I have had exactly that fault and it was a tooth on the synchron motor that was sheared off, either that or the synchron motor is not fitted properly and is jumping the gear mechanism
Personally I would just pick them up when in screwfix or the like or order online, would never think of going into a shop just to buy a pipe slice, cant see your idea taking off
It isnt the heat exchanger, you need a proper gas engineer , your burner is resonating at low flame and the gas valve needs set up properly, not for a poke and go neewbie
At the top of the heat exchaanger there is a plastic bayonet fitting with a clear hose coming off, turn the bayonet until water comes out of the tube, be carefull the water may be extremely hot