torpedo heater doesn't stay running

[66ragtop]

I have a Reddy Heater 60,000 kerosene torpedo heater. It fires up and runs for about 10 seconds. I took the top off and ran it to see what might be going wrong. Oddly it wouldn't quit. So I put the top back on and it went back to only running a few seconds. If I take the top off it and start it up it will run non-stop. I can leave it run but when I lower the top onto the heater it shuts off. It seems like an air flow issue? The back of the heater where the air intake is has no restrictions.

 

[DenisG]

I had one with the similar symptoms. At first I suspected a bad/dirty photocell or bad control board. It turned out to be a worn carbon rotor for the air pump (poor fuel atomizing air pressure). See: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001STUUFC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ratdoggy]

You can clean those rotors and impellers up with some very fine sandpaper on a flat surface and clean out the housing it goes into. I've had to do this every couple of years

 

[66ragtop]

Thanks, I'll check it out tomorrow and let you know

 

[ratdoggy]

BTW FWIW....I manage a recycling center that has a lot of guys working in an unheated warehouse. We get them repaired at a normal cost of $50-$75 when they poop the bed. So if you can't get it working look for a local guy that fixes them. We have an electric motor guy that does them.

Parts and a good website http://www.reddyparts.com/

 

[ratdoggy]

I'm pretty sure your manual has a list of repair centers in it. That's how I found our local guy.

 

[stage20]

I have no luck with heaters. Fix them and something else goes out. I just gave 2 away that did the same thing. I keep a backup off clist or from a pawn shop

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have had one for over 30 years now. I don't use it alot, but it gets used some every winter. Works fine every time I start it up, never a problem with it.

http://reddyparts.com/ is probably the best source for parts and troubleshooting information on these heaters.

DESA International went bankrupt in 2008 and reddyparts.com and also www.desatech.com are two places on the net to find information about them.

Charles

 

[stage20]

dads got one that probably 30 years old. no clue whats wrong with it but about 10 years ago it quit working. beat on the side of it and it flickered on and off. had the idea to grab it by the back and pick it up and let it drop a couple inches. fired right up. its a big 110k dayton. plug it in, turns on, drop it...fires off. will run all day long.

 

[66ragtop]

You can clean those rotors and impellers up with some very fine sandpaper on a flat surface and clean out the housing it goes into. I've had to do this every couple of years

Cleaned and set the gap per the manual, still no good. Should i try adjusting the pressure

Thanks
Brian

 

[Streetbu]

Yep, there is a sticker somewhere on it that says what psi it should run at. 1/8" pipe thread and a low pressure gauge then just turn the screw, I bet it's low on air pressure. Most are some where around 5psi give or take.

 

[dtt454]

when my little 50000 btu one was doing exactly what you described... after making sure the air pressure was set correctly and putting a new "eye" on it. neither of those made any difference. i put a new nozzle in it and it and that did the trick. even though looking at the old nozzle i cannot see any restrictions or anything wrong with it.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Make sure your fuel and air hoses are in good shape. The hoses on my 3 year old torpedo literally cracked and disintegrated.

Replaced the hoses and away it went. Cost a couple bucks at the autoparts store.

Maybe your cover is pushing on a hose causing the intermittent operation.

 

[66ragtop]

Yep, there is a sticker somewhere on it that says what psi it should run at. 1/8" pipe thread and a low pressure gauge then just turn the screw, I bet it's low on air pressure. Most are some where around 5psi give or take.

Finally got around to working on the heater. I set the pressure to 3.5 lbs and it works perfectly.

Thanks for the help

 

[JohnnyAirtime]

I came and registered... just because of this forum's thread.

I've got a 155,000BTU Dayton, and it will run like a raped ape with the lid OFF or propped up at the fan by 1". Yup... I put a 1in screw in the rear and set the lid down on them. Screwed in the front at the output. It ran just fine. I removed the screws... and it'd shut off the second I went from 1" or so to a 1/2" gap.

I replaced the nozzle, swapped the photo eye (with another 155K I have), and put on a new filter, screw and ball... even the plastic cover is new. I've yet to set the pressure properly but when adjusted the fuel/air mixture (pressure) screw in and out.... Out... no bueno, it'll shut down. All the way in... not bad. But... I can't remember too well how long it ran... will measure proper pressure once I get the parts tomorrow.

What I've got it to do, is run with the lid screwed down tight... for about 3-5 minutes before shutting off. I've adjusted the thermostat knob to no avail. Meaning... all the way HOT and it'll still shut off.

What could it be, that allows it to run normal but only for that 3-5 minutes?
... I remove the lid, it'll run forever.

HELP

 

[BurtEggley]

and put on a new filter

never owned one but looking at the parts, some models have two air filters, a lint filter, and a fuel filter

 

[JohnnyAirtime]

never owned one but looking at the parts, some models have two air filters, a lint filter, and a fuel filter

That's correct.

They actually have 3.

Intake filter (for the intake to the pump - right side foam)
Output filter (next to the air filter, where pressure gauge would be)
Fuel Filter (at the tank, hose mounted)

But that has nothing to do with my problem, as the unit will run continuously with the top off.

I'm thinking it's got to be a pressure problem. So using this PDF, I'm going to continue to troubleshoot;

https://assets.phpdistribution.com/other/techcatalog/PHP_TechManual_2005.pdf

 

[BurtEggley]

does taking the top off bypass either air filter?

 

[fitter30]

You tube has alot of videos. First need to check pump pressure. Nozzle replacement might be necessary if it isn't atomizing correctly.

 

[ToolsRCool]

I'm usually of the type to disassemble, investigate, and repair things until a device is simply cracked in half and can't go any further. I've been limping along my torpedo heater. She's smelly, and I thought that is just how they all are. Neighbors bought a brand new, used it once, then gave it to me, a 60k BTU MASTER brand. That bad dog has zero smell. A single puff at start up, and then runs super clean, I was totally impressed. No more coming in the house with my clothes and hair smelling like I've been directing traffic on the tarmac for 14 hours. Point here, I think these heaters have a lot of wear items and consumable parts. Renewing all via a new unit is not always a bad idea, sometimes.