Dayton torpedo heater won't make pressure

mkirsch · Jan 30, 2015

I bought a 150,000 BTU Dayton torpedo heater off Craigslist. It came with all the parts needed to completely rebuild it.

The air pump has a new impeller and vanes. They move freely and with the filter off, it seems to pump quite a jet of air.

When I put the filter on, I can only get about 3PSI from the test port no matter how much I tighten down the regulator screw.

I took the pump apart again last night and everything seems OK. The impeller spins freely and the vanes aren't sticking.

87nassaublue · Jan 30, 2015

I had one that wouldn't run because the vanes were stuck. It worked find after I freed them.

Will your's run and make heat with the filter not in place? Maybe you have a plugged up filter?

jimg.allentown · Jan 30, 2015

Are you sure you are adjusting the right screw? There are two on the back of the pump. A new fresh filter will make a difference as well. I have about 6 or 8 of those heaters. When they work, they work great. When they don't, they are very finicky.

mkirsch · Jan 30, 2015

Filter is brand new.

Vanes are brand new and not stuck.

I have a low pressure gauge in the open hole, and I am adjusting the screw with the ball and spring underneath it. 3PSI is all I can get out of it no matter how much I turn the screw.

Bob · Jan 30, 2015

Perhaps something is wrong on the output side of the pump dumping a lot of air so it doesn't build pressure... steel line rusted through or otherwise damaged, leaking fittings, or an incorrect nozzle installed, or a rubber sealing ring missing at the nozzle.

Also, verify that the vane pump rebuild kit is correct for the specific pump you have.

rustyfarmall · Jan 30, 2015

(quoted from post at 08:27:59 01/30/15) I had one that wouldn't run because the vanes were stuck. It worked find after I freed them.

Will your's run and make heat with the filter not in place? Maybe you have a plugged up filter?

Same here, but I had to free it up everytime I wanted to use it. The new parts it needed would cost nearly as much as a whole new heater. Bought the heater brand new. Got 2 years out of it. I bought another brand new heater, drug the 2 year old heater out to the junk shed.

ih_bug · Jan 30, 2015

just done one here same symptoms .when I took the
nozzle out the second time it was cracked and
bleeding all the pressure off.
if you disconnect the pressure line at the
nozzle and plug it will your pump then make
pressure?

GarryinNC · Jan 30, 2015

I have one that the rotor (like an armature) got loose on the motor shaft. Had enough friction to turn shaft and air pump vane some, but would not make pressure. It was working good one second and then just stopped making much pressure. I had a gauge on it when it happened. Took me a while to figure out.

Garry

Dayton torpedo heater won't make pressure

mkirsch

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87nassaublue

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jimg.allentown

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mkirsch

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Bob

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rustyfarmall

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ih_bug

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GarryinNC

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