Wrong LWCO, P Trol all blocked with Splooge

Mad Dog_2

Mad Dog_2

Mad Dog_2

This is an Old Burnham Gas Steamer with Powerpile (millivolt) system.  Years ago they changed the LWCO, but put in a #67.
I replaced with the #67 G, changed out all the boiler drains (100% packed with Mud), added a Gorton  #2 (The old tee was plugged...no main vent!), raised up the P Trol and added a 3 PSI Steam Guage, new Relief valve.  LWCO, Guage glass cocks 100% blocked...Mad Dog 🐕 

Mad Dog_2

Mad Dog_2

Don't let the belly fool ya...Like a Mouse 🐁,  I can flatten myself to fit in any spot!  This was under a stairs...Very tight.  Kept getting dinged in the scull by nails sticking down..ha ha 😂 🤣 😆.   Mad Dog 

Mad Dog_2

gotta love these brand new Yellow Brass Pigtails...Bent right out of the box!  Mad Dog..

EBEBRATT-Ed

What a mess. Hope you were able to save it.

The old one a black pigtail right on top of the LWCO. No surprise it plugged.

Is a 67 G the same as a normal 67 it just has a millivolt rated switch correct?

Mad Dog_2

Boilers fine...5 contractors came in...you need a new Boiler!!  The #67 G is  seperate unit from a #67.  I believe the Millivolt switch works better with Powerpile or the #67 might not even break in a low water event. A better Electric person can splain that, but thats what I was Taught.  Mad Dog 🐕 

mattmia2

The non millivolt rate contacts may have trouble making with low enough resistance for enough current to flow to reliably open the millivolt valve.

Mad Dog_2

There you go.

Whatever Mattmia said....Mad Dog 🐕 

tim smith

Testing across contacts with millivolts helps in diagnosing losses in the mv control circuit. Starting at the gas valve where powerpiile connects you can test the whole control circuit  there by putting test lead on the side of power pile that also has a wire going out to controls and the other meter lead on the wire coming back from control circuit. This will give you cumulative loss of all controls in circuit. If you are are losing say more than 50 mv or so. Start checking across each control contacts to see which one or multiple are losing too much. 

tim smith

Here is a good detail dwg from Robertshaw on their mv gas valve. Simple but fickled sometimes. Most the time the terminals and connectors are tarnished and or loose and need a little sand paper action.

Mad Dog_2

Mad Dog_2

Nothing like ample room to service a boiler...no wonder no one maintains them.  Mad Dog 🐕 

Steamhead

The water heater looks newer than the boiler- I'd fault whoever put that unit in.

Mad Dog_2

The HO is a retired Airplane ✈ mechanic.  He did everything himself and that's also his little shop down there.with all his Snap On tool cases  and on the right The Missus stacked her crafts...As plumbers, "Heaters" and steamfitters that we are, I always do.my my best to Elbow my way 💪 some extra room...G.C.s, Engineers, Architects and H.O.s do their best to contain us in the the smallest possible foot print.  I point out that this will lead to Less or no maintenance, premature failure AND much more expensive service calls in the future if a 10 minute repair takes an hour because you DIE accessing it!  Mad Dog 🐕 

Mad Dog_2

The Airplane mechanic loved how I set the Guages up for him.  Mad Dog 🐕