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[smithbr]

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.

[hondaracer2oo4]

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. 

[slimjim]

You might try something that I have used, a piece of steel snake for pulling wire in your cordless drill, use extreme caution, low speed, when it gets whipping around it can hurt but in the hole it does a great job of breaking up hard creosote and its flexible as well, a piece of metal conduit or copper can be slid over the snake to use as a hand held guide for longer ones.

[E Yoder]

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.
L

Wonder what suggestions Central Boiler would have if you called them? Surely they have run into this before.

[E Yoder]

You might try something that I have used, a piece of steel snake for pulling wire in your cordless drill, use extreme caution, low speed, when it gets whipping around it can hurt but in the hole it does a great job of breaking up hard creosote and its flexible as well, a piece of metal conduit or copper can be slid over the snake to use as a hand held guide for longer ones.

Good idea!

[mlappin]

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.
L

Wonder what suggestions Central Boiler would have if you called them? Surely they have run into this before.

Haha, of course they haven’t, that would imply a flaw in the design. We always get stuff on the farm that when it goes fubar the dealer or OEM claims it's a first.

[E Yoder]

I'm sorta serious though. It may not be a flaw but sometimes even a good design can screw up under certain conditions. I've never looked in detail at an e-classic.
But they should offer some help regardless.

[smithbr]

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?

[smithbr]

Well, problem solved.  All 7 tubes cleaned in an hour and a half.  Developed a special tool to allow me to get a rigid 1/2" x 1/8" bar into the tubes, and cleaned from the bottom up to loosen and remove the crap.  Had I started from the top down, I'd likely have just packed the blockage harder.
Note to self: Check the tubes weekly now, until I'm satisfied we're keeping them clear.

[E Yoder]

Thanks for reporting back. Good to know how these issues get resolved.

[Carm]

There is a tool that comes with the unit to clean tubes.  Works well and I can get by wi the once maybe twice a season cleaning them. 

[Roger2561]

Well, problem solved.  All 7 tubes cleaned in an hour and a half.  Developed a special tool to allow me to get a rigid 1/2" x 1/8" bar into the tubes, and cleaned from the bottom up to loosen and remove the crap.  Had I started from the top down, I'd likely have just packed the blockage harder.
Note to self: Check the tubes weekly now, until I'm satisfied we're keeping them clear.

I have the 1400 so the design is quite different.  Out of curiosity, how difficult is it to reach the tubes?  Do you have to turn yourself into a pretzel to reach them or is it straightforward?  Roger

[aarmga]

I'm sorta serious though. It may not be a flaw but sometimes even a good design can screw up under certain conditions. I've never looked in detail at an e-classic.
But they should offer some help regardless.

My father in law "had" a cb as does 2 of my employees.  Let's just say their customer service is non existent 99% of the time.

[E Yoder]

What I mean is- Even if you have a less than perfect design if you help your customers they usually are pretty loyal.

[aarmga]

I couldn't agree more Mr. Yoder.  I'd own a CB if this was the case.