Blu ox propane co2 generator problem

[houdini]

Hi folks, I've got a 6 burner model. About 30% of the time it doesn't fire up. The ignition thermocouple is working fine so I'm guessing that the gas input solenoid valve is sticking sometimes. Can I open up and clean/lubricate the valve or do I need to replace it ?
Reinhold Mfg. are/were the makers of this but I heard somebody else has taken over this product? Thanks for any help.....

 

[Hurk]

Unfortunately the gas valve isn't serviceable. It probably even says on it "do not disassemble" or something similar. If a gas valve starts acting up its best to replace it. Just make sure that's where the problem is.

 

[houdini]

Unfortunately the gas valve isn't serviceable. It probably even says on it "do not disassemble" or something similar. If a gas valve starts acting up its best to replace it. Just make sure that's where the problem is.

Well this gas valve is serviceable. Its a Honeywell Sv9501 which has an electronic control board. The solder work on the board is crappy and since the problem is intermittent there is a good chance that there is a dry or cracked solder joint on this PCB. To replace this valve is over 300 bucks...... I'm planning to remove the board and redo the solder work....

 

[Hurk]

Oh its one of those stupid "smart" valves. They're always acting up. I've never tried to fix one. It does say do not disassemble on it so if I started messing with it as an hvac tech I could be held responsible if the building blew up the following week because I serviced an "un-serviceable" part.
Anyway when I change them it doesn't cost me money, it makes me money

 

[Hurk]

You say "the ignition thermocouple is working fine" but that valve doesn't use a thermocouple, it has an intermittent pilot with a combo igniter/flame rod. You could try cleaning the flame rod part (not the igniter as its fragile) with some emery cloth or steel wool. The issue might be a weak flame signal.

 

[houdini]

You say "the ignition thermocouple is working fine" but that valve doesn't use a thermocouple, it has an intermittent pilot with a combo igniter/flame rod. You could try cleaning the flame rod part (not the igniter as its fragile) with some emery cloth or steel wool. The issue might be a weak flame signal.

Yes, you're right. I'm using the wrong terminology. It uses a HSI to ignite the pilot and a flame rod detector to open the main burner valve.
The HSI glows fine. After further observation it seems to me that there is a weak flow of pilot gas. The pilot flame should cover about 0.5 inches of the flame rod. This doesn't happen. The flame barely touches the flame rod, so yes, the flame signal may be weak. Any idea why the pilot gas flow might have a problem? clogged gas line? Incorrectly opening pilot solenoid?

 

[Hurk]

It could be a dirty pilot assembly. You could try vacuuming the pilot or you can take the pilot apart and clean it thoroughly. With any luck that might fix your problem.

 

[mr.shiva]

Blu ox propane co2 generator problem

Clean it good. I have older one and the burners don't burn clean enough, poisons the plants took me a while to figure out what was up.

 

[Hurk]

Ya thats some good advise. While your at it take the burners out and clean them too. If the burners are dirty you get incomplete combustion and instead of producing co2 it will produce co which will poison both the plants and the gardeners

 

[houdini]

Ya thats some good advise. While your at it take the burners out and clean them too. If the burners are dirty you get incomplete combustion and instead of producing co2 it will produce co which will poison both the plants and the gardeners

Thanks for the advice hurk! I keep a good eye on the burner flame color to make sure combustion is correct PLUS I've got a CO detector in the room....