What's the fix (SE)

Steve Ebels_3

I got a call from a customer with a 6 year old Thermopride complaining of strong oil smell. The lads went and checked it out and said the hydraulic jack for the air shutter on the Riello F-3 is leaking oil when pressurized.

I remember seeing something about this situation here........(aromatics in the fuel dissolving the seal?) and I'm wondering what the fix is for this problem. Does Riello have a new seal or are they advising a retrofit to the electric shutter I've seen on the newer burners?


Thanks

Unknown

A few options

You can retrofit the electronic air gate onto that F3 . Or you can replace the leaking jack . We had quite a few of those leakers a few years ago and switched to the electronic gate ( which have their own set of issues ) . We switched back from the electronic air gate to the hydraulic jack last year and no leakers yet .

The easiest option is to remove the hydraulic jack altogether . Efficiency loss in a furnace might be marginal at the worst .

Unknown

Ya they have,

a retrofit kit for that Steve, they call it an electric air-shutter. I have been down this exact road myself a few times this past season. They involve a little re-wiring to make them fit,, but I have since learned you can just remove the "gate and piston assembly" and plug the OL hole at the pump. Be sure you have the right plug though,,they are metric I believe. My wholesaler gets them from Riello for about 50 cents.

Dave