Reddi Heater Won't Start Now

[11555wally]

I have a R155D Reddi Heater that I use quite a bit to heat up my pole barn quickly and then turn on the natural gas furnace. It has been sputtering just a little bit the last couple of days so I thought I would check the fuel filter. I pulled it out, cleaned it and put it back in. Now it doesn't start. The fan/blower comes on for a few seconds and then the auto shut off kicks it off. It has clean kerosine in it. Any ideas what may have happened? Lost its prime?

 

[NUTTSGT]

How cold is it ? I've seen them fail to start when it gets too cold.

 

[mcj115]

I picked up a used torpedo heater at an auction a few weeks ago and had similar issues. This all assumes you have good ignition for igntion....Check that the fuel line and vacuum line are not cracked/broken. Both the fuel line and vacuum line were old and cracked on the old one I picked up. A $4 visit to the parts store and I was ready to go. After getting it all buttoned up it just took some slight adjustment on the vacuum jet to get it running well and steady.

 

[11555wally]

It's about 25 degrees right now. The heater worked just minutes before. It was just burping a little so I thought I should probably do some maintenance. Filters, plugs and whatever else the manual suggested. I just pulled the filter and lower fuel hose out, cleaned it with kerosine, blew through it with my mouth, put it back in to see if that made any difference. It did. It didn't start. Blew a little smoke out and didn't fire.

 

[TractorJeff]

Slug of water?
Does it sound like its sparking?

 

[11555wally]

I can see a spark with the top case off. I have tried to run it with the fuel line in a jar of fresh kerosine.

 

[DenisG]

Probably the air pump needs rebuilding:
http://reddyparts.com/SP_tips.htm