Darn - now what

tm

I took out the filter over the tank and I filled the spin-on near the tiger loop but still nothing. I don't have a hand pump. Wish I could use my compressor in some way - shoot no heat again!!

tm

I just finished my boiler install with new oil feed. Have a lift run (out the top of the tank, up to ceiling, along ceiling to boiler, drop down to tigers loop, and to burner). Have 2 filters (one by tank, one just before tiger loop. All valves are open. Bypass plug is installed. Nothing between pump and tiger loop. Double checked tiger loop diagram.
Problem: Did purge by the book - but NO oil is coming. Checked for air leaks and now don't know what else it could be. It would'nt take more than 3-5 minutes to get oil would it?? Any help would be appreciated.

Unknown

A few questions

How exactly did you run the oil line into the tank ? Which oil burner do you have ? Did you use flare or compression fittings on the copper ? And are you absolutely sure you connected the Tigerloop to the feed and return of the pump correct ? I piped it wrong just a few weeks ago .

Also , do you have a vacuum gage you can put on the line somewhere ? It'll tell you if you have a suction leak if everything is piped correct .

kevin coppinger_4

well...

> I just finished my boiler install with new oil

> feed. Have a lift run (out the top of the tank,

> up to ceiling, along ceiling to boiler, drop down

> to tigers loop, and to burner). Have 2 filters

> (one by tank, one just before tiger loop. All

> valves are open. Bypass plug is installed.

> Nothing between pump and tiger loop. Double

> checked tiger loop diagram. Problem: Did purge

> by the book - but NO oil is coming. Checked for

> air leaks and now don't know what else it could

> be. It would'nt take more than 3-5 minutes to get

> oil would it?? Any help would be appreciated.





To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

tm

Thanks for the quick reply - everyone is getting cold.
I have a Riello. I ran 3/8 OD and flared everything. Used Permaseal #2 on threads. I have the arrow pointing out of the tiger loop going to the pump inlet - isn't that right??

Unknown

Yep , that's right

Arrow out to the pump inlet . Arrow in to the pump return , and the middle tapping is the oil from the tank .

Does the oil line go right to the bottom of the tank ? Did you connect to the 1/2 inch bottom tap ?

What type of Riello pump do you have ? Did the bypass plug go right into the return port ?

As a wild guess I would check each and every flare , reseal all the threaded fittings , and retighten everything .

tm

I don't have a gauge, but directions for tigers loop say it would take a large suction leak to not get oil from the tank. I can't imagine I would have a large suction leak. Another cause listed is "too high suction head". Could I have this condition?

tm

ron,
I came in the top. I used a 2" plug with double tap. I pluged the unused tap. I used a compression fitting to hold the copper 4" off the bottom ( come to think of it, I did not check that compression fitting - could that be it?? - no that does not make sense to me)I installed the small bypass plug in the return port.

Dick Charland

I hope its 4\" off the bottom

Tom, the Riello pump is terrible at lifting oil that high. Once you get the oil up, the problem is solved, I don't know if you have a push/pull pump or not, you should manually pull the oil over. Do not run the pump too long, without oil you will destroy the gear set.

tm

How long should it take to get oil on a 40' run? I shined a light on the photocel for about 5 minutes to keep it purging but saw nothing in the tigers loop.

Unknown

Nope

The compresson fitting is only holding a solid piece of copper in place , right ? That wouldn't be the source of the problem .

Is there an oil filter in line ? Might it be plugged ? Is it a true Tigerloop or another brand ? The Tigerloop has a little strainer in the middle port , if that gets clogged it won't pull oil . I have to ask again - did you check and make sure the arrow in is connected to the return of the pump ? The middle port to the oil line to the tank ?

There are so many things to check it makes diagnosing the problem daunting . A few other things are - is the pump strainer clean , the pump O ring in place , the brass pieces that connect in the pump tight , the Riello adapters tight , basically is every threaded fitting tight and what kind of sealant did you use on the threads ?

tm

I primed the pump with #2 oil through the vacuum port as per the directions to protect the gears. Yes 4" off the bottom - slip of the finger

tm

I have 2 filters - a spin on near the tiger loop center bottom port and a General filter in the horizantal run just above the tank. Is the General in a bad spot? Should I do away with the General?

Unknown

If everything is tight

there shouldn't be a problem . We have had a few General filters leak where the bolt meets the bottom of the can . I would temporarily take the General out and see if you pull some oil . Would you happen to have a push/pull pump ?

tm

I have a 40 series (F3/F5). Pump pressure is 130 to 200 psig. I don't know if it is a push - pull.

Maine Ken

You need to manually get oil to the Reillo. It does not like to pull from that far away. As has been said before, once the oil gets there then no problem. If you don't have a push/pull pump then you will have to fill both filters manually to help start the prime.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Unknown

It's a hand pump

it'll pull the oil over to the burner without running the pump dry . It's also very good for cleaning the oil lines of sludge . Keep us posted on if you find the problem .

tm

Still nothing - I am running out of things to try...........

Floyd_18

Take a short piece of pipe...

stick it in a five gallon can of oil and run it that way just for the night to get them heat.....maybe not kosher but it will make heat for the night.
Get a hand pump in the morning and hand pump the oil to the burner... then your good to go.

Floyd

Rich P.

Tom you must prime

Hey Tom
Me again, you need to get oil in the overhead oil line, Ron mentioned a push/pull pump thats what we use to pull a aprime and to blow back a clogged line.
You don't own one, that stinks!!
OK try this....
try to force fuel oil or motor oil back to the fuel tank
this sometimes is a enough to prime.
Riello pumps are not powerful it needs you help to start
Just a thought, maybe you can temporarily fill a container with oil and run your burner that way so you take the pressure off yourself(my wife hates when I spend to much time away
If you can temp rig up a way to either pull or fill that line you should be able to prime
Again those pumps should not run dry for long...
I don't remember if its a new burner?
If it aint maybe the screen in the pump is dirty, don't jump in yet, O ring as a gasket, caution

Rich P.

Weezbo

Do like Floyd suggests.*~/:)

> stick it in a five gallon can of oil and run it

> that way just for the night to get them

> heat.....maybe not kosher but it will make heat

> for the night. Get a hand pump in the morning

> and hand pump the oil to the burner... then your

> good to go.

>

> Floyd

tm

No luck - tried everything. Guess I will need a push/pull pump. Where do I get one - plumbing and heating supply?? Once I have one how is it best used - can I leave all lines together and pull through the bleeder port??

Weezbo

Hello... i am awake and up and about.

i do this stuff in my sleep and have no question with this at all. get a 5 gallon container (Of Diesel),cut a small piece of copper say 3 foot long ,flare it and stick it in the bucket. spin the b nut on the tiger loop feed from the tank .valve it off if it isnt already valved off. now turn the boiler on again,open the bleeder valve and soon as a drop of oil sputters thru close it by hand.. watch that tiger loop fill now...:)if it doesnt in the first 30->40 seconds no problem...shut the boiler off, take a straw and put it in the oil, open the bleeder valve on the riello pump and put some oil In the pump...it may be running "dry"...try it again... it will go this time for sure...

Oh By the way there is another sure fired method to get it to go take the supply and return nut off the tigerloop combo and put each of the hoses Ends) in a small clean container, say a good quart of oil..in other words Bag the tiger loop altogether.. if that dont get it ....

Weezbo

Awh Shucks ,...i just remembered...

did you Tighten the bowl on the tiger loop combo? no Wonder you are having such a hassle...

rick in Alaska

priming pump

I have never been able to get a tiger loop to prime itself without opening the bleed plug on the pump. Bleed it like you would without the tigerloop and it should be fine after that.
I did have one run going to a riello that was 75 feet away and about 6 feet below the burner. I put a piece of vinyl tubing on the end of the fuel line just past the fuse valve and used a shop vac to pull vacuum on the line. When I saw the fuel start to come into the vinyl tube, I closed the fuse valve and reconnected the fuel line to the pump.
I then bled the fuel pump throught the bleeder plug and fired it off. Been working fine for about 3 years now.
Hope this works for you . Rick in Alaska

TimJ

Tom,how did you put the oil line into the tank?Did you just feed the oil line through the compression adapter.If you did it,s possible the oil line "rolled" up as you were feeding the line into the tank causing it to go above the oil level.If the tank is easly accessable,I'd run it 2 pipe instead of using the tiger loop.

Steamhead (in transit)

Tom, it's time to call a Pro

I think it's great you want to learn this stuff, and that's why we're all here, but troubleshooting an oil-feed problem is something that should be done on-site by an experienced pro. That way it can be fixed quickly and safely.

Try the Find a Professional page of this site to locate someone near you. Hiring the right pro will be the best money you ever spent. Ask me how I know that..........

tm

I got it!!! All I needed was the hand pump - Big fat thanks to everyone who helped me - see new post (I got heat)