Grandee Standard Wall mount - occasional lockout, odd noise

[JamesHughes]

HI All,

I had a search through the archive, but no luck, so I'll ask here...

My Grandee boiler (1999-2000ish) has suddenly started playing up. A couple of weeks ago the oil tank was refilled - I dont know if this has caused the problem, but now it occasionally locks out.

A week ago, it started, so I cleaned the photocell (although not that dirty), and it seemed to recover.

However,yesterday, it sotpped firing, and wouldnt restart.

I stripped it down, cleaned out the baffles, removed the burner and cleaned everything I could get at. It then restarted. Hurrah.

However, it is now making a noise which is sort of like a woof every few seconds (intermittent) when running. What I think is happening is that it is going out then it immediately refires and keeps running.

There also appears to be a slight weep of oil around the back of the pump.

On turning the boiler off the leak on the pump suddenly (but temporarily) gets more pronounced...

So, what I think MAY be happening is this....

There is a air leak in to the fuel feed via the leak behind the pump. This introduces air, which momentarily interrupts the combustion, which then reinstates itself. - its only a small leak.

As the boiler goes off, the pressure in the line then forces oil out of the leak rather than sucking air in (hence the greater leak when the boiler stops).

Does this make sense?

So, what I intend to do is remove the pump and try and find the leak. Does anyone have any advice on stripping the pump down as I haven't found any information on how to do this in any of the instructions.

TIA for any help

James

 

[JamesHughes]

More information.

I stripped the pump, cleaned out some channels that appeared to be a bit gummed up, and removed, cleaned, and replaced one of the blanking bolts in the pump cases - the one that could have been the leak culprit.

Once reassembled, the boiler lit up fine and the woofing has gone away - this indicated to me that the leak, which appears to have gone, was the reasons for the firing issues.

However, now the boiler runs smoky whereas previously (before any problems) it was completely smokeless. The air intake setting is already on maximum (and reducing it makes it more smokey).

My thoughts are that the pump pressure is now wrong - but I have no means to check it. There is brass fitting under the pump with a hex adjuster - is this the oil pressure regulator, or is that somewhere else?

Anyway, adjusting it make no difference to the smoking.

I'm guessing I need a Grandee expert to come in and set the boiler up correctly as I have no means of emasureing Co2. It's been all cleaned out, so should just need setting up - unless the pump is on the way out.

Anyone know any Grandee experts in the March, Wisbech, Cambs area?

James

 

[wilhelm]

try these

Although Im surprised the SS hasnt been changed to something more pc, like Ghengis Khan Ltd.

 

[JamesHughes]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

SS are where we get our oil, so was considering them, although I don't know if they have any specialist Grandee knowledge. But £50/hour doesn't seem too bad.

In fact I have a further question about the oil pressure - how is this actually set on these boilers? (I think its an Ecoflam burner, as the Ecoflam spares I have looked at - the pump - appears to be the same as the on on my burner)

The only place I can think of is the incoming fuel line valve (not part of the boiler itself, but inside the case). Is that correct or is there a more specific place it is set on the pump (The brass thingy I mentioned in a previous post)

James