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Thread: Oil heater

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    Default Oil heater

    (I have also posted this on another forum hoping for more info.)

    Does anyone here have experience with oil heater maintenance ?

    Mine is now burning low and difficult to set the correct flame. It's a super convair model. (no ignition button, start element turns on with oil dial)
    It runs like there's not enough oil flow. Must need some TLC.
    Just wondering about if there's a filter screen for the incoming oil that I need to check for blockages.
    Also I remember a friend showing me there two adjustments, I think one for high burn and one for low burn. If so which one is the low adjustment ? in case I need it.
    I intend to open it up and have a look around, check the firebox etc.

    Any info would be handy.



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    I don't know anything about the Convair ones, but I used to live in a place that had a Vulcan oil heater.

    Over a long period of time a hard black gunge would build up in the firebox. The solution was to take it all apart, remove the firebox and chip out all the crud (take it outside - very messy job). I don't recall a filter, but it would make sense that there would be at least a mesh screen there somewhere. The oil was gravity fed. Our tank had a little valve on the outlet - it looked like a (brass?) concentric ring around the outlet connection, so wasn't obvious. Make sure nobody has messed with the valve.

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    I am guessing the oil is fed under gravity to the burner(s) and if its been in use for some years, the pipes may need a clean out.
    Also where the oil is burnt (jets?) may be crusted over from the combusting oil and reducing the input.
    I would recommend you try to get a user manual for it if possible before delving into cleaning it yourself.
    Again, if it is a few years old, it might be both safer and cheaper to get it serviced professionally.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

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    +1 for shreds post & gordons, my mother had one of these; I could fix it by pulling it apart & cleaning it, however when I moved to Tas 22 years ago, she found a professional to do the job & it wasn't expensive.
    This thing was 30 years old at least when I last used it 7 years ago on a return visit & it worked like a charm after I cleaned it out myself.!!
    Cheers, Tiny
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    +1 for shreds post & gordons, my mother had one of these; I could fix it by pulling it apart & cleaning it, however when I moved to Tas 22 years ago, she found a professional to do the job & it wasn't expensive.
    This thing was 30 years old at least when I last used it 7 years ago on a return visit & it worked like a charm after I cleaned it out myself.!!
    Unfortunately the only guy around here that repairs them retired many many moons ago.
    I pulled the front off and the glass off and removed the ceramics, and managed to scrape a tiny amount of crud from down in the back. I saw a curved sheet that sits in the bottom of the box but couldn't figure out how to get it out. From memory the top and sides outer panel is removed by undoing two screws under each side but I also remember something else got in the way when lifting it off.

    Can you remember how to get the firebox out ?

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    Can you remember how to get the out ?

    No, to be honest, I'd have to be in there with hands dirty to work it out. Sorry.

    I just keep pulling things apart & noting how it goes back together.
    With my memory fading I use a camera to be sure.
    Cheers, Tiny
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    Can you remember how to get the out ?

    No, to be honest, I'd have to be in there with hands dirty to work it out. Sorry.

    I just keep pulling things apart & noting how it goes back together.
    With my memory fading I use a camera to be sure.
    Yeah no worries thanks anyway.
    I've put it back together now in case we need it, but in the next day or two when I've got all day I'll pull it apart again.

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    If I remember, I'll take photos when I do the job because there's nothing I can find on the internet. Maybe someone will get some use out of it.

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    Had a second go at trying to get the curved bit (called a baffle) out but failed yet managed to lessen the air gap I created the with the first pull apart so now although it's still not burning properly, it's at least good enough to keep us warm this winter.
    In the mean time, I accidentally discovered a service manual for it online at the west australian state library so I went to my local library to order it and it arrived yesterday. I couldn't believe it is just the right manual and covers a few early models as well.
    Should be able to fix and adjust it easily now. ..When the weather warms up a bit and it'll be ready for next year.
    Last edited by loopyloo; 03-08-16 at 10:28 AM.

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    It's amazing what a good old fashioned trip to the library can find you!

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    Quote Originally Posted by shred View Post
    It's amazing what a good old fashioned trip to the library can find you!
    Yep I never rule out the library . although in this case it was good ol google that found it while I was searching for something only slightly related.
    Figure that one out.

    Once I saw that it was at the west australian library I rang them and they told me to go to my local library and order it. I didn't know books could be borrowed from the other side of the country. Very handy to know now. Wish there was a website you could put in a search for a book title and have it tell you which library it's at.

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    Quote Originally Posted by loopyloo View Post
    Wish there was a website you could put in a search for a book title and have it tell you which library it's at.
    Im sure the libraries WOULD have a computer system that would do that and cross reference other libraries and systems. I would have thought by now they would all have a terminal or 12 that the public could acces to order books in from other libraries.
    If I had a $1 for every time someone mistook me for someone famous,
    I would have $3.62 by now :scratchchin

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    Default Did you get this heat sorted out

    Did you ever get this heater sorted out.
    i have some knowledge of these heaters and some parts, manuals.

    Just joined form and found some questions about these old oil heaters.
    Vulcan, Wonderheat, McKay/Convair, Hecla, Ansaheat, Coleman
    Last edited by Gramps33; 21-09-18 at 09:50 PM.

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