They're usually loktited on during assembly so the first time you try and take it off its difficult. Italian manufacturers are not that fussed on the milk side of the machine because they dont do milk (like we do)..... so its not uncommon to find them having fitted tips on small machines, that are like the ones on their big machines, where there is a lot more steam volume. ie....More holes, bigger holes (than they should have for the capacity of the smaller machine) This results in a massive steam grunt at first, that dies quickly and the machine cant recover unless you close the steam tap and give it a minute.....ie it wont recover while you keep pulling steam out. When the steam dies, and if the operator keeps going, you can eventually end up with a bit of a milk suck back that may go as far as the steam tap/valve where it dries into a grunge and does a partial or total black. Disassembly & manual clean is required. OR...nothing is blocked and the tip is simply too big for the machine causing it to die quickly. Try temporarily blocking two of the four holes with toothpicks and see what that does. Also smell the steam. The smell usually tells you if there is milk up there going off.
