TOP TIP (oilies)

[Bunker]

If I havnt said it before:

CHECK THE NOZZLE is what it says on the tin. Had it again today, a .1 in a .55 pot. No wonder it was schmokin...

Thats about 5 times in the last 12 months. All from HWOS so not dodgy stock.

 

[WHPES]

One of my best jobs was to remove an old tank after cust had converted to ng, they said they had run tank right down to 0 on tankmaster, and shut aga off. I had to remove aga for scrap and empty tank and decommission oil line. I ended up pumping nearly 400l of oil out of tank, that was a good day.

Had one better than that - Some developers needed an AGA and oil tank ripping out very quickly for building work to commence - how soon could I do it and could I give a price? I thought and gave them a verbal quote over the phone, allowing a contingency for unknowns and they said OK get down here ASAP as its holding work up. There was a 2,000 litre tank full to the brim! Best job ever! I got about £80 from the scrappy for the old AGA and the tank too!

 

[bennygas]

What a crackin' thread - I'm totally green when it comes to oil. Thanks chaps. This place is ace.

 

[Bunker]

Dammit Best, I was going to say that for 12mm spanner, had to use it today!
Anyone come up with a novel idea to get to the 2 x 5mm allen key bolts out, that hold in (I think) sterling burners into SE Worcester heatslaves? Possibly one of the most annoying blots to get too.

Yes, they are an awkward bar steward. I use a very small goblin with strong little arms to climb in and unwind them. Hope that helps.

 

[WHPES]

Whoever came up with that method of connection for the WB heatslave boilers cannot have been an engineer. Far more sensible would have been a nut connection like for Riello burners which you can at least get a socket, extension and ratchet onto. IT's a bit like the daft angled valves on the Heatlsaves which you can't get at when you need to change them (as you invariably need to do because they are notorious for leaking) because of the lip on the air box, and also the position of them which sometimes leads to pinching off the flexi fuel line. IMO the heatslaves are one of the worst designed boilers out. They should have just used a type of burner with an air duct connection instead of that silly air box business.

 

[Killy Bing]

How about the danesmoors with their burner guard, every time you pull them off you skin the back of your fingers with the casing on each side!

 

[Bunker]

Good job they have been completely redesigned, front RDB's, exp vessel swings out the way on a hinged bracket...all looks good to me

 

[kimbo]

Good job they have been completely redesigned, front RDB's, exp vessel swings out the way on a hinged bracket...all looks good to me

I have just fitted one I wouldnt go for another there is too much plastic in them. The 3 port valve is plastic and there are too many sensors for my liking. If you ever get a problem that is not burner related I think it will be a call to wb for their engineer. Too many fault codes that arent listed and there is a computer jack plug in the front of it that only wb will accesd. Most pipes are pushed into o rings secured by clips. Only time will tell. Nice and quiet.

 

[SimonG]

Wondered who would be the first manufacturer to have to plug the laptop into. No surprise its worcester, most of their engineers need as much help as possible.

 

[Roger Welton]

From the sticky thread

Since then I find that the HWOS Long01 dont last more than a couple of years so I have switched to the green bio equivalent.

Interesting, I've just swapped they other way and started using the long life ones as the green ones were going hard after a couple of years :mad2:

 

[kimbo]

I found that the black ones were cracking when going back for a second service. The customers were complaining of oil smells as well. I changed them for the braided or green ones and the smell went.

 

[SimonG]

Just using the braided ones.

 

[Killy Bing]

Just using the braided ones.

I use the braided too.

 

[gasmanrob]

Have often thought about sitting oil exams, is it worth it, is it like gas where there are different levels of competence for domestic/commercial used to work on oil when I was an apprentice but haven't touched it since, there's a fair bit around here and doing the LPG I often get asked if I do oil too. And is it expensive to sit the often stuff?

 

[Killy Bing]

Have a read rob on the tickets

http://www.oftec.org/Media/Default/DocGalleries/Registration forms/GB_Full_Application_Form_R250.pdf

Not many too it but i think the training is a touch pricey.
not to mention the registration eith oftec

A few extra tools too, flaring kit, reemer, pressure/vacuum gauges, smoke pump, oil primer and more

imho to do it effectively you need to have quite a stock of bits, hoses, nozzles, filters/elements, photo cells and such

i know one member carries 8ks worth of just oil spares

 

[gasmanrob]

Wow 8k that's ALOT of dough but if you can rectify a fault or remedy poor spray on the spot then people will think the world of you and recommend you and your services, seeing as oil is often in remote areas where it's colder and open to the elements

 

[WHPES]

I found that the black ones were cracking when going back for a second service. The customers were complaining of oil smells as well. I changed them for the braided or green ones and the smell went.

Been doing that too. Using up the black ones on external boilers now.

 

[Best]

Black hoses are scary - they crack whole way through & usually on a bend, I find.
The red hoses are good though & I have cut old red hoses that had small cracks but discovered the red is just a thin outer cover with a heavy black hose underneath.
The braided Riello hoses are poor & need replaced every year or two to be safe. Strangely the braided hoses with Electro Oil burners last & last unless abused badly.

 

[MarkOil]

I use the black ones because they are cheaper, custards like things cheap, but I suppose you get what you pay for.
But aren't you "supposed" to change them every year regardless??

Bunker - I like the idea of your goblin friend, where do I get one? Haha

 

[Soggy]

If the oil line does not have a date stamp, it 'must' be changed annually. As far as I know, the only ones which HWOS sell with this stamp are the green bio hoses.

Date stamped long life hoses have to be replaced every 5 years. Beware of some of the black long life hoses on the market, they do not have a date stamp so must be replaced annually.

 

[Roger Welton]

Most braided hoses have the date on the fitting at one end or another, I seem to reqularly come across ones from the early 90's.

 

[Soggy]

Most braided hoses have the date on the fitting at one end or another, I seem to reqularly come across ones from the early 90's.

The braided from HWOS don't, or certainly didn't up to a year ago. Braided should be changed annually regardless.

 

[WHPES]

Long life hoses should be changed as required. Long life hoses without a date do not have to be changed annually - that's nonsense! The date they were fitted should be the start date and in any case common sense is required - Check the condition of the hose. Often long life hoses will start to show signs of deterioration (cracking, stiffness etc) before 5 years is up in which case they should be replaced.

 

[Soggy]

Check your regs

 

[WHPES]

There are no deails in any Regulations (Building Regs or otherwise etc) regarding maintenance of supply pipework other than installation requirements. Regulations only state that pipework "must be fit for purpose" but do not go into specifics. OFTEC procedures advise changing braided hoses annually and long life hoses as required or 5 years. There is no mandatory requirement to change hoses.

 

[Soggy]

There are no deails in any Regulations (Building Regs or otherwise etc) regarding maintenance of supply pipework other than installation requirements. Regulations only state that pipework "must be fit for purpose" but do not go into specifics. OFTEC procedures advise changing braided hoses annually and long life hoses as required or 5 years. There is no mandatory requirement to change hoses.

True, but if something goes wrong, what would your insurers think?

 

[Bunker]

True, but if something goes wrong, what would your insurers think?

So what did you mean by "check your regs"?

 

[Soggy]

So what did you mean by "check your regs"?

If you are being pedantic, "Check your OFTEC books"

 

[Bunker]

If you are being pedantic, "Check your OFTEC books"

I'm not being pedantic atall but check for what?

 

[Soggy]

I'm not being pedantic atall but check for what?

It was a reply to the post above.

 

[SimonG]

All the oilies are fully aware of the requirements and their responsibilities with all aspects of oil.

OFTEC is a waste of space. Yes it polices its members, but does nothing against people working outside of the rules that are not members.

Yes you can install, repair and work with oil without OFTEC but you cant commission.

Somebody needs to wake up and bring all combustible fuels under the same body. After all they can all kill.