Our coal effect gas fire has been messing us about for a year or so now... we had an engineer in twice and both times he didnt fix it..

So I had a look at the weekend and found a badly pitted pipe that feeds the pilot light... it appears that it leaks when it gets hot so the pilot light goes out.. the gas instead burns an inch lower where it shouldnt be...This lets the thermocouple get cool which then means the fire goes out..

The bras collar on the pipe is corroded to the pipe...

I need to replace this entire assembly... none of the local places seem to be able to help..

Anyone know where I can get something like this made up?

It has two very weird ends....

This end goes into the gas control box:



The pilot jet slots over the end of this and is then clamped inplace by doing up the brass collar in its housing... Note the pitting caused by heat..


Complete assembly looks like this:


Anyone have any ideas where I could get something like that?.... The local places just gave me the "health and safety" cack and didnt want to help.....

[Edited on 2/2/10 by tegwin]

[Edited on 2/2/10 by tegwin]

I think they will only supply 'Gas Safe' registered people nowadays.

Maybe get the last guy who looked at the fire and point out that he missed the obvious problem. Perhaps he will come back and fit a replacement for you with no call out charge as he should have spotted it before.

I would silver solder the old ends onto a new bit of copper pipe.


Paul G

but he won't be impressed that you've taken it apart, as you know, its illegal
if you've done it legally and you are gas safe registered, why did you get someone else to do it first time round

Urgh... I really dont want another tradesperson in my house... they cost the earth and not one has ever been any good.... Hence why everything gets done by me now... I know the jobs been done properly with care and attention that way...

Its silly.. I could go to homebase etc and buy a new gas fire.... so why cant I buy a part for one!!

quote:

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Originally posted by 907
I would silver solder the old ends onto a new bit of copper pipe.


Paul G

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quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
but he won't be impressed that you've taken it apart, as you know, its illegal

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660c

Uncle is right I believe.
I fitted my own gas fire but I did get a fitter to do the flow check.

Paul G

What make is the fire? We had a similar problem with a Straxgas, not corroded just a problem with the thermocoupler. I ordered the part from the manufacturer and there was no problem supplying.

907... if silver solder melts at 660C... what temperature will the steel on the fire get to around the pilot light?

I have no idea what make the fire is... someone has obviously made it from parts as a custom fit job for an old coal grate.....

Its a very old fire! lol.. (circa 20-30 years)

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Originally posted by UncleFista

quote:

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Originally posted by blakep82
but he won't be impressed that you've taken it apart, as you know, its illegal

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That's a "well known fact" that happens to be untrue

It's only illegal to work on gas appliances for gain, if you work on your own or even for someone else as a favour you're doing nothing wrong.

The wording is a "competent person" can work on gas, the meaning of competant person hasn't been clarified by the powers that be

Although if you were to "fix" someone's cooker only to have the house explode a few hours later would attract a few questions

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I can't say what temp yours gets to but the nozzles on my propane torch are silver soldered.

Spit on your fingers and then grab the pipe.
Measure the scream volume with a db meter and multiply by 4.

Paul G

Obviousley a new pipe from the manufacturer or maybe somewhere on the internet if you type the make and model in a search engine, but if not:

Try putting it back together with Gas Paste smeared on the olives or flared ends or GAS PTFE if really desperate (obviousley being careful not to obstruct then ends of the pipe).
It might be enough to get it to seal as the Gas is a very low pressures.

Thats Disgraceful whoever left that fault.. they obviously take the time to confirmdeny your observations... or even spray the pipe with leak detector spray!
(which would also be the best way to check if the gas paste or ptfe has worked)

quote:

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Originally posted by 907


Spit on your fingers and then grab the pipe.
Measure the scream volume with a db meter and multiply by 4.

Paul G

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tegwin,
I would start by deleting this thread!!
Then, fix as neat and thoroughly as possible.
If you can make brake lines/systems....
So what....

To be honest Tegwin, if the fire is that old I'd be thinking of a new one.
The spreader grill and coals must be getting a bit crumbly by now and you could be throwing good money after bad.

My own was a major job, converting from a coal fire involved much hammering and banging, bricklaying, plastering etc,
but to replace one gas fire with another is much easier.

Cheers
Paul G

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Originally posted by Confused but excited.
True, but you have to be able to prove that you are a competent person, ie; show your qualifications.
They don't have to define 'competant person', you have to prove you are.

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quote:

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Originally posted by tegwin
Urgh... I really dont want another tradesperson in my house... they cost the earth and not one has ever been any good.... Hence why everything gets done by me now... I know the jobs been done properly with care and attention that way...

Its silly.. I could go to homebase etc and buy a new gas fire.... so why cant I buy a part for one!!

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The rest of the fire is in perfect working order, its just this one piece thats letting it down...

Will have to see if I can get some gas paste from somewhere and give it a go... its not going to risk damange to anything or anyone, so worth a try.

Any idea where to buy the gas paste? A quick search on screwfix brings up nothing atall...

Failing that we may have to look at alternative solutions..

[Edited on 3/2/10 by tegwin]

British standards state that you cannot have soldered joints in the area of the fire, there is a set distance but i can't remember what it is.

What make is the fire? Most manufacturers will be able to supply replacements.

Kind regards

John

quote:

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Originally posted by tegwin
Any idea where to buy the gas paste? A quick search on screwfix brings up nothing atall...

Failing that we may have to look at alternative solutions..

[Edited on 3/2/10 by tegwin]

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Amazing... will see if I can get some tomorow and give it a try...

Worth a stab for £8...

tewgin, if doing gas work yourself its worth getting a u tube to test for leaks. Only about a tenner, and simple to use.

Hopefully the Pase will have worked but if not it might be possible to get something like this to fit.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Potterton-6-mm-Pilot-tube-kit-Honeywell-fixings-700723_W0QQitemZ360217273664QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Ai r?hash=item53de9f6540

That also looks a good ebay shop for other spares. I hadn't suggested it before because the end that goes into the Piot looks quite unusual.. but something might fit out of the kit, there quite universal, they do them in 4mm pipe aswell.

I find it interesting that in the ebay link (^^^) kit they use aluminium pipe.

Ally has the same melting point as silver solder.


Paul G

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Originally posted by r1_pete

quote:

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Originally posted by tegwin
Urgh... I really dont want another tradesperson in my house... they cost the earth and not one has ever been any good.... Hence why everything gets done by me now... I know the jobs been done properly with care and attention that way...

Its silly.. I could go to homebase etc and buy a new gas fire.... so why cant I buy a part for one!!

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Tegwin I'm right with you on that one, every tradesperson I've used in the last 15 years has made a complete arse of the job:

French doors fitted, they took the window out knocked bricks out, and had made the wrong wood effect doors!

Condservatory, they started building with the wrong bricks, awe they'll be ok, kicked them off the job and did it myself.

Block paving, sagged all over, took them to court and got my money back.

Just replaced my CH boiler with a combi, did it all myself, works perfect, CO detector a foot above it - nothing!!

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I went to B&Q yesterday and didnt find anything... most odd..

That Jet Lube is only rated to 260C... Wont the pilot area get quite a bit hotter than that?

quote:

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Originally posted by tegwin
I went to B&Q yesterday and didnt find anything... most odd..

That Jet Lube is only rated to 260C... Wont the pilot area get quite a bit hotter than that?

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