Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

have you checked the nozzle for any signs of oil?  if dry then it sounds like a fuel issue ( pump or solenoid)

pump - you can check it is reaching pressure with a cheap ~10 quid pressure gauge

solenoid - check the resistance - open circuit - suspect the solenoid

typically there are diagostic flow charts on line for whichever burner you have so have a look for that and follow it - oil burners are pretty basic tech so not hard to diagnose tbh

I've pulled the unit out and cleared the 'back box' (no idea if that is what it is called) of soot. Removed the nozzle which appears black and blocked and have left it overnight in white spirit. I'm hoping it is this that is stopping ignition if no fuel if getting through.

I will also adjust the igniter tips that should be set 3mm apart, and level with the top of the nozzle.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Didn't even occur to me. Would this work?

YouTube seems to think so.

https://youtu.be/uBZ7NIEEvck?si=RsJt0OTwc-akTvJI

It might be useful to know what the values should be. But given the age of boiler, I suspect it won't be that precise.

 

Thanks Jimmy.

The photocell is easy to remove so I'll give it a try.

My photocell is the same as the second on in your video, only longer. Mine appears to be 80mm, the one in the video looks 40mm.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

OK....so following the advice of Jimmy the Photocell seems to work as it should regarding light and dark.

I've turned the burner around (so it is facing outward) and I can now see there is no spark at the igniters. So some progress.

 AI for no spark throws up burner control box....possible HT lead failure, ignition transformer fault.

Take your pick.

[TheBoy]

touch those bits with a licked finger. You will soon know by the bit that kills you which is faulty

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

touch those bits with a licked finger. You will soon know by the bit that kills you which is faulty

For a moment there I thought you were talking about wet fanny.

[ronnyd]

touch those bits with a licked finger. You will soon know by the bit that kills you which is faulty

For a moment there I thought you were talking about wet fanny.

If that's the way you want to moisten your finger, that's your prerogative. 

[STEMO]

touch those bits with a licked finger. You will soon know by the bit that kills you which is faulty

For a moment there I thought you were talking about wet fanny.

If that's the way you want to moisten your finger, that's your prerogative. 

Yuk. The smell of burnt fish.

[Kevin Wood]

I've turned the burner around (so it is facing outward)...

  Good job there was no spark or you'd have had an industrial sized flame thrower to deal with.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I'm just waiting to see the headlines.....

House Explodes In Lincolnsausageshire!

    

[STEMO]

I'm just waiting to see the headlines.....

House Explodes In Lincolnsausageshire!

    

At least the orangery won't go up. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I didn't stand in front of it....

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Anyway, I'm a bit like Niki Lauda, who according to James Hunt was better looking after the fire than before.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Managed to get the old girl going again.

In the end I took a chance on a used Wallstar 12/14 from Ebay, of 1998 vintage.

Changed the nozzle for a new than cleaned the photocell with white spirit and she roared into life.

£84 for the burner, £9 for a new nozzle, and £7 for Royal Mail P&P from some God forsaken part of the UK.

[Viral_Jim]

Solid result!

With barely over £100 spent, you should have plenty of spare dosh to shower Mrs Opti with gifts this time next week! 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Solid result!

With barely over £100 spent, you should have plenty of spare dosh to shower Mrs Opti with gifts this time next week! 

....and I have spare parts from the original unit, some of which may work if anything goes tits up.

Thing is, I was looking at a complete new system for about £10,000. I'm not from the north, but I still hate spending money.