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Beckett suntec oil pump seizing up

chevy5356
chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
my suntec oil pump seize up . called my nephew he directed me on how to check blower motor first then the oil pump , pump was seized up and sent me to a supply house for a new one , suntec with solenoid two line system going into top of oil tank. Installed new one and ran fine for 4 days seized up again , removed oil pump and worked it free by moving shaft back and forth on pump , put back together worked fine again for about 4 to 5 days this time seized again . I freed it up and its been 3 days now working fine . There is 3/4 of a tank of oil , new oil filter , new nozzle installed . Checked all oil lines for leaks . We are baffled , anybody out their have this problem or knows what could be causing this to happen any answers would be deeply appreciated. Thank You Gilman

Comments

  • Grallert
    Grallert Member Posts: 643
    That's an odd one. Does the pump make any whining noise? My first thought would be to make sure there are no restrictions in the fuel line.
    Miss Hall's School service mechanic, greenhouse manager,teacher and dog walker
  • Alan Welch
    Alan Welch Member Posts: 265
    Is this an underground tank ? did you check the pump strainer?
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    No noise from pump only humming noise from blower motor that it is jammed , flip switch to off , remove oil pump and free it up runs smoothly about 4 to 5 days and pump seized again . Filters are clean , nozzle new see no restrictions . This has happened twice since i installed new pump .Now on third day working fine so far. Somebody suggested removing oil lines going into tank and there should be a sock like filter and see if this is slugged up . Will try tomorrow when it is warmer. Thank you for your concern Grallert P.S. Unit is ten years old Bryant
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Above ground 275 gallon tank about 15 feet from furnace
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    I have not checked the new pump strainer , will do so tomorrow.
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540

    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
    Grallert
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    It's either that or water, nothing wrong with multiple pumps.
    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,803
    Did you install the bypass plug for 2 pipe operation?
  • newagedawn
    newagedawn Member Posts: 586
    can you show a pic of the burner, sometimes if the motor is old it seizes up and makes it look like the oil pump, had one like that last week
    "The bitter taste of a poor install lasts far longer than the JOY of the lowest price"
    DZororick in Alaska
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Yes i installed the bypass plug. I have a Beckett PSC Burner motor 1/7 HP 3450 RPM , the part # on it is 21805R and model # is 707502 . I will have to wait for my grandson to come home from school to take pictures and send them not sure how to do it , not really computer smart on how to do this . My other question is when i remove blower motor and turn on without oil pump hooked up it spins fine and oil pump is hard to turn by hand with coupler is this because it is under pressue and what your saying is my blower motor could have a bad spot on it or heats up after time . I want to thank everybody who responds to my posts , senior on fixed income. Techs in my area want 110.00 dollars an hour just to look at it. Thanks Again Gilman
  • Alan Welch
    Alan Welch Member Posts: 265
    Why do you have a 2 pipe system, there really isn't a need with an oil tank 15 feet away. ?
    New England SteamWorks
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    This is the way it was piped when we purchased home 9 years ago.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159
    I know very little about Suntec pumps. Indeed, I don't play with burners at all. That said...

    I do know some about diesel engines, and I have had very similar types of problems with diesel high pressure pumps and injectors using certain types and ages of diesel fuel. So -- I'm going to ask: how old is the fuel in your tank? And is it biofuel or blended, or is it pure low sulphur or ultra low sulphur diesel? I ask because both old fuel and biofuel or blended fuel have jammed injectors and high pressure pumps on some of my equipment in the past. Can always be freed, and won't jam on lsd or ulsd, but put them back on the blended stuff and after a couple of days... not so happy.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • captainco
    captainco Member Posts: 792
    Get rid of the return line and by-pass plug. It was wrong in the beginning and it is wrong now. Should minimize if not eliminate problem.
    New England SteamWorks
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    The oil delivery was in September of 2017 , 150 gallons . I have used the same oil company for last 11 years , No. 2 home heating oil . Never have had a problem with there fuel .
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,452
    As usual everyone is harping about two pipe system that has nothing to do with the problem at hand.

    I would contact the fuel supplier and find out about oil treatment.

    Maybe someone from Suntec could respond. You may be able to contact Suntec through the supply house you bought the pump at
    Robert O'Brienrick in Alaska
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,803
    Are you absolutely sure it's the fuel pump? The shaft will not spin free like on the burner motor. It takes a little effort.
    Ask if your grandson can post pics of the boiler or furnace and burner.
    What make and model boiler or furnace?
    What make and model burner?
    Some manufacturers spec a specific pump pressure depending on application. A suntec A pump comes factory set at 100 psi.
    FYI, there's no, or shouldn't be any sock type filter inside the tank.
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16





  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Thanks HVACNUT for all your information . What happened when calling for heat , i could hear blower motor humming and pushed switch to off , then i would disconnect oil line to nozzle and pull oil pump out turn shaft of oil pump back and forth and would free up and spin but not as easy as the burner motor if that helps . I called oil company that delivers oil and they gave me Hercules fuel oil sludge and fuel treatment , that was on Monday morning and this is day 4 still running smooth as of 8pm Tuesday 12/5/17 . My thanks to all that responds.
    HVACNUT
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,803
    edited December 2017
    Look on the white part of the burner housing near the nozzle line, above the pump. Is there a sticker there stating pump pressure? That's not the cause of your troubles but it will affect proper combustion if its supposed to be more than 100 psi.
    Regardless, you might want to call a qualified pro to do an annual tune up and a combustion analysis.
  • newagedawn
    newagedawn Member Posts: 586
    are you sure you put the return pipe in the side it goes on and put the plug in? after looking at the pics not sure, there is only one port you can use, it says it right on the pump
    "The bitter taste of a poor install lasts far longer than the JOY of the lowest price"
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,761
    Teflon tape would bind up oil pumps ... Pieces of tape get in the gear set and bind them up.. Not sure if I see white tape under the pipe dope in the photos....
    I have enough experience to know , that I dont know it all
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    I put a mark on pipe and pump where they should go it also said on pump return , also installed plug. I made sure with teflon and pipe dope did not get in there , as my nephew advised to be careful with this. He was in the HVAC business for three years and moved on to another type of work. He is pretty good with HVAC , but i think he does not have the knowledge of problems that the elders have had . Thanks to all
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    I would like to also say this is day 5 and still running smooth . I am thinking the hercules additive has helped , because other people have said when i received the oil delivery it could have stirred thinks up after setting all summer. Hopefully this is what it was . My nephew will stop by next week to check pump pressure and all other issues if any. Again Thank You All
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159
    As I said... old or blended oil can do it to you. I hope the additive was enough; you may need to add more. Try to run the tank as low as you dare before you add new oil, and toss in some more Herc. while you're at it.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Thank you Mr. Hall , will try this.
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Well this time it ran for 10 days and Sunday evening about 7: 30 , burner motor started humming , pushed switch too off, opened up oil igniter and everything was free . I thought of what Newagedawn had said it could be burner motor so i tapped on motor and sure enough it kicked back on , running fine all night and this morning , but i ordered a new motor , blower wheel and coupler . Will be in tomorrow , cost was $75. 80 . Hope this is it. Thanks again to everyone for your input.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,159
    Too bad about the motor -- but running against a seized up pump probably didn't do it any good at all.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    HVACNUT
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,803
    If your in there doing the motor, you might as well do the coupling too. The sprockets might have shaved a bit with all that torque. You can order it specifically for your Beckett AFG so you don't have to cut down a universal coupling.
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,761
    No Teflon tape on and oil delivery system.. It's the reason your having problems with pumps binding ..
    I have enough experience to know , that I dont know it all
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
    At what point are you going to bring in a professional to diagnose and properly fix this?
    steve
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    The new motor will be installed on Thursday and after this any problems will be turned over to the Professionals . I am done with this. Thanks to all with there suggestions.
  • 1972skidoo
    1972skidoo Member Posts: 1
    I had this same problem two winters ago at a customers house. They had an above ground tank filled in the spring. Then sat for five months. I had serviced and tuned the boiler with a beckett sporting a sutec pump in September that year . When they started the heating season that's when the pump seizing started. I replaced the pump at first then three days later another seized pump . I would rock the burner fan then it would free up and good for another three . To get two the chase. I remove the return line from the pump ( don't forget to remove the by-pass plug) and haven't had a problem since. So I believe it is definitely a fuel problem possible because of the Bio fuel blend they put in our fuel here in the Northeast . Suntec is now putting a disclaimer in their package claiming only 5% bio blend in red letters so I believe they are aware of the problem. Hope this post was helpful to someone. Good luck!
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Hi 1972skidoo Did you disconnect the return line from pump entirely, remove by-pass plug and install plug. I changed the pump , as you can see I have been thru this and most recently two so called pros . One installed new blower motor i had purchased but did not install do to illness. Then he could not make over when it happened again, 18 years in business , so sent another Pro subcontractor over to look at it and freed up the pump like you did , 24 years in the business and it happened again . So i took pump off and freed it up and made sure it was clean , still looks like new inside . Put more additive in tank its been working fine. The money i spent on the Pros i could have put a good down payment on a new one . Oh well just my luck. Thank you for any information deeply appreciated.
  • ModernOldTimer
    ModernOldTimer Member Posts: 2
    Hi, I had same problem with a 4 year old oil pump seizing up. I have old underground oil tank, but newer well-maintained furnace. Earlier I had decided to try 5% biofuel blend and had delivery of a couple hundred gallons adding to couple hundred already in tank. Furnace ran fine until temps got colder when oil pump wouldn't work. I had furnace expert stop by who told me nothing was wrong except that my fuel was probably gelling or sludgy due to adding biofuel to old tank but that he had been seeing same problem even without biofuel where many people were getting new oil pumps as solution. I decided to try a different solution which was to plug in a small electric ceramic heater and run it on low in front of oil pump and copper fuel lines. Worked like a charm last winter and this winter and now oil pump is working fine now without the electric heater now that temps are above freezing. I am burning as much as possible of my old fuel before adding new and I am not going to add any more biofuel next fillup. The electric heater has added $10 to $20 per month extra to my light bill, but we have enjoyed the little bit of extra heat in basement anyway and it's cheaper than the cost of a new oil pump and allowing us to burn up the old sludgy fuel.
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,803
    @ModernOldTimer
    Installation of a Tiger Loop Ultra will help preheat the fuel. The burner only pulls what it needs from the tank so you don't have 3 GPH running between the tank and pump. What brand, model burner? There are manufacturers of nozzle line heaters.
    SuperTech
  • Leonard
    Leonard Member Posts: 903
    edited March 2018
    If you end up replacing the pump..... About 10-15 years ago my OLD suntech pump leaked, bought rebuilt one from local supply house . That one leaked in ~ 1-2 years. Bought NEW pump , worked well ever since. Guess rebuilt oil pumps are not as good as rebuilt car water pumps.
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,761
    Sometimes the coupling is too long and that will apply pressure on the pump shaft .. Bits of teflon will jam the gear set ... Useless check valves on the return line could cause this problem if it dose not pop the shaft seal first ...
    I have enough experience to know , that I dont know it all
  • chevy5356
    chevy5356 Member Posts: 16
    Thanks to all who have suggestions and similar problems . I finally found somebody who took care of problem and said it had something to do with fuel . He took the entire burner out and reset every thing to specs. another new nozzle , new filters , set oil pump pressure .It has been running fine since . He will be installing new system in the spring my request , converting to natural gas . I already have 9 year old system sold , friend wants it for his large garage . I spent to much money and aggravation on this oil burner this season . Thanks again everybody for all your help . Sincerely Chevy 5356
    SuperTechDZoro