Steam ring I am told the little, metal rack is a steam ring. Where and how do I use a steam ring for steaming? Thanks. - Dave

Rejoice with me! I called the helpline and they told me to unplug, then stick a needle into the hole on the bottom where the steam comes through. I did that, then plugged in and turned on the steam. Black liquid came out and a little steam came out. I shut off the machine, unplugged and used the needle again. This time, a geyser of steam went up into the air from the machine! It was clogged and just needed a couple of pokes. I put the steam plate back on and just cleaned my kitchen!

If the iron heats but steams improperly, inspect the soleplate and clean the vents (see below) and flush sediment out of the steam chamber .
If the iron produces too much or too little heat, test the electrical cord . Also test and, if needed, adjust calibration of the thermostat .
If the iron does not spray properly, inspect and clean the nozzle .
If the iron leaks or spits, clean the steam vents, nozzle, and tank.
God bless you

Sounds like the steam wand is getting blocked some where either at the metal end or in the parnello wand if you machine has one at the end of the steam wand, if both of those are clean then try this push in on the steam knob if that works then tap rod assemble or steam valve needs to be replaced, make sure to ask about the stainless steel valve instead of the plastic one.

The machine have a separate heating system for steam than hot water for steam. The steam system it might be full of scale. If you hand are good you can easily remove top panel and side panel. You can follow the teflon pipe from the steam wand and it will lead you to the steam solenoid valve and the small copper steam heating system and desasemble it both the valve and small boiler and remove any scale and dirt from it using a wire brush, shurp screwdriver and similar tool. Then poot them back together. You can try the machine with panel removed so if it needs something more to try once more again. One small tip advice. Use your camera and make pictures of everything before desasemble them, then you are safe if you forget about something. In this way you can clean everything metalic that the water pass though.

Check with WholeLatteLove, yes I know the only have gaggia parts, its the same thing.

No offense to Irishwarrior but the answer to your question is yes, you can buy a replacement. Call Delonghi. The inner sleeve has a flat spot on the back that matches up with the steam wand. No glue, and o ring holds it in place, either the o ring is worn out or the hole in the bottom of the sleeve is partially clogged creating more pressure than the resistance of the o ring. A paper clip straightened out will "****" it out. If you need to replace the whole steam wand arm you would want to order a new "tap" valve. Delonghi can give you the # of an authorized service center where you can order one (Delonghi will not sell you "internal" parts)

Pull off entire plastic wand off by unscrewing the top plastic piece. Inside the piece that connects to the screw top you should see two o-ring type spacers. The top one should be hard pastic and the one beneath should be rubber. Take the entire unit apart and clean, making sure to put all pieces back in the way they came out.

To put back on, take the top piece and put it back on the metal stem first then put the rest of the wand back on and gently push it as far up the metal stem as possible and screw back together. If you don't have the rubber spacer this could be the problem since the wand really has nothing grabbing onto the metal stem except for the rubber spacer. If this doesn't work, order another wand:

http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/gaggia_pannarello.cfm

the proper replacement steam ring has an up-side & down side. the brew-head plate must be installed with the grooved side facing up; the steam ring has a groove in one side that fits over the top up the brew-head plate...does this solve the problem? if not, you may have the wrong steam ring/the brewhead plate may be installed incorrectly...oh, nov of 08...i seriously hope you've figured this out already. if not, you don't happen to still have machine in your possession, do you? if so, i'll buy it for $5.

it can be used to put a dish on inside the pot under the steaming basket for fish etc. look at the link i gave you

that is your steam ring for on the bottom if yo want to steam something