Ive got a Kerosene fired torpedo type heater (Durapro 170,000 ) that worked great last year. Now it wont fire. It has an auto thermostat control & it does click like it wants to fire but only drenches the chamber in fuel. It did start momentarily but went out. Im freezing up here (18 degrees...yikes) trying to get my sleds in to prep for this winter & have no idea when it comes to these things. Any idea where I could find parts?? An igniter maybe?? Thanks.
Kerosene torpedo heater
- Thread starter Numbnuts918
- Start date
1
1911freak
New member
Can you see the electrode? Is it sparking? Sometimes the points will get crap on them after sitting and that will stop the spark from jumping. Even a little bit of dust can stop it.
PS make sure the fuel is off before you look in there and start snapping that ignitor.
The igniter is lighting. But get this...I take off the top shroud exposing the fan & other componets outside of the heat chamber & for the hell of it I try it. It fires without the top shroud on with much less force (air flow) into the chamber, but as soon as I add the top shroud (which increases air flow into the chamber) it chokes out & dies. Looks like a rich diesel on a hard takeoff. Theres a small sensor with 2 leads on it (looks like a doorbell) that if I remove wont let power through to cycle the heater. I put it back in & it wont fire again, with or without the shroud. Im going to remove the igniter & clean it & try it again now. Who needs eyebrows anyway? LOL.
Well.. I cleaned the igniter plug & it fires nice & strong with the top half shroud off but, same result with it on, chokes & doesnt fire. I believe its down to the fuel. Its only 8-9 months old (red) #1 kerosene. I wouldnt believe it went bad that quick. Maybe it doesnt have the octane rating it had 9 months ago. The air to fuel mixture is off. Im going to drain it & get some new fuel & try it again tomorrow.
you mean its backed off most of the way????? check your grounds on the transformer, sound like you have a weak spark
I got it running!! Thanks to all who chimed in. 
I just kept wrenchin away & it ended up being a fuel & air delivery hose issue. Both were weather cracked so I just cut off the bad ends, reconnected & Im WARM now. Thanks again for all the help guys.
I just kept wrenchin away & it ended up being a fuel & air delivery hose issue. Both were weather cracked so I just cut off the bad ends, reconnected & Im WARM now. Thanks again for all the help guys.