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Oil burner making a humming noise - won't fire

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rayians_2
rayians_2 Member Posts: 3
in Oil Heating
Hey everyone,

I just tried to fire my oil furnace for the 1st time this season, and got quite a surprise. The burner will not do anything except make a "humming" or "buzzing" noise. No blue flame, no warning light, no other noise. It is a Becket AF II 150.

I am at a loss here, it worked like a charm all last winter. What could've went wrong from sitting for 5 months? Where do I start my diagnostics? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Comments

  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
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    You should get it checked out by a pro. Could be something as simple as the fuel pump lost its prime, a bad ignitor, or something more involved. Either way a pro should be able to figure it out fairly easily.
    steve
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,457
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    Sounds like dead motor, or primary control is not powering it. You will need someone to do an electrical troubleshoot on it to find out. I don't believe the Af11 motor has a reset button on it, but if it does, try pushing it. Should just be a red button on the motor itself.
    Rick
  • rayians_2
    rayians_2 Member Posts: 3
    edited October 2016
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    The motor is getting power and fuel. Not sure where to go next with this. The thing that gets me is what could've went wrong from sitting for 5 months? I have a hard time believing something broke while sitting.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,286
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    Actually not all that surprising -- if a bit annoying. If something sits for quite a while without being spun up, the bearings can seize -- particularly sleeve bearings. Have you tried spinning the motor by hand? It might free up with enough persuasion. If not, new motor.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,541
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    Why not just call someone who knows what they are doing? It's not a complex repair. And someone familiar with oil burners would know that a PSC motor that appears frozen is more than likely fine and a seized fuel pump is much more likely
    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
  • rayians_2
    rayians_2 Member Posts: 3
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    The motor is not seized, the squirrel cage spins freely.
  • Paul48
    Paul48 Member Posts: 4,469
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    Spiders...
  • 1hoteatech
    1hoteatech Member Posts: 5
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    Did you get your AF II to fire?
  • 1hoteatech
    1hoteatech Member Posts: 5
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    I cringe when I have to troubleshoot an AF II or an NX, they are very fickle...
  • 1hoteatech
    1hoteatech Member Posts: 5
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    If it is still "humming" or buzzing...I would put my ear close to the motor..it sounds like thats the problem.
  • 1hoteatech
    1hoteatech Member Posts: 5
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    The AF II motor has a permanent split capacitor, when it's fried the motor won't start, and will create the sounds you are talking about.
  • burnerman_2
    burnerman_2 Member Posts: 297
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    Try removing the motor and use a jumper to l1 l2 see if motor starts try spinning squirrel cage .. like said may be Capacitor

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