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91

Central Boiler / Re: Hung solenoid

« on: March 01, 2017, 01:51:44 PM »

My 1450 recently started doing the same thing (first fired, February 2016).  About a month ago, we had a major blowback in the firebox, threw a bunch of small coals into the electrical box via the main vent.  I cleaned it out, but I think the grit is causing the solenoids grief (main vent chiefly, but I've found one side of the boost vent stuck open too).  I cycled them a dozen times today after hitting them with WD40; if that doesn't solve it, I'll disassemble them and do a thorough cleaning next time we have decent temperatures.

smithbr - I've had a few blowbacks over the past 5 plus years operating the 1400.  The first time it happen, scared the bugger out of me.  You should see the inside of the air box where the solenoids are located; it's costed black with liquid creosote, to the point where some has leached out through the seal.  I now have lines of liquid creosote running down the outside of the air box.  I've been wondering if that's the reason the flap on the primary air elbow ended up on an angle, instead of laying flat?  When it angled on the elbow, water over temp'd due to air entering the firebox non-restricted, never closing off.  Roger
Roger

Yep.  Our air box is a disaster zone, especially now with some backdrafting creosote due to our hx clog (separate post).  None of the wiring in the air box is compromized, but the connectors, all surfaces, and the solenoids are absolutely filthy.  There's certainly some design features at work here.  I realize they're mostly designed to be simple to debug and maintain, but when you read of items corroding so badly that they need replacing after one or two years of operation, it's more than a little disappointing.

92

Central Boiler / Re: E1450 clogged heat exchanger tubes - creosote

« on: March 01, 2017, 01:40:38 PM »

As a separate note what caused the issue? Some other guys have dealt with this so other should have some good suggestions. How accessible is the heat exchangers? Do you have a straight shot through the hxs or do you have to deal with corners? I think some people have used diesel to free up creosote which might help you to get the tubes that are totally plugged freed up.

Obvious cause, careless owner maintenance.  Secondary cause, switch to low-BTU pine and spruce, because of more than a month of well above seasonal temperatures. Result, a lot of running with demand cycles every 3-4 hours, interspersed with lots of 50-second boost cycles that put low-temperature smoke up the chimney.  Upshot, self-inflicted problem.  I'm not going to go to a flammable fuel to clean the chimney at this time if I can avoid it.  On the E1450, the tubes are vertical, with reasonable access above and below - but not a straight shot or I'd use a ramrod.  I've checked other common problems on the list, our supply air paths are all good, so it's just the smoke path from the reaction chamber that's giving me grief.  From what I've seen so far this afternoon, they're pretty badly plugged, so I may put a flexi-shaft drill into play to try and get a power brush of some form into the tube.  I'm hoping that the blockage is a short one - after there's no gas flow in the tube, why should it continue to plug up?

93

Central Boiler / E1450 clogged heat exchanger tubes - creosote

« on: February 28, 2017, 11:29:00 PM »

Hi
  reaction chamber temps have been dropping for the last couple of weeks.  Figured it out today.  We're limping through tonight, fortunately it's +2 C out there now.
5 of 7 tubes are blocked. DOH.  Now, how to get them cleaned out.  Ideas, anyone?  I was thinking a chunk of 1/4" copper tubing might make a flexible enough but stiff enough poker to allow me to chip away at the accumulated creosote.  Once I can get it somewhat clear, it'll get easier.  Right now, they're solid.  To be fair, I realized I haven't touched them since fall startup, despite weekly cleanouts.  Once I get them cleared, that won't happen again!

Just sign me,
Blockhead.

94

Central Boiler / Re: Hung solenoid

« on: January 07, 2017, 02:25:15 PM »

My 1450 recently started doing the same thing (first fired, February 2016).  About a month ago, we had a major blowback in the firebox, threw a bunch of small coals into the electrical box via the main vent.  I cleaned it out, but I think the grit is causing the solenoids grief (main vent chiefly, but I've found one side of the boost vent stuck open too).  I cycled them a dozen times today after hitting them with WD40; if that doesn't solve it, I'll disassemble them and do a thorough cleaning next time we have decent temperatures.
Original post 2017/1/7
Update 2017/1/8 - first overnight in a week that we haven't had a valve hang.  Yay!  I'll hit it with WD40 again this morning just to be sure.

95

Central Boiler / Re: Eclassic 1450 reaction chamber filling with charcoal

« on: January 07, 2017, 02:19:47 PM »

Hi
Did you resolve this?  I have the same problem, we seem to be knocking a lot of coals between pea and lima bean size down into the reaction chamber.  I also have a sticking problem with my main vent, allowing air in between boosts, but I don't think it's related - I WD-40'd the solenoids this afternoon and we'll see.  My electrical box is black with accumulated smoke/fine creosote, so I'm getting some form of smoke blowback through that vent too.