Water Dripping from Steam Boiler (#2)

[escher]

Hi, I just thought I'd relate an experience and tie together a couple of threads.

I just purchased my S1 and it was delivered on May 2 05.
A couple of days later I came home and found water all over the counter.

After doing a little analysis I narrowed it down to the fact the
solonoid controlling fill-water to the steam boiler was still allowing water
through even with machine off and unplugged. Eventually, this allowed water to flow out of the top of an overfilled boiler.

I checked pressure at the water source and it was fine (around 3 bar),
so I read almost every post on this forum and found these two threads.

http://www.rimpo.org/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=77
http://www.rimpo.org/wforum/viewtopic.php?t=64

Both of which were around the first quarter of 2005 and both
of which seemed to be the same root problem.
(i.e. Iron Filings clogging valve seat under solonoid valves in the machine)

So, I took the black solonoid box off, then unscrewed the large nut on
top of the valve itself, and sure enough there was a iron filing the size
of a hair that had brought goliath down.

To me, this seems to be some sort of Engineering Process problem.
As to where the contaminants are coming from, I could only speculate,
(dirty test environment? not well swept milling area?), but I would hope
that anyone who buys a machine and has similar problems right away
finds this thread.


Later!

[wgaggl]

Hi Escher,
welcome to the S1 forum!

Hey Chas, it seems that this issue seems worth mentioning in the FAQs? As Escher demonstated, there's a relatively easy fix to a problem that seems devastating in the first place.

It also shows, how important a water-filtration system is for the S1!
Just imagine some little particle like that coming in through the water hookup and causing flooding your kitchen.

Wolfgang

[chas]

Did any of the three people that this has happened to take any photos they could sent me? The process of disassembling the valve and cleaning it out seems like a valuable piece of info lacking on the S1 site all because that's the one thing that hasn't happened to me....yet

[chas]

Escher:

I forwarded your entire thread to Chris. Here's his response:

Thanks for sending me this email. I was aware of this but to tell the manufacturer of it is one thing but to forward a thread like this is much more effective for me and for La Spaziale. la Spaziale doesn't manufacture the valve and this will give them the ammo to put pressure on the manufacturer to clean up the valves.

Thanks I will forward this to several people at la Spaziale including the president who I am friends with after my visit to his plant last fall. We also spent time together in Seattle at the SCAA. They are a very responsive company and this will not fall on deaf ears so to speak I assure you. Remember they fixed the vibration, they fixed the backwards board, they enclosed the board in a plastic box with a switch on top to change from 15 to 20 amp, they added a boiler pressure gauge, they have applied for ETL approval, and they are introducing a drip try that allows you to drain it if you wish. They are the best I have worked with from Italy.

Chris

[escher]

No, Unfortunately, I didn't take any useful pictures during the repair.

It's great to know that both Chris and LaSpaziale stand behind the
products so fully. The primary reason I decided to purchase this
machine (at the ire of my girlfriend, mind you) was because of all
the work done to incorporate customer suggestions into improving
an already solid product.

Also, the fact that a community of enthusiasts existed around the S1 and
thus established a second channel of support factored into the decision.

Thanks!

[wgaggl]

...they are introducing a drip try that allows you to drain it if you wish.

Chris

Chas, any word yet on when the drained drip tray is going to be out?

Wolfgang

[szrir]

Hi Everyone,

I actually sent my machine back to Chris, so I have no pictures. I will say that it's been working like a champ since then.

I hope thats the last of your problems as well Escher.

[RK]

I had my S-1 for 2 days when the hot water tap would not shut off completely. After reading the information on this forum, I new my solonoid valve must have those pesky brass shavings from the machining process.
Evedently at the factory they did not clean the valve out after maching and a sliver finaly moved and blocked the valve seat. I remove it and as suspected a curled sliver about 1/2" long was lodged in the shut off spring keeping it from closing the valve. I removed it and throughly cleaned the valve, reassemble and all is working as it should be.
RK

[chas]

Ron:

The good news is that you'll probably enjoy a pretty good trouble free run now that's behind you.

BTW: Recognize this? That's a snowdrift I'm using for cooling