Hydrotek with becket burner shooting flames from exhaust port

Bob Keenan

Bob Keenan

New member
This is a 1 year old machine, hot water skid, with a 115v burner. Last few weeks, when I would first hit the igniter switch, and pull the trigger on gun, it would rumble and spew black grey smoke. If I release the trigger and pull a few times, smoke would go away, and work fine.

Last night it did the same thing, but there was a small flame coming out the exhaust port in the coil shroud. This time it did not seem to clear up, so had to finish the job without the burner on.....


Don't know the first place to start looking on how to fix.... Anyone?
 
If a burner is running too lean it will smoke a lot before it catches fire when the trigger is pulled. If its way to lean it might not even light (had this happen last week). You might check the air band and close it off a little to see if it improves.
 
Bob, your air bands will be by the fan motor. Loosen screw so you can adjust opening allowing less or more air in. Adjust while burner is running and trigger is pulled. Air bands are not your problem though. It sounds like a flow switch could be starting to go out. When flow switch starts to fail you will get raw fuel dumped into burner causing the black smoke when ignitor comes on. Call me if you have any questions.
 
I'm leaning more toward a low voltage problem. The lower voltage still pumps fuel at 140 psi, but the fan spins slower, reducing the air for combustion.
 
Wesley Teston said:
Bob, your air bands will be by the fan motor. Loosen screw so you can adjust opening allowing less or more air in. Adjust while burner is running and trigger is pulled. Air bands are not your problem though. It sounds like a flow switch could be starting to go out. When flow switch starts to fail you will get raw fuel dumped into burner causing the black smoke when ignitor comes on. Call me if you have any questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks Wesley. Russ called me last night after he read my post - Thanks Russ. He mentioned low voltage.... I did have a problem with the generator belt about 6 months ago. It shredded apart and i had problems getting the pulley on the generator to align with the pulleys on the engine. I need to look at the belt and do a voltage test as russ mentioned. Wont have a chance to look at it until next week. Ill keep everyone posted.
 
Those were much better guesses than mine although you will need to adjust air bands some time.
 
Russ,

Did some troubleshooting on it today. Measures 7.4v across the gfci plug slots no load or under a load. Same.

So, to be sure i opened up the hoffman enclosure housing the gfci, and measured directly across the wiring screw terminals.. Same 7.4v AC.

Belt is tight, not shiny, but does have some tears starting to show. This belt has already been replaced when the unit was about 6 mos. old due to it shredding off completely, remember the pullys wouldnt allign?

What now?
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1375043823.723182.jpg
 
UPDATE:
With assistance from Russ over the phone, who was thinking it was low voltage, I tested the Gfci receptacle on the skid, and found that it was only producing 7.4v. Of course this is way off as should be 110-115v.

Russ mentioned opening the generator and testing the 25microfarad capacitor. I removed it and found that it only measured 13microfarads. Ran to Grainger and got a replacement capacitor, installed it, fired up the machine, and tested 113v at the receptacle. Turned on the burner, no thick black smoke, and no flames out the exhaust! There was some smoke/steam coming from under the shroud, like where the water exits the coil.... Is this normal?

Seems to be running again... Thanks to Russ at Southside Equipment.... He read my original post last Wednesday, and called me personally at home Wednesday night to offer help, even though I didn't by that machine from him..... And he answered the phone over the next few days whenever I called to ask a few questions..... Thank you Russ for all you do for everyone in the industry. I told you I'd buy you a beer in Nashville, but, heck, with all you've done, ill buy you dinner too!
 
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