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Stumped...

j_hadden
j_hadden Member Posts: 6

I am working on a clients boiler which is a burnham v8 series. She started having trouble a year ago when her tank ran empty and then was filled up. Since then it has sooted up. I brushed the unit from front, side and top several times. I have also cleaned full fuel line and fuel pump and tried different size nozzles. I installed a tigerloop and getting clean fuel with no leaks. I also brushed the stack and inspected it with no obstructions. Fuel pressure is 140, stack draft is -.04, overfire draft is +.03, stack temp 570, smoke =5. No matter what I do I cannot get the overfire draft to change nor the smoke. Full open to full close on both the airband and shutter results in no change in draft or smoke. Beckett afg burner. What am I missing?

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,115

    If things don't change when you change the air band or the shutter you have a nice big air leak somewhere, most likely in the burner itself or the way it is installed in the boiler.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,084

    What kind of burner? I would pull the burner and look at the flame cone/retention head. You are running + over the fire and may have burned off the end cone. How does the fire look (crappy I imagine) and what is your Co2?

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,215

    If the boiler sooted up, the chimney may have too. Have that checked. The positive draft tells me there is an obstruction someplace on the way out of the boiler.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • j_hadden
    j_hadden Member Posts: 6

    It is a beckett afg burner. I have had it set to 11 co2, 5o2 40%EA . Flame is mostly orangish yellow and flickering. Last time I had it apart to brush it, I checked for leaks after I fired it up and found none. I had also disassembled the chimney and brushed it. While apart I brushed and inspected the breech. It all went back together fine but I haven't pulled the burner off yet. Before I had done any of this, smoke was at 7.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,047

    Burnham V8-? How many sections?

    What nozzle?

    What head? F,V,L?

    Chamber door, inspection port, burner Flange are all tight? No flame impingement on the target wall?

    With a +.03 over fire, and a -.04 breach, it's something major.

    If the flue passages and chimney are clear, then I'd say it's over fired.

  • j_hadden
    j_hadden Member Posts: 6

    It is a beckett afg with an l1 head. It had an .85x60a nozzle when I started. I also tried a .75x60a with no change in smoke. Should I tear the burner unit apart and see if I can find the air leak

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,047
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,215

    @j_hadden , have you checked the Z dimension of the head?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 716
    edited September 17

    Something else to check. Take the motor off and look at the pump seal. If that's leaking it will throw off your readings, sometimes by quite a lot.

    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager,teacher and dog walker