Newbie. 1915 Moline 2 pipe.

WithrowPlace

Hi, I don't have any problems right now. I just wanted to share some photos of my heat. Enjoy.

WithrowPlace

Is there a place to post a good contractor. Strong's in Blacksburg/Pearisburg VA installed my new boiler abt 10 years ago. They were great!

KC_Jones

WithrowPlace said:

Is there a place to post a good contractor. Strong's in Blacksburg/Pearisburg VA installed my new boiler abt 10 years ago. They were great!

Hmmm well I will say thanks for posting the contractors name, but for exactly the opposite reason that you stated. The piping on that boiler isn't correct. They may have been nice, but they certainly don't know how to pipe a steam boiler.

srmaietta

It's cool that those original documents still survive! I'd try to get some good legible photos, just for history's sake.

Bummer about the incorrect piping, your fuel bill may be a bit higher than it should.. But if it's keeping the house warm and not making too much noise, you're ahead of a lot of folks.

Thanks for posting

~Steve

Steamhead

I agree with KC. That piping around the boiler is wrong. If it's working, it's probably because the riser from the boiler goes all the way up to the ceiling, which keeps water from getting that high. With modern steam boilers, water tends to leave the boiler with the steam, and there has to be a way to catch it before it gets to the steam mains.

What model is that boiler?

WithrowPlace

The boiler is a Smith. abt 2000. Photo attached. The contractor installed it using existing pipes. There was a similar sized boiler there installed 1980 or so. Fuel bills not bad for a 5k sq ft house w 19 radiators. abt $2k a year.

WithrowPlace

And Steve, I'll try to get some good photos of the Moline panels. Thanks.

vaporvac

Yes, scans of that lit would be great and could have a permanent home on this site's library.

Dave in QCA

Moline Systems are great! Perhaps one of the most simple designs there was. I sure wish the Moline supply valves with cage orifice were still available.

We certainly see a LOT of these here in the Quad Cities, but the biggest problem we seem to have is with the knuckleheading that gets done by people who don't understand their operation. I've got a project a block from home, a great old 1909 mansion with a Moline system. All orifices have been removed from all valves, mixture of other valves.... It will be fun to get it evened out.

WithrowPlace

Dave, Are these cage orifices on the Moline system? When I repack the valves, I take them out! What do they do?

WithrowPlace

And this valve leaks and I don't know how to fix it. I might put together a valve with the old moline parts I have. Wish me luck!

Dave in QCA

Ugh! OK. I'm busy at the moment and can't type the complicated physics of the Moline system. But, the orifice rings are the central component that allow the system to operate correctly. It is certainly fortunate that you did not throw them away, but there would have been a way to resurrect the proper operation with a different type of orifice device. Is there any way you can determine which rings came from which radiator? They are NOT the same, they are matched to the size of the radiators. I am attaching a pdf file of a brochure that explains the Moline System. Please read it 5 times at least. Parts are easy to grasp, but other parts are difficult to understand how and why it even works.

SWEI

I still remember the first time I read that introduction. Brilliant.

WithrowPlace

Dave, thanks a whole lot. Sigh! Homework. I did read it once and you're right. I'll need to read it over and over. I don't get it. I kinda get it, but I don't get it.

Dave in QCA

Yep. It's difficult to wrap one's head around. I'm guessing that other parts are gone, such as the ejector and condensing loop, the vacuum valve, etc. But unless you want install steam traps on every radiator, orifices on the inlets and controlling the pressure at 6-8 oz will do the job.

WithrowPlace

Hey Steve, attached is the Honeywell panel. The other two panels don't photo well. I'll try again w better lighting. Also 2 pics of the old coal furnace.

WithrowPlace

Good contractor near 24084? I'm no pro. I'm handy but know when I'm over my head. I'm over my head. Thanks.

WithrowPlace

OK PROS! I'm guessing I've got a sorta moline system. The steam supply line ends at the beginning of the condensing loop. The newer boiler control unit acts as part ejector and refills water as needed. There's a green vent that hisses (keeps the steam in the radiators and ejects air) abt 10 minutes after the boiler stops firing. Pics here.

The old moline style valves I've touched have been repacked with graphite rope and work fine.

I've never touched the return valves.

My big probs are leaking newer style radiator valves that I can't repack. Pic above.

Thanks!

Fred

That McDonnell 47-2 is a combo water feeder and Low Water Cut-off (LWCO), with a manual Blow down valve, to feed and/or shut the boiler down if the water level gets to low. Looks like a Cycle Gard probe type (blue box behind the 47-2) LWCO also.
The Green "Valve" is just a Hoffman #75 Main vent. That is to allow the steam to push air out of the Main when the boiler starts a heating cycle.
These are all typical components for any steam system and not specifically indicative of a Moline. Not to say it isn't a Moline.

Boiler wrestler

You still have your ejector fitting and condensing loop! Yay for you.

You can replace handvalves as necessary, but they must be appropriately orificed in order to maintain system balance.

Moline systems are simple and amazing. They are wonderful when intact, but like all steam, easily knuckleheaded. You have most of what you need for a nice system.

Yes I'm slightly biased as I live in Moline.

Dave in QCA

Thanks @Boiler wrestler. I was looking at the photos but couldn't see it.... Thanks for point out that there IS a Moline Ejector! I zoomed in and there it was! I have labeled the photo because it is difficult to see and may help the original poster too.

I'm not sure how big the system is, but Boiler Wrestler did some work on a nearby Moline System here in Rock Island, just a block away from my home and I just installed plate orifices in it 2 days ago to correct for the fact that someone had removed ALL of the orifice cylinders. It is 1218 EDR and 2 Hoffman #75 vents allow the system to operate very well.

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Have you drained some of the water with the boiler running to see if the low water cutoff is working?

Thanks, Bob Gagnon

WithrowPlace

Yes Bob. I try to drain the dirty gunk out once a week, ok once a month and if refills nicely.

Thanks y'all for your feedback. I really appreciate knowing what I do have.

WithrowPlace

WithrowPlace

This valve has always had a coffee can under it to catch the leaks. A pint a week at worst. This valve is spring-loaded with a sort of ratchet action. So I was opening and closing it and ALL OF A SUDDEN, it stopped leaking. I've got a piece of tp on top of the can and after an hour, no leaks and the radiator is on and hot. I'll never touch this valve again!

WithrowPlace

So no steam pros near 24084