WM QB-180 maintenance ??

Im extremely familiar with the QB-180 burner but I am not in your area. Unfortunately Weil McLain has discontinued making replacement parts for those oil burners, so normal wear and tear items like the electronic igniter and electrodes are no longer available. It makes keeping one of those burners working reliably difficult.

Fortunately there's a solution. In my area the local Sid Harveys sells complete Beckett AFG burners designed for those Weil McLain boilers. I replaced two of them already this year and I wasn't sad to see the QB-180s go. I'm sure you can get a Carlin or Riello burner for those boilers as a replacement as well. The replacement burner does need to be setup and commissioned by someone who has a digital combustion analyzer and tools for setting oil pump pressure.

I actually have a hard copy manual somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it up and post some pics of the guideline settings. Might take a few days. Its time to clean out the shed anyway.

This is a link to the manual. You can download and print

This burner will eventually fail at some point, where you need to source a WM proprietary part that is no longer available. Once that happens your only choice will be to get  a Beckett or Carlin that is made for that boiler and replace the QB.   You just need to decide when that will be.  Now or in an emergency in January on a weekend when you need to pay overtime rates then wait until the supply houses open on Monday to find out that they need to order that particular burner and it will be in on Wednesday. So we can install it on Thursday.  The day after your pipes freeze and burst.   

The choice is yours

The funny thing about this is that my son has a QB in his Buderus Boiler because we had just finished rebuilding it for inventory to use in case a low income customer needed one. When the 30 Year old Riello failed one evening, it was easier to swap out the QB than to fix the Riello at the time. LOL

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1280047/Weil-Mclain-Qb-180.html

There are standard parts that most oil burner manufacturers use (except Riello). The transformer, the fuel pump the burner motor, nozzles and the like. The WM proprietary parts are the housing, the air adjustment air settings, The cam adjustment, that nozzle assembly, the flame retention disk, and some other pieces are not common to other manufacturers. The electrode assembly is a unique part also. It is similar to the Riello electrode assembly, but not exact. And the white wires that attach to the ignition transformer were difficult to source 8 years ago. I did find some and ordered 2 sets, have used them since. Eventually those ignition parts may fail and then you will have to deal with that. Good thing that you have a backup for those.

That has been my experience anyway. The flame retention ring is the part that will cause you problems if that ever falls apart at a welded joint, Be very careful handling that when cleaning it.

@EdTheHeaterMan a QB-180 to replace a Riello on a Buderus of all things?! Wow. I would literally start laughing if I walked up to that, but I understand why you did it at the time.

@edplu it sounds like you have the most common parts that usually fail, the ignition parts. I would strongly recommend using a modern interrupted ignition primary control on that burner to reduce the wear and tear on the ignition components. The Carlin 60200 is my favorite, set it for 10 seconds trial for ignition. The Honeywell/Resideo R7284U set for 15 seconds trial for ignition is another great option.

Yes, ditch that control. It keeps the ignition components powered the entire time the burner is running. No need for that. It's like holding a lighter up to a candle that is already burning.

There are no contractors near you on the Find A Contractor. North Jersey and Media PA are the closest ones to you. and that seems like a trek for them to south Jersey (near the Walt Whitman Bridge). there was an Enright oil company in Sewell NJ that I remember that had a decent service department. But that was a few years back, with all the buyouts they may or may not still be in business under that name.

I do know that the McAllister folks also had a good service department. But I believe they sold the fuel oil business a few years back. I believe they still do repair service in your area. If any of the old timers are still on the payroll thay may be able to work on that oil burner.

Riggins from Vineland NJ may also be able to help you. If you call for service and you get to talk to JR, tell him Ed Young Says Hello. …and that I still have the same cell number if he wants to catch up some time.

I see from the picture you just posted that you have a steam boiler with the float type LWCO. This would be the Steam boiler wiring diagram with the 4 important wires for the Carlin 70200 that should be prewired to the 4 pin plug from the boiler.

You still use the top color coded diagram for the Honeywell 3 wire to Carlin 70200 diagram above. If you 4 pin connector does not have all 4 wires connected at the boiler side, then there is another way to connect the Carlin 70200 that I can explain if needed.

You would be better off starting a new thread in the steam category. That's where you'll find answers. Steam pros might see the "QB180" title and not even open the thread.