Placement of the pilot flame relative to the gas manifold
Hope everyone here is doing well. This is my annual check-in. My old Bryant steam boiler repaired in 2020 with huge help from several HH members continues to work great. I just had to replace the 35-yo thermocouple, its voltage output was correct but current output was too low to actuate the pilot valve. And that's the context for my question.
I found the bracket that holds the pilot and TC is just attached to one of the gas manifolds with some bailing wire (just visible in the pic).
Not a sophisticated arrangement… one would think the mfr would provide some sort of mounting arrangement for it… but there's no other obvious place to mount it.
The problem with this location is that the entire TC turns glowing red when the boiler is firing. I'm guessing that is not a good thing.
So the question is, where is the best place to put the pilot flame relative to the gas manifolds?
Comments
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Umm. Not over the main flame.
Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.0 -
The pilot usually screws onto the burner manifold. Maybe someone replaced it with a different pilot or the screws were stripped or broken
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Typically there's an L bracket welded to a burner, and the pilot assembly screws to the bracket. How old is the boiler?
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50's bryanrt if i remember the old thread about the jbweld right
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Yes, that's right, you have a good memory.
There are no threads on the manifold to screw anything into.
So where should I put it? How close to the flame? Below? Same plane? I have not been able to find a photo or drawing that shows the location of the pilot relative to the manifold.
PS - EBEBRATT-Ed, it was you who saw the error in the NBP and wet return on this thing back then. Fixing it made a huge difference! Many thanks!
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0 -
I was hoping someone would answer where it should be. My guess on what happened is that the original separate valve and regulator was replaced with a combination valve and the pilot burner was replaced at that time and didn't fit in the original mounting.
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That sounds like a good guess.
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0 -
OK, so I poked around Youtube looking at Tcpl replacement vids. It appears most of the pilots are located below the burn tubes., placing the flame at about the same level as the gas orifices on the tubes. So I'll try that for starters, once this arctic blast passes.
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0 -
I think it is ok as long as you don't have delayed ignition.
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??? Delayed how, and from what? The flame is always on.
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0 -
of the main burner. a euphemism for the main burner lighting with a small explosion. if the main burner lights quickly and smoothly the position or new position is probably ok.
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Cast iron burner , They were shipped with bailing wire to hold them in place ??
There was an error rendering this rich post.
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Could very well be.
I was thinking this morning that the guys who installed these things back in the 50's are most likely no longer around to ask.
It's also worth mentioning that, even being engulfed in the burner flame as it has been, this Tcpl lasted at least 35 years…
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0 -
Did you check all the burners? Maybe they were swapped. Is there a mark on the manifold showing were in the row the pilot should be?
T & E on the location of the pilot assembly on a 60+ year old boiler isn't a great idea.
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There are two large cast iron burners. Unremovable with out some major disassembly of the gas suppply hardware... not worth it. Obviously (to me) the pilot is best placed between the burners. It's not that big a deal to lower it a little at a time and re-test. I was able to lower it about 1/2" last night. More than that I'll have to re-do the baling wire arrangement.
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0 -
The burners should be removed and cleaned with detergent and water every few years. ideally someone will have left a union somewhere that makes that relatively easy but that isn't really a project for the middle of winter.
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That would probably have to wait until the standing pilot gas valve needs to be replaced. It too is at least 35-yo. There is only one union in the gas supply hardware chain.
1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.0
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