water level and start up banging

clammy

I have a few question about installing a false water and if it accecptable to take the equilizer for the false water line off of the boilers header except instead of it being taken off after the 2 riser connect if it would still work if i take the equilizer for the water line off the middle of the header between the 2 riser it is the only place to a steam line off in short of redoing the header and take off completely,and what would the best way to determine whate was the original systems water levl ,seems the new boiler (installed 3 seasons ago )has a much shorter water level and now there having a hard time with water hammer ,bad distrubtion and end of the steam main drips have no seal against steam roaming in this now above the water line return and as always in this situition the boiler takes on water while firing and then is flooded after the cycle ,there,s seems to be alot of promblems on this one with some very long mains and some replced returns who's sizes where reduced and is also a issiue of not being able to handle start up condensate ,and i,m also looking for what ya think about heat timers to controll boiler cycling and set back if these boiler firing cycles are also helping make something mariginal even worst .thanks for any fresh eyes and minmds thought ,i'm hoping to be the last guy that works on this system and finally gets it working properly ,the boiler piping is mariginal for the boiler but does meet the manafactures mimiun specs ,peace and good luck clammy