Kerosene Torpedo heater experts ...............

andy r · Dec 14, 2023

I have a 40,000 btu Ready Heater brand kerosene torpedo heater. It will fire, but only for about 5 seconds. When you turn it on the glow ignitor comes on. Then the fan comes on with a mist of fuel and it does light. Shuts off in seconds. The screen on the fuel hose into the fuel tank is clean. Have cleaned the photo eye with a Q - tip and alcohol. I temporarily have the filter out of the back of the air pump so there is no restriction. Glow ignitor comes on properly. Two gallons of new kerosene. Looks good while burning those 5 seconds then it just turns off. What should I be looking at next. Can I test the photo eye? Could I just use a jumper wire where the photo eye connects. Thank you for your advice.

RESLLS · Dec 15, 2023

Mine did the same thing. The vaccuum & fuel hoses had cracks in them. So I just replaced them all. The fuel and vaccuum hoses are 2 different sizes. Of mine was full to the top it would run for a bit. Sounds like you have looked at those though. There are a few videos on YouTube.

buickanddeere · Dec 15, 2023

. Operating with the flame detector system bypassed ? What could possibly go wrong ?

MarkB_MI · Dec 15, 2023

> Operating with the flame detector system bypassed ? What could possibly go wrong ?

Do you have another way to test the photocell?

jon f mn · Dec 15, 2023

I had two that did that, in both cases it was cracked lines. Can be hard to see the cracks, but they were near the ends of the hoses on both. I believe mine were both the vent lines and not the fuel lines if I remember correctly.

showcrop · Dec 15, 2023

(quoted from post at 03:14:40 12/15/23) . Operating with the flame detector system bypassed ? What could possibly go wrong ?

I believe that testing and operating would usually be considered to be different.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 15, 2023

I had an oil furnace gun go bad and it filled the furnace with oil. Oil doesn't go boom, but the furnace shook, rattled and produced tons of white smoke until the excess oil burned out.

I saw what happens to an oil furnace when someone adds gas to the oil to keep the oil from freezing. Lets just say there is a biggie BOOM.

Hemmjo · Dec 15, 2023

Trying it by jumping the safety circuit would prove a problem with the safety circuit. Photo cells do go bad.

Certainly would not be a good idea to run it that way while unattended.

Hemmjo · Dec 15, 2023

you can check the photo cell with your multi-meter. Resistance is high in he dark, low in bright light,.I do not know actual values.

buickanddeere · Dec 15, 2023

(quoted from post at 09:48:46 12/15/23)

(quoted from post at 03:14:40 12/15/23) . Operating with the flame detector system bypassed ? What could possibly go wrong ?

Click to expand...

I believe that testing and operating would usually be considered to be different.

Problem is that temporary fix all too often becomes permanent .

rrlund · Dec 15, 2023

Mine did that. I had a cracked hose sucking air.

jimg.allentown · Dec 15, 2023

Most all of the torpedo heaters on the market are made by DESA. Repairs are usually not too difficult.

One of the common ones I have seen is the photo cell going bad or just being dirty. Also note that there are TWO different photo cells. If you have the wrong one installed, it will give exactly the problem you describe. A dirty photo cell will cause a similar problem. The safety module allows the heater to ignite and run for a few seconds, but if it does not ''see'' the fire via the photo cell, it will shut down the heater.

Cracked lines are another big problem, but in general, they usually cause erratic operation, refusal to ignite, or will not generate a good enough flame to satisfy the photo cell.

One other possibility is the pump can be worn to the point that it is not generating the correct pressure to keep the heater going. Repair kits for the pump are readily available and fairly easy to install.

caterpillar guy · Dec 16, 2023

I like the propane ones better the oil or kerosene heaters always stunk of fumes. Never saw one set right so they didn't either. Never had that problem with my Propane one.

Leroy · Dec 16, 2023

All I can say is you are lucky if you have a working one. Back in the late 70'a bought a new one from local dealer. They could never get it to work and droped that brand but kept the Knipco brand as no problems with them.

DWF · Dec 17, 2023

I just had trouble starting my 55000BTU Desa heater. I checked the air pressure and there was no air pressure. They have a rotor with movable blades that were a little dirty so I cleaned the blades and rotor and it fired right up again. Pressure has to be right to start and run, The manual that comes with them tells you how to do maintenance on them and has a parts list. Many parts available on Ebay.
DWF

Kerosene Torpedo heater experts ...............

andy r

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RESLLS

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buickanddeere

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MarkB_MI

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jon f mn

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showcrop

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Geo-TH,In

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Hemmjo

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Hemmjo

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buickanddeere

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rrlund

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jimg.allentown

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caterpillar guy

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Leroy

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DWF

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