How to adjust oil furnace electrodes and flame?

Logic316 · 2008-10-30T22:38:39+00:00

Hi folks,I have an old cast iron boiler that used to burn coal back in the 1940's, and had been converted over to heating oil. It uses a pretty standard looking 3450 motor that's about 30 years old, and I clean and maintain the boiler myself (a pretty damn messy job, I know). The only problem is, I'm not sure how to properly adjust the ignition electrodes. I just vacuumed out the boiler, replaced the oil filter, and then replaced the fuel nozzle with exactly the same kind that it was using before (60 degrees spray angle, 1.35 gallons per hour flow rate). The problem is that even when I open the air intake band all the way, the flame is still long, red and smoky. I tried another new fuel nozzle with the same results, so I'm pretty sure that the nozzle isn't clogged up. I'm guessing it has something to do with the position of the ignition electrodes possibly interfering with the fuel spray pattern, and I suppose I could go back and forth about a hundred times disassembling and reassembling the fuel gun assembly until I get the electrodes perfect, but if anybody out there can give me the proper specifications I would very much appreciate it (there is no specs label on this motor, I checked).Also, can anybody give me some tips on adjusting the flame? I have some general idea that the flame should be made as big as possible, without giving off any smoke or long red "fingers". When I adjusted it last year, the furnace seemed to run pretty efficiently and there wasn't much soot in it when I cleaned it out, but it would be great if anybody could give me any tips on this.Thanks in advance :-)- Logic316"I don't mind what Congress does, as long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses." -- Victor Hugo

Oct 30, 2008 80 Replies

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visitor 11 years ago

Sounds like low pressure on your pump Logic 316, get specs for it and adjust.

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