light on the right side of the main switch doesn't light up anymore. According to info on the web this isn't a thermostat issue. I believe ti's the heating element since nothing is heating up although it turns on and water flows through.
Doing a job like this offers the chance to add sound absorbing material, and a boiler jacket for heat retention stabilization.
If you are super ambitious, you could also add a copper waterline coiled around the boiler to warm incoming fresh water before it enters the boiler.
Good... but I have one very important question though, "is that fire"? LOL. I take it that was your Daughter in the background...lol. On a serious note, well explained and sensible using ID markings for reconnecting wires. I have the same model as you (V2), but when I upgraded the steam want to V3, I was a bit disappointed as I preferred the V2. I have got used to the V3 wand now, but aside from the articulated movement which I like, I still like the V2. Thanks for sharing this info.
Excellent job and nice video & editing work! Now you need a PID and v3 steam wand and knob!
Oops. To continue, the Silvia kept tripping my Ktlitchen GFIs. I looked on the forums and that was one of the possible causes. I had a person who services commercial grade espresso machines and he tested the electrical current through the heating element and it was shot. Also after a while, it was also spilling some whitish cloudy material that came from inside the heating element. Plus the machine could not heat up much.
Thanks for vid!
Could you kindly provide the diameter of the copper steam pipe connected to the boiler ? I am in process of buying parts for my Silvia.
Cheers
Update... The new Silvia boilers now have a removable heater element that is replaceable so you don't have an expensive wasted brass boiler.
Can you build this new boiler into the older machines, to avoid these expensive problems in future?
this was big help lad thank you i will have to order a new heating element
why can't you just replace the element w/o replacing the whole brass boiler? Thanks for the video
where you bought it, please i need the link
Thank you so much for this video!. I just bought an used Silvia V1 from 2006 and it seems ok but steam runs out quickly unless the machine has been heating for more than 20 minutes. Do you think it is advisable tom replace the heating element considering the machine’s age?
It’s been so long since I have had the Sylvia. You might want to consider it. I remember it taking a few minutes but not 20 minutes, to heat to the steam temp.
Hi, what did you use to replace the brittle wire-connection covers? I heard sympak? But that cannot be correct. It seems to be some sort of heat-shrinking material or covers?
I believe I just used heat shrink tubing.
@@docjoe1 thanks. That is what I thought. I appreciate your prompt response.
Hi! My brewing head is not pumping water, but the wand has no trouble in pumping water… any ideas?
It's tough to say if you are having no problems with the wand. Since it is a single boiler, you might have some blockage on the group head or so where along rhe brew cycle. One of the best resources I have found, is Chris Coffee. Their service department can help you troubleshoot
Can you recommend or link the shrink wrap you used?
It's not anything special. I'm sure Amazon has a number of different options, all of which would work
@@docjoe1 yeah. I think I'm a little nervous because of the electrical aspect of it all. I think I found something suitable. Thanks for the reply anyways.
How much was the element and from where did you order it?
my rancilio started tripping the rcd , when boiler is warm, it is only 2 years old, and i never turnon without water inside the boiler, do you think it is the heating element for sure??? it is posible to be other cause?
I'm not sure. I haven't had this machine for almost 9 years. You might want to contact the service dept at Chris coffee. They're so awesome at answering my questions. Good luck
hi there! just a question: where did you get your shrink wrap for the wire connectors? it looks very organized, i’d love to do the same thing. thank you!
Lantermandrums they are readily available online. I would check Amazon.com
docjoe1 thank you!
DrumChico, funny you should mention that. Those are next in the pipeline.
Great video, tjhanks
My Rancilio Silvia has the PID, when I brew a shot of espresso, the coffee dispensed doesn't get hotter than 130-140, the steamer is working fine, what could be wrong?
Lee Bland Sounds like an issue with the thermal relay. Easy to replace, but make sure you have/use the white thermal grease.
CC, I knew the heating element was a problem first bc the machine started tripping
I left my rancillo silva on all night and the red light does not go off and the boiler does not get hot. Does that mean my heating element is fried?
Phillip Woolston it is possible that you simply need to reset the heating element. You may want to try this first?
@@docjoe1 how do I reset it?
@@JimboJones2022 there is a little red button on one of the sensors. I am sorry but it has been so long since I had the SILVIA and I no longer have it.
how did u know your heating element was faulty
Worst part is trying to get that damn Y shaped piece back on correctly!
Finally a recent comment! :P I'm currently trying to figure this out myself! What'd you end up doing to solve this problem??? So far I tried removing the two washers, and, just as he'd suggested it's leaking. I've tightened the connection to an uncomfortable level, and I've obviously go to try with them in, but then how do you get the damn fitting on right????
@@obct537 I am having the same issue. Getting it tight enough means the connections are in the wrong orientation. How did you solve this? Washers?
SOLUTION: I ended up trying various washers and could still not get it to seal. I tightened it so much that it shredded the washers and started to strip the Over Pressure Valve and Expansion Valve Fitting to the point I had to ordered new ones. When I tried the new pieces without the washers it fit (alignment for attachments) the first time and sealed great. I am not sure I could have gotten it to work without replacing those two (V3) pieces from the start.