ARCO Gravity Coal --Oldie But Goodie

Steamhead

the spring is to let the door open a bit in case of a "puff" and pull it closed again. Right, Tim?

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Paul Pollets

90++years later...

This ARCO coal fired (converted to gas) gravity boiler is in pretty good shape. I've rarely seen where the weighted 24v controller for the 2 dampers are still original (and worked). Lots of asbestos. No valves...they didn't isolate the mains back then. You can see the sidearm DHW heater, which was removed from service 30 years ago.



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Boiler Guy

OOOOOOooooo that old snowman is a work of art!!

Unknown

Paul we have a lot

of those up my way. It is process of covering the boilers with fiberglass wrap to seal the asbestos. It also makes for a great combustion test as all the air is then conrolled by the burner. I can't make it out very clear but is the door strapped shut? If it is that is a no no. The door latch should actually be filed and a spring placed on the door.

I am able on those old units many times to get a combustion efficiency of around 78% with very low CO. They usually require some firebrick baffles up in the sections to get good heat transfer and to control the pressure point at the door latch.

Great pictures who said the old stuff all needs to be replaced.

Paul Pollets

Spring latch

It has a spring latch. Thre's no firebrick, but the owner's may want to nurse the boiler for another heating season.

The home needs lots of work.

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S Ebels

Spring

Why is the spring required Tim? I've seen that on a few old furnaces around here but never knew ther was an actual reason for it.

Greg Swob

I took two of those ARCO's out of service last year

Surprised to hear Tim talk of such high eff.- we never hooked an analyzer to them to check prior to upgrade to Trinity T's. Reduced therm usage last winter (using past 3 year average) by 47% on one home and just over 50% on the other. One had fire bricks stacked within, the other empty. Both were coincidentally 1904 vintage and taken out of service after 100 years of quiet servitude. The customers are happy, and neither seems to miss the old regular radiator bleeding rituals. Although we all know it's a safe bet these condensing units will likely not still be operating in 2104! Only complaint is now circulators can be heard where before the only sounds were... basically nothing!
Greg

Weezbo

That is Beauiful *~/:) ..I Like it!

Couldnt ya just carefully cleaner up a bit..and pay the guy ta work on it taking it out of its home just dont seem right....

clammy

Dreaming

If i was there i would think i was dreaming is my eyes lieing or is that a clear empty and clean basement ?Are the HO older because that's the only time i every see the areas around the boiler that clean in most cases .Nice to see something that's original and not butchered up.Those units top section was always a little heavy for a 2 man team ,thanks for the photos and memories of backache of the past .Peace clammy

Unknown

Steamhead is correct

the spring is to close the door after a delayed ignition. The door becomes the relief point for the pressure created by the gas delaying on ignition. The latches on the doors had to be filed to insure the door would spring open.

All of our service on these old boiler required a minimum 75% combustion efficiency or we stayed with it until we got 75%. With an atmospheric burner no firebox had to be built but with a power burner a firebox was necessary. I have built many a firebox on old coal boilers in my days.

This one looks like it is operating with a barometric which made adjustments much easier than with the fixed draft hood.

Dale

120 v economite 400

That is one of the nicest conversion burners made, as Timmie says the variable orifice and air shutter make it really easy to set up from the burner end, really well made and easy to service. Nice heavy relay and the centrifugal switch lasts forever. I hope somebody saves this one, makes a great gas forge heater.