I successfully revived a (presumably) similar Russell Hobbs Steamglide 2400 (Model 13715) which exhibited this problem right out of the box. It would just run the pump, making a terrible noise but no steam, no matter how long the trigger was pressed.
It appears the water pump is sometimes simply not powerful enough to draw water up from the tank through completely empty pipes and/or filter. By pre-filling the pipes and the top of the filter with water, we can give the pump a helping hand and increase its chances of success.
First take out the water tank, then remove the upper half of the base unit (after completely disconnecting it from the mains and letting everything cool down, of course). There are four standard crosshead screws, but you need an unusually long or thin screwdriver to remove them. The top of the case then lifts off.
You will see a pipe running from the filter connector down to the pump (an anonymous looking tubular plastic item with a pipe attached to each end). Carefully pull that inlet pipe off the pump. Now use a small syringe (as used for childrens medicine) or similar to squirt water through the filter connector and down the pipe (hold the open end over a pot or piece of kitchen roll and ensure no water is left inside the base unit). Carry on until the pipe is more or less full.
Then put your finger over the filter connector (to stop the water falling out!) and push the free end of the pipe back onto the pump. Refit the top of the casework.
Just for good measure, squirt some more water into the top of the tank filter before refitting the water tank to the base unit.
Now power up the iron and follow the pump priming procedure as per the manual (i.e. select maximum steam, wait for the green light to stop blinking then push the trigger). The pump should run noisily for a few seconds then quieten down and produce steam.
Your mileage may vary but, after doing the above, our previously quite unresponsive iron was producing billowing clouds of steam. It is advisable to avoid the iron running dry otherwise the problem may recur.
Good luck - hope this helps!
Steve L.
Steve L.
March 2009