Lock out !

[Maxx470]

Hi all,
My boiler ( with Sterling burner ) started locking out from cold.
Pressing the reset button made the motor run etc but failed to ignite and obviously locked out again.
The only way I could make it run is by pressing the reset button and then turning the stat/on/off rotary control fromOff to on about 4 or 5 times.This stopped it from locking out and sort of forced the ignition. Once it fires up it will continue running normally until it's time for the programmer to switch it off.
I had the local engineers round to look at it and the said it was out of adjustment and that a service would probably fix it, he also said if it locks out again it would probably need a new nozzle. They serviced it and it continued locking out, so I called them again, this time a different engineer came ( same co ) and he tested it and said it was running weak. So he re-set it up.
It ran fine for a couple of days and then locked out again.
I called them and said " in my opinion" I think it's the control box thats faulty. Due to the fact that me turning the switch on & off will cause it to fire. I think the control box is failing to switch on the spark.
They said to me " we think it could be a faulty control box " and that they will get one & try it.
They appear to be the sort of firm that dont want to waste money on parts that may not be needed - fair enough but when a control box can be bought for under £40, I'd rather just get one !.

Whats your expert thoughts on this ?.

 

[Jordon]

How much has it cost already? The company seem alittle bit odd not giving you a definitive answer on what's wrong, and in fact you are telling them this should start alarms, be careful as you could come out burnt. Get a cost for the repair and make sure it is a repair this time not a tinker.

 

[Maxx470]

They came back and reset the boiler up and replaced the control box, it locked out again 2 days after new box !. They said this could just be a glitch.
It then ran fine for 2 weeks and now today - lock out again.

I am going to call them tomorrow, but has anyone any ideas please ?.

 

[Burnerman]

I don't really think there is such a thing as a 'glitch' with new components.....obviously we don't know the overall condition and cleanliness of your system regarding clean oil filters, boiler baffles etc.
If these are known to be good, an obvious choice (read 'guess') would be the solenoid coil on the oil pump - if only for the reason that they often fail, usually when the burner reaches a certain temperature.
John

 

[Boilerman2]

What make of Boiler is the Sterling burner bolted to??
The reason the burner fires when you play with the control stat knob is that you are causing the air flow to be reduced at the point of ignition (this is a technique used by many engineers to get an over aired burner to fire up) the cause of your proble could just be a nozzle, Why was this not automatically changed when the service was done , it should have been! the oi pressure could be incorrect, if yours is a larger Sterling model the combustion head may be incorrectly adjusted.

To be honest it sounds like the Muppets have been attempting to repair what should be a very simple fault to rectify

 

[Burnerman]

There speaks the voice of considerable experience - I knew nowt about that thanks!
Surely that would have shown up in the FGA though?
John

 

[Maxx470]

Hi,
It sounds like it locks out BEFORE the "roar" - firing.
It is an extremely clean boiler and according to them, the emissions are perfect, they did use the analyser several times to be honest.
They said there was no need to change the nozzle.
t is bolted to a Merlin 65/95.
All oil filters are clean.

They invoiced me £115 for the control box ( which I haven't paid yet ) , saying it cost them £60 !, yet I found several identical new control boxes on the internet for around £35.

The service cost was £69.

I just don't know what to say to them tomorrow ??.

Any further advice greatly welcome.

 

[spraggo]

Hi,
It sounds like it locks out BEFORE the "roar" - firing.
It is an extremely clean boiler and according to them, the emissions are perfect, they did use the analyser several times to be honest.
They said there was no need to change the nozzle.
t is bolted to a Merlin 65/95.
All oil filters are clean.

They invoiced me £115 for the control box ( which I haven't paid yet ) , saying it cost them £60 !, yet I found several identical new control boxes on the internet for around £35.

The service cost was £69.

I just don't know what to say to them tomorrow ??.

Any further advice greatly welcome.

Ask them to change the motor capacitor.

spraggo

 

[Boilerman2]

we sell TF830 Control for £87+vat (Retail)
We are allowed to mark up trade price! but excess of £100 is pushing it a bit!!

 

[snb]

as others have said it seems that you have had a parts swapper rather than someone who knows what they are looking for. Most decent oil engineers will carry most of these parts on board as there is very little to an oil burner.

I find sterling burners to be very reliable and the most common fault after the solenoid coil to fail is the transformer. You will often see if this is on the way out as there will some bulging on the case where it has been overheating

 

[Maxx470]

It isn't a TF830 it's a TF832.3

http://oilburnerspares.com/oil/cont...--h__l-oil-cont-230v(02431u)/c21134r*102.html

 

[Boilerman2]

TF830 or TF832 - they are all varients of the same thing !!