When water starts to leak from inside the machine - check the brass heat exchanger/ thermal block.
If leaking from thermoblock then the heat exchanger o rings need replacing.
Fits models:
La Piccola Cecilia
La Piccola Piccola
La Piccola Sara
Specifications:
Ring thickness 2.62 mm - internal ø 12.37 mm
How to install the silicon o rings on a La Piccola heat exchanger
Turn off the machine and let the group cool, down.
Unscrew the hexagonal screw anticlockwise - the screw and washer will come away.
Remove the brass rod anti-clockwise. 💡- See below
Once removed dip into the descaler to remove any lime buildup.
Brush with a wire brush to remove all the lime.
Use a little silicon grease to insert the heat exchanger - it will make the job easier.
Slide the middle o the ring 1st - should slide over the lubricated rod and finally add the last o-ring
Push the lubricated brass rod back into the brass heat exchanger.
Screw back on the washer and screw clockwise - it will force the brass rod - so it's flush.
Once done there should be no more leaks from the rod and coffee pressure and crema will be restored.
Finally, empty the water tank and rinse with fresh water.
Take 2-3 cups of hot water to make sure no descaler is left in the group.
How to remove a brass rod from a LaPiccola heat exchanger
It may be difficult to remove the heat exchanger bar, due to a build-up of lime. If this happens you can descale the brass bar by running descaler through the group.
Remove the hexagonal screw with an Allen key (anticlockwise)
Insert the hexagonal screw into the brass rod - clockwise.
Once the screw is in the brass rod it should be tight and the rod should come loose and may just screw off clockwise - if not use plyers to pull it out.
If still no joy - Use any descaler - make it double strength and use the coffee switch on/off for several cycles. This can take up to 20 minutes (or in severe cases leave the descaler to work overnight). Pour the descaler back into the water reservoir, each time.
If water starts coming from the heat exchanger - the descaler is doing its job and dissolving the lime and should loosen the bar.
Unscrew the brass rod clockwise using the hex screw - it will still be hard to remove and you need to wedge it free with a screwdriver - 💡once free see note 4 above.
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La Piccola heat exchanger o ring x 1
