Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on August 2, 2011 at 5:34pm

I wish I had an answer but don't. I feel your pain though, good luck!

Permalink Reply by Marko Johnson on August 2, 2011 at 5:42pm

I used to roast on a 10kg Samiac it would fail to light every 6 or so months we replaced the thermocouple that is in the piliot  flame and kept one as a back up.A good heating and air shop will have one easy to take off .

Permalink Reply by Jon Cates on August 2, 2011 at 7:14pm

Whenever you have a problem with the flame, always check the air flow of the roaster first.  This includes any chaff collector you may have and especially pipes that flow into the chimney.  It may not feel like there is a restriction, but if you've never scraped things, there is.  Take the chimney off the back of the roaster and make sure there is no restriction.  The piping just off the roaster will be the thickest buildup.  The air flow problems will keep any oxygen sensor from reading correctly, and won't let the pilot light ignite.  Next step is, when you first start up the roaster, can you hear the igniter trying to light?  I don't know about your roaster, but it may sound like a click, click, click.  If it does this and you can hear it, it rules out this, maybe.  Marko above mentioned a thermocouple that's in the flame.  This probably has wires on it, and senses the resistance from the flame flowing over it.  Check the wires, maybe this isn't reading correctly and shutting off the flame after a minute.  I mentioned an oxygen sensor.  If there is a tube running down into the air box or in your chaff collector somewhere, use a highly specialized tool most likely sold by your roaster manufacturer.  If you didn't receive one with your roaster, you can do what I did, and make one out of a clothes hangar.  Stick it in that tube, and scrape it out really well!

I can't stress the importance of really scraping the roaster and cleaning the chimney.  If you added two wholesale accounts in the past six months, and the volume of roasting has increased dramatically, you will be building up creosote and dried oils/particulate twice as fast as you have in the past.

Good Luck.

Permalink Reply by Pete Esanbock on August 3, 2011 at 3:00am

I agree with Jon,  most likely something is plugged up with the extra chaf and black creosote.  I suggest cleaning everything you can get to, this may mean taking something off (the roaster) so you can get to the area that needs cleaning.  I do a monthly extra good cleaning of my roaster, a 12 kilo USRC.

Permalink Reply by Benjamin on August 3, 2011 at 8:22am

I'd also agree with Jon.  Check your creosote levels especially in the exhaust piping just off the drum and around any oxygen/temp sensory devices you may have in there.  A good chimney scrubbing brush will do the trick.

Permalink Reply by Dan Jolliff on August 3, 2011 at 8:36am

I see lots of Good answers above, you likley already have this fixed. If the roaster has a sensor for air preasure, high limit, door open switch or one for the drum turning it could be locked out of allowing it to light by these safties,, But as you can light it with a lighter my bet is on the sparker and its probe,  Even with us on our roasters after a few years, a problem lighting can make a lot of pain for every one and the best bet is after the simple items are done like a good cleaning of pipes and the polit then checking the wires.

 

Best fast fix after the above is call a Good Gas tech or commerical heater-oven repair man, as one of the parts could have failed and it is costing you a lot of trouble and time trying to figure it out on the net or the phone,

He will be able to check out the electrical parts of the burner and will have the correct equipment and if needed offer a replacement.

Good Lord Willing may you be

Happy roasting soon!

Dan

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Patrick Bock on August 3, 2011 at 11:04am

Most likely the thermocouple. Can get one at most hardware stores for about twenty bucks.

Permalink Reply by Tim Pearson on August 3, 2011 at 12:26pm

Thank you so much everyone for all the good input. I did have the chimneys cleaned not too long ago, so I was thinking it was more a problem with the pilot and or thermal-couple. After the roaster cooled down, I re-positioned the thermal-couple into the center, and now that I had a flashlight back there I saw the main problem which I completely overlooked. The pilot light had a layer of white ash and creosote on it which was causing the pilot flame to be weak and all over the place. I just took a barista brush and dusted that whole area off until clean, sparked her up and she was good to go. So, lesson learned, keep your pilot light clean!

Thanks again--HAPPY ROASTING 

Permalink Reply by Ash Webster on August 13, 2011 at 3:51am

Where are you located at?

Permalink Reply by Ash Webster on August 13, 2011 at 3:53am

Burner assy. and Pilot,  like torch tips need to be cleaned along with other maintenance, a paper clip sometimes can be your best friend...

 

Permalink Reply by Tim Pearson on August 13, 2011 at 10:53pm

Im in South Jersey

Permalink Reply by Ash Webster on August 14, 2011 at 4:02am

Good Morning Tim, I am in Charleston, SC

Sorry for the late reply, I will try and get better at this.