Help - replacing Gaggia Classic steam wand

zagmund · 05-05-2011 10:36AM #1

I finally got around to ordering a replacement Rancillio Silva wand for my Gaggia Classic a few weeks ago, but only got around to replacing it today. I'm at the stage of trying to insert the new wand into the receiver or whatever it is that it screws into, but it looks like it's marginally too large to fit. Or maybe it's just stiff. I was wondering about putting some lubricant on it to make it a little easier, but then of course I don't want my steam to taste of a) WD40, b) vegetable oil, c) butter.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the wand to fit in without providing flavoured coffee for the next few months ? The original washer was still left inside the fitting on the machine, but I've taken that out now.

I've tried pushing really hard, but no matter how hard I do it, I can't get the threads to engage and lock the thing in place so it looks very like it's not going in far enough.

Thanks,

z

p.s. sorry, I should add that I've taken off the huge nut from the new wand and replaced it with the one from the old wand, so I'm trying to screw the old nut into the old fitting - there's no problem with that, it's just getting the wand to sit in far enough so that the nut and fitting can meet up and be screwed together.

rymus · 05-05-2011 12:09PM

did the same thing a few months back. The 'approved' solution, and what I did, was to give the top of the silvia steam wand a bit of a rub down with some fine sandpaper. After that it fits in no problem and swivels easily.

You'll probably also find that you need to bend the gaggia wand slightly to get the nut all the way off.

zagmund · 05-05-2011 12:13PM

Thanks for that.

I came across this handy video in youtube which lays it all out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hCcwmxj5lw

As you and the video suggested, I did a little sanding and it fitted in. I'm currently giving it a trial run, but so far it seems to be sound.

I ended up cutting the old want in half to get the old nut off. I got it over one bend no problemo, but it just wouldn't go over the second one, so I decided I would just break the thing and get if off that way.

Thanks,

z

rymus · 06-05-2011 03:20PM

if it eases your mind any, I installed mine like that and it's been perfect from day one. Never any leaks, doesn't stick when being moved etc. hell of a lot easier to clean than the standard wand too

Help - replacing Gaggia Classic steam wand

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