Lelit PL041EM Steam wand leaking issues

RichardM

I've been asked by AM to post about issues with Lelit leaking steam wands, so just thought I'd do a write up on the last six months with this machine.

Upon receiving the machine, there was no leaking at all from the steam wand, but after about two months, it started leaking marginal amounts of steam, then by 4 months, it was dripping while the brew heater was on as well.

I pulled it apart, and found that the steam tap itself was pressing against the body, and not being able to tighten fully without turning VERY hard.

I filed the back of the inside of the steam tap back, and it allowed me to tighten fully, but still had a leaking issue.

I received a new steam tap shaft last week, and the new rods (at least the ones Jetblack Espresso are supplying) are around 5mm longer (so obviously, someone has noticed this.

Despite all this, I'm still getting *tiny* amounts of steam leakage from the machine, and fear it will start dripping again soon.

There is one thing that I would like to do and that is look at different (thicker) o-rings for the tap rod (they come with two o-rings) to see if I can get a better seal. The other option is, I *might* be able to squeeze 4 o-rings in there instead of the two, as there is space (and this might contribute to the issue, as the o-rings have the ability to move around a fair bit).

In reality, all this doesn't worry me much, as I rotate the steam wand over the drip tray until I need it, so any drips are caught, and it's certainly not enough to run the boiler dry, even if sitting for a few hours. As much as it doesn't worry me, I'm amazed that I haven't found any articles on the internet describing this issue beyond "I have an issue".

RichardM

on 1304412831:

Alan Frew / Greg Pulman had a slight mod, but as to how good a fix I just do not know... Have a mate and his unit just leaks like a sieve and when teh brew is on, and when steaming I think it will even drip out teh brew head ? " The steam valves on these machines are needle valves, and tend to wear as the machines age. Filing about 0.1mm of brass from the flat seat about 1cm from the needle tip allows the valve to do up a tiny bit further and compensates for wear." Hope to have a look soon and play with one......

I had seen that picture before, and did that on the old wand before giving up and getting the new on. I figure because it still leaks slightly with the new one, it might just be the way the brass settles in. In that picture, see how the o-rings can't tilt left and right? Well that isn't how it is on the current models. I don't have a pic handy, but I have a theory that they're basically falling over in the gap, and allowing the steam through as they age and harden with heat. Will get a pic once it has cooled down so I don't burn myself on the innards. Having seen pics, there are AT LEAST three different versions of steam rod, so Lelit are obviously *trying* to fix it or they wouldn't be releasing modified taps.

java the hutt

Hi Richard. Did you have a chance to check in your machine? I'd love to fix that problem  as it's extremely annoying.

RichardM

on 1319498399:

Hi Richard. Did you have a chance to check in your machine? I'd love to fix that problem  as it's extremely annoying.

I sold the machine a few months back. Never got it fixed, no.