
In [Part 1](/posts/rancilio-silvia-part-1) of this series, I talked about how our Nespresso machine died and we ended up buying a 14 year old Rancilio Silvia that is partially not working. It was in a modest condition for its age, but the brew switch was not opening the solenoid valve and the pump was not building pressure, which meant it was not able to brew. In this post we will go through the restoration process with the aim of getting it working again in the end!

## The pump

I focused on getting the machine mechanically working first, which meant diagnosing the lack of pressure. I disconnected the plastic hose from the pump outlet and noticed there was no pressure at all when the pump was running - it was also making a weird rattling noise.

![Silvia Ulka pump](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-1/silvia-3.jpeg)

I took apart the pump (which was very easy to do as it's a very simple design) and noticed that the spring inside had deformed, and a white plastic ball that was supposed to sit on one end of the spring was loose. While searching online for replacement parts, I realised that this pump is commonly found on entry level espresso machines and is quite cheap (I got mine for around £12 from amazon). They were listed for much higher prices on espresso specialist websites under Rancilio Silvia part numbers, but any Ulka P5 would have done the job, so I just bought a new one, and presto! There was pressure at the outlet.

## The brew switch

Once I connected the pump back in, the brew switch still did not dispense water from the group head. I noticed that the switch was not activating the solenoid valve - The valve was not making that 'click' sound, so the tap for the group was not opening. I checked the brew switch with a multimeter - and yes, the solenoid terminal was burnt out. I ordered a new one from [Bella Barista](https://www.bellabarista.co.uk) (a barista specialist website in the UK) for about £3, and once fitted, we had water flowing through the shower screen!

Replacing the pump and the brew switch (for a total of £15) essentially got the machine back to full working order. Now it was time to focus on rust, oxidation, cleaning, seal replacements and visual upgrades!

## The frame

The V3 frames were made from steel, and Rancilio introduced stainless steel in later versions. After 14 years of exposure to water spillages and humidity, the frame was badly rusted and pitted, and paint was peeling off on most surfaces.

The ideal fix would probably involve sandblasting and powder coating, but I wanted to keep the budget to a minimum (at least on the non-tech side of things). The frame restoration involved:

- Removing peeling paint with a scraper
- Using a paint stripper to remove the rest
- Using a wire brush to remove the rust
- Sanding down with 300 grit paper
- Wiping down to prep for primer
- 3 coats of heat resistant spray primer
- 3 coats of automotive grade matt black spray paint

I think it turned out great! Before:

![Frame before](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/frame-before.jpeg)

And after:

![Frame after](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/frame-after.jpeg)

Some of the surface pitting is still there but it won't be visible when the machine is put back together, so I was happy with how it turned out.

## The boiler

The boiler was replaced 4 years ago according to the ebay listing, although it was in need of some deep descaling.

![Boiler before](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/boiler-before.jpeg)

I disconnected all cables and thermostats and removed the heating element. All metal parts were soaked in pure vinegar for 2 hours, and then cleaned with kitchen grade wire sponge:

![Boiler after](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/boiler-after.jpeg)

![Heating element](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/heating-element.jpeg)

## Group head

The group head was also in need of a deep clean - lots of baked coffee grounds and scale in and around the gasket. It got the same treatment as the boiler - got dipped in vinegar and then gently cleaned with a wire sponge. I also replaced the group and boiler gaskets while I was at it.

![Group gasket](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/group-gasket.jpeg)

![Boiler gasket](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/boiler-gasket.jpeg)

## Shower screen

A popular mod on the Rancilio Silvia is to replace the fat hex screw on the shower screen with a countersunk flat one so it doesn't penetrate the puck. I did that too, while I had everything disassembled. Parts I used were:

- IMS Competition shower screen
- A4 (marine grade) stainless steel M5x14mm countersunk allen bolt
- 12mm countersink bit for stainless steel

Quick how-to:

- Remove old shower screen, screw and shower jet
- Use the 12mm countersink bit to taper the center of the shower jet (best done on a lathe, can be done manually using a power drill and lots of WD40)
- Once enough taper is achieved, use a nut and the new countersunk bolt to deform the flat shower screen by tightening it in hand, before fitting it on the group
- Fit everything in place, ensure the screw is as flat as it can be. If not, drill the jet some more!

End result:

![Shower screen](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/shower-screen.jpeg)

## Steam wand

The steam wand also needed a deep clean and descale. So many parts inside such a small space! I took it apart, dunked everything in vinegar, and put everything back together.

Before:

![Steam wand before](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/steam-before.jpeg)

During:

![Steam wand during](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/steam-during.jpeg)

After:

![Steam wand after](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/steam-after.jpeg)

## Putting everything back together

First, the group and boiler:

![Group and boiler](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/group-boiler.jpeg)

Then, the pump on the frame:

![Pump and frame](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/frame-pump.jpeg)

Boiler and group go in:

![Boiler and group on frame](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/boiler-frame.jpeg)

All in one piece again!

![Silvia](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-1/silvia-1.jpeg)

## First shot!

It was time to pull our first shot! We had extremely low expectations as this was going to be our first ever attempt at using an espresso machine. We also didn't have a grinder yet, so we were using some pre-ground supermarket coffee.

After battling with the puck prep process for about 6 shots, we finally managed to pull a half decent shot in the end! Not a bad way to wrap up the day.

![First shot](/assets/blog/rancilio-silvia-part-2/first-shot.jpeg)

## Next up in Part 3

Now that the machine is operational, we're going to work on some cosmetic updates - continue reading [here](/posts/rancilio-silvia-part-3).


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Rancilio Silvia Part 2: Restoration