Gaggia Classic Rancillo steam wand upgrade

Victor_M

I know this has been covered before elsewhere, I just want to confirm that this is the kit I need to order to replace the steam wand on my Classic (do I need to order 1 of everything on the page?)

Is happy Donkey the best/Cheapest place to order or does anyone have a better suggestion?

Thanks

Mr Magnolia

This is all you need.

You'll need to take the small fitting from the existing wand and put it onto the rancilio, I can run you through it when you get it.

Happydonkey are the best for this imo.

stimpson

It's well over a year since I did mine, but I think it's just the wand that you need. You can re-use the fittings from the gaggia, just replacing the wand

Let me know before you order from happy donkey - I'm thinking of going crotchless.

Victor_M

stimpson wrote: »

It's well over a year since I did mine, but I think it's just the wand that you need. You can re-use the fittings from the gaggia, just replacing the wand

Let me know before you order from happy donkey - I'm thinking of going crotchless.

Will do, I tried to order it a minute ago, the website doesn't seem to want to ship to Ireland.
I mailed the help desk, I'll give you a shout before I order.
Thanks for your help

Mr Magnolia

I have his number if he doesn't get back to you, it normally takes a day or so.

stimpson

If you can order me one of these:

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/gaggia-domestic-portafilter.html

and a pack of descaler:

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/domestic-coffee-machine-descaler.html

I'll sort you out with the cash

Dero

This is the replacement steam wand I got for my parent's Gaggia.

Mr Magnolia

Dero wrote: »

This is the replacement steam wand I got for my parent's Gaggia.

Same here actually. When you're talking to Scott tell him it's for the classic (he'll ask anyway). That's the one you need though, not the one I linked above. Sorry 'bout that.

Victor_M

stimpson wrote: »

If you can order me one of these:

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/gaggia-domestic-portafilter.html

and a pack of descaler:

http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/domestic-coffee-machine-descaler.html

I'll sort you out with the cash

Stimpson, I've just ordered up those for you along with my steam wand, spoke to Scott, nice fella seems to know his stuff, he's only charging the standard £4.25 shipping and removing the Vat, should ship tomorrow morning i'll let you know when it gets here.:)

Thanks for all the help lads, the steam wand in Dero's post is exactly what I need.

stimpson

You're a star!

Victor_M

Well the steam wand, blind filter basket and back flush powder arrived (as well as your stuff stimpson, I'll pm you in the morning, nice looking portafilter;))

The steam wand upgrade was a cinch, I sanded down the top a little bit so it swivels freely.

I have just backflushed the classic for the first time and can't get over the before and after difference (bigger improvement than any of the upgrades I have done to date) the brown gunge that came out of the over flow pipe was shocking.

Between the OPV mod, the steam wand upgrade, descaling and now back flushing properly, I am, for the first time since I got the machine 5 years ago very happy, consistently, with the coffee from the machine. Thanks for the advice over the last few weeks lads.

How often do you recommend the machines get backflushed?

Mr Magnolia

Good stuff, great to hear of the improvement. I don't backflush regularly, I do it when I take a notion really.

stimpson

Great stuff Victor. PM me with your mobile and we can sort out collection and payment.

Marcus

Just spoke to Scott from http://www.happydonkey.co.uk on the phone...

Ordered a bunch of spares for my Gaggia Classic. He has a full list of suitable spares here: http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/gaggiaspareparts.html

...and I also got a bottomless portafilter

Mycro

I received a Rancilio Silva steam wand from happydonkey.co.uk today (http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hdr0001.html), but I cannot see how to fit it to the Gaggia Classic.

The nut on the new steam wand is way too-big for the bolt on the Gaggia, and it's the wrong way around! Do I need to take the machine apart to fit it?

Maybe there are a few different styles of Gaggia Classic?

r

Mr Magnolia

You need to use the nut from the classic's paranello on the racilio wand. Slide the rubber off the rancilio wand (a PITA to do) then slide the nut from the classic's paranello up onto it.

Marcus

Mycro wrote: »

I received a Rancilio Silva steam wand from happydonkey.co.uk today (http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hdr0001.html), but I cannot see how to fit it to the Gaggia Classic.

The nut on the new steam wand is way too-big for the bolt on the Gaggia, and it's the wrong way around! Do I need to take the machine apart to fit it?

Maybe there are a few different styles of Gaggia Classic?

Don't tell me that!!! Mine hasn't arrived yet!

Dero

In addition to what Mr. Magnolia said above, you might have to slightly straighten the bend in the Gaggia wand to get the nut off. Just don't overdo it in case the original wand cracks (assuming you want to keep the original as a functional backup). Also, the Rancilio wand tends to be a bit stiff in the Gaggia, so it can help to file/sand down the top of it slightly (the 10mm or so above the lip).