StillSmart

DO I NEED TO PUT A SILICON SEALER ON THE INSIDE OF THE T500... THIS IS MY 4TH ATTEMPT AND NO MATTER NOW MUCH I TIGHTEN THE BOLT WITH THE CERAMIC BEADS ON THE INSIDE STEAM SOME HOW STILL SEEPS OUT... I KNOW THIS MUCH DECREASE MY YIELD. HOW CAN I RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM???

The first question that comes to mind is whether the black washer has been placed between the column and the lid? If not, one needs to be installed there prior to tightening the condenser nut.

If so, then it is possible that the washer has been compromised and needs to be replaced.

Please be careful, this is not "steam" - it is alcohol vapour and it is flamable/explosive. Losing yield is of secondary importance.

dont overfill the column with the saddles before you tighten the nut ie make sure they are clear of threaded area as they will stop you fully tightening against the seal then push the rest throught the slots in the nut after tightening up

Same thing happend to me on my first run.I did not have the column central, take the column off, put some pet-jel on the O ring and the threads of the big nut.

Tighten up by hand, make sure the column is central IE when looking from the top of the boiler lid it looks even all the way round.Do not over tighten the nut, a good tighten by hand is all that's needed,maybe you would have to use pliers if you did not have a normal grip.If you over tighten the nut you can knock the column off center and get a leak.

Have just looked at your second pic ,the column is off center, it is over to the left,there is a larger gap on the right.

If you want a quick fix, as soon as it's heated up next run, mix up a flour and water paste and use that to seal the leak.