Vokera excell SP80 keep screeching..

[JamesHughes]

Hi all,

I recently installed the gasket service kit which also replaced the bobbin thing in the divertor valve. However after a month or two, it started screeching when water started to flow. I stripped down the divertor, cleaned everything and put it back together. All fine. Now after about 2 weeks its started making the screech again.

Can happen when the boiler starts up, with either hot water or heating action. Screeches for 1/2s or so. Defo seems related to the divertor as that was the only thing stripped and cleaned and the noise went away, although for less time than before.

Any ideas? Should I just replace the almost new bobin with another one?

James

 

[JamesHughes]

Sorry, that should read Vokera Excel 80SP, not EP80.

James

 

[ScottishGasMan]

I cant tell you what it is, but im sure theres an O-ring related to the pump or pump prooving switch that can cause this noise, youve not changed the pump atall recently have you?

sure one of the more excpirienced guys will give you a better idea soon.

 

[JamesHughes]

Nope, only change has been the diapragm service kit. I did all three diapragms, plus replaced all the seals on plunger rods thingies, plus the bobbin. Basically if there was a spare part in the kit, I changed it.

James

 

[gas4you]

Could be fan or pump screeching. With outer case off try putting a long screwdriver against each part and put your ear on the other end. You should be able to tell where the noise is coming from

 

[JamesHughes]

Its not the fan - that just been replaced.

Problem with tracking down the source of the noise is that it usually only happens after water hasn't been flowing for a while - so, once its happened once you have to wait ages for this to settle down before the screech happens again.

For example, when the heating first turns on in the morning - screech. When the hot water hasn't been used for a while (1hr? not sure) and its first turned on - screech.

It does seem to indicate a problem with the diverter with the bobbin thingy in, but I cannot figure out why it went away after a good clean of the valve, but has now come back.

Actually, the pump could make sense - after all, its when the water first starts flowing (wehether heating or hot water).....hmmm....is there anything I can do to test the pump? But why did cleaning the diverter fix the problem, albeit breifly...hmmm again....

How easy is it to change the pump in these things?

James

 

[DP]

You are on the right track- keep changing parts and eventually the fault will be fixed.

Stop penny pinching, save yourself pounds by getting someone who knows this boiler to effect repairs. What will you do once the pump has been replaced and the fault is still there?

 

[JamesHughes]

Call me Mr Naive, but I am one of those people who actually want to learn about things, and learn how to fix things, rather than pay someone else large sums of cash to do something I am capable of doing myself, given some advice of course! The last person who looked at the boiler (A Vokera specialist) said that a noise from the fan was probably caused by a defective PCB, and even if it was only the fan, would cost >£100 to fix. I installed a new fan for £30. Works fine, noises and rattles all gone. Obviously the bearings had gone, well, it was to me anyway. So you can see why I am reluctant to get people in.

And I'm buying a house, so pennies bit tight at the moment!!

So, if anyone has any suggestions as to the cause of the noise.....if nothing comes up, then yes, I will have to get someone in.

James