Stanley cooker problem

Dtp79 · 21-01-2013 8:02pm #1

I haven't a huge amount of experience with these cookers. When the cooker is on for about an hour it goes to lockout. The customer resets it and it goes again for about an hour then lockout. I serviced it in August so I know all is clean. Anybody come across a similar problem with these. It's a twin burner and problem is on cooker side.

Billy Bunting · 21-01-2013 8:06pm

Could be lots of things but Solenoid or Transformer would be a good bet.

Dtp79 · 21-01-2013 8:17pm

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Could be lots of things but Solenoid or Transformer would be a good bet.

I don't have a large amount of parts for these burners and its an hour from the nearest suppliers! I'm hoping to fix it in one go hopefully. The customer is the mother in law too!!

Billy Bunting · 21-01-2013 8:34pm

You could swap the coil from the other burner and try it to be sure, that fails do the same with Transformer and so on.

jimf · 21-01-2013 8:38pm

it sounds like a solenoid coil as billy pointed out if the time lockout is consistent

and as its the mother in law no dinner for the rest of the week if its not right and no brownie points from she who must be obeyed

shane0007 · 21-01-2013 8:40pm

Solenoid

Dtp79 · 21-01-2013 8:45pm

shane0007 wrote: »

Solenoid

Thanks lads. I actually have a solenoid in the van. Why would it restart though if solenoid was the problem?

Billy Bunting · 21-01-2013 8:48pm

OK till they warm up.

shane0007 · 21-01-2013 8:50pm

Sorry it is the solenoid coil rather than the solenoid itself. As the temperature increases, it can affect the resistance of the faulty coil and cause it to drop the solenoid cutting the fuel supply.

Dtp79 · 26-01-2013 6:00pm

shane0007 wrote: »

Sorry it is the solenoid coil rather than the solenoid itself. As the temperature increases, it can affect the resistance of the faulty coil and cause it to drop the solenoid cutting the fuel supply.

Fitted the solenoid today and all running well lads. Thanks for the help

Dtp79 · 02-02-2013 4:30pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

Fitted the solenoid today and all running well lads. Thanks for the help

Back in trouble again with the same cooker. The cooker burner again. Was working fine since solenoid change. Called today. Burner locking out again. Runs for 14 seconds, dosent fire. Took burner out saw nothing wrong. Reset and away it goes. 5 or six times grand. Then lockout again. Pump pressure ok, unplugged photocell and still didn't fire so ruled that out. Friend says it might be transformer leads or tight spot on pump. Any help welcome.

shane0007 · 02-02-2013 5:23pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

Back in trouble again with the same cooker. The cooker burner again. Was working fine since solenoid change. Called today. Burner locking out again. Runs for 14 seconds, dosent fire. Took burner out saw nothing wrong. Reset and away it goes. 5 or six times grand. Then lockout again. Pump pressure ok, unplugged photocell and still didn't fire so ruled that out. Friend says it might be transformer leads or tight spot on pump. Any help welcome.

Unplugging the photocell will only test the photocell when it is causing the burner to continuously run without firing. A faulty photocell causing lockout will still be same. The only test for that without specialist equipment is to try a new photocell.

Billy Bunting · 02-02-2013 5:24pm

Transformer.

Dtp79 · 02-02-2013 5:34pm

shane0007 wrote: »

Unplugging the photocell will only test the photocell when it is causing the burner to continuously run without firing. A faulty photocell causing lockout will still be same. The only test for that without specialist equipment is to try a new photocell.

When I say I unplugged it I meant I cut the wire cause I couldn't actually unplug it from the block of wires. Would it not fire for a few seconds then lockout if photocell wire removed?

Dtp79 · 02-02-2013 5:35pm

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Transformer.

Do they sometimes work intermittently billy?

shane0007 · 02-02-2013 5:42pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

When I say I unplugged it I meant I cut the wire cause I couldn't actually unplug it from the block of wires. Would it not fire for a few seconds then lockout if photocell wire removed?

It will depend upon the control box. If it does not get a darkness signal it may not enter the ignition stage.

Billy Bunting · 02-02-2013 5:43pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

Do they sometimes work intermittently billy?

Yes, both solenoid and transformers have intermitent problems.

Difficult to test with intermitent problem, normally add a connector block on supply to transformer and check it for power.

Dtp79 · 02-02-2013 6:17pm

shane0007 wrote: »

It will depend upon the control box. If it does not get a darkness signal it may not enter the ignition stage.

Would you no if that's the case with the ecoflam burner on the Stanley?

shane0007 · 02-02-2013 6:50pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

Would you no if that's the case with the ecoflam burner on the Stanley?

Off hand no. Replacement is only sure way, I'm afraid but it could easily be transformer as Billy suggests. Photocell generally fail or don't fail. Rarely intermittent unless dirty.

jimf · 02-02-2013 7:32pm

try closing the gap on the electrodes if the transformer is weak you may or may not get enough power to generate spark if the arc is narrowed down

Dtp79 · 04-02-2013 4:51pm

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Transformer.

New transformer, new leads and new photocell just gone in. Now it fires for 30 seconds, stops firing, restarts for a few seconds then stops, tries to fire then lockout. What more can I do!!!!!!

Billy Bunting · 04-02-2013 4:56pm

Bucking Hell!!! Is there a brick wall near by ? :eek:

Dtp79 · 04-02-2013 4:58pm

Billy Bunting wrote: »

Bucking Hell!!! Is there a brick wall near by ? :eek:

Now I'm after removing the heating burner to go back in at the cooker one. I just fired it before I took it out and it's going 3 minutes now. Loose wire somewhere maybe?

Dtp79 · 04-02-2013 6:22pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

Now I'm after removing the heating burner to go back in at the cooker one. I just fired it before I took it out and it's going 3 minutes now. Loose wire somewhere maybe?

I'm just about to give up here. Done all I can do I think. Changed solenoid, photocell, nozzle, leads, transformer and capacitor. Oh Ye changed the electrodes too. Oil pressure is perfect even when it's trying to re ignite so I've ruled out the pump.forgot to mention I put in a new control box too and still fault occurred

shane0007 · 04-02-2013 7:35pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

I'm just about to give up here. Done all I can do I think. Changed solenoid, photocell, nozzle, leads, transformer and capacitor. Oh Ye changed the electrodes too. Oil pressure is perfect even when it's trying to re ignite so I've ruled out the pump.forgot to mention I put in a new control box too and still fault occurred

Solenoid stem valve?

jimf · 04-02-2013 8:35pm

have you checked the motor fan any build up of fluff restricting the air intake

Billy Bunting · 04-02-2013 8:46pm

shane0007 wrote: »

Solenoid stem valve?

+1, Stem would be my next try.

Dtp79 · 04-02-2013 10:02pm

jimf wrote: »

have you checked the motor fan any build up of fluff restricting the air intake

Fans ok. It's a balanced flue taking air from outside

Dtp79 · 04-02-2013 10:03pm

shane0007 wrote: »

Solenoid stem valve?

What would be wrong with that? Would it not show up in the gauge if that was going wrong?

shane0007 · 04-02-2013 10:03pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

Fans ok. It's a balanced flue taking air from outside

You would have sooting before locking out issue if that was the issue anyhow.

shane0007 · 04-02-2013 10:06pm

Dtp79 wrote: »

What would be wrong with that? Would it not show up in the gauge if that was going wrong?

No. You would still have pump pressure. It could be blocked or only partially opening or not opening, i.e. stuck.
If you don't have one, take one off another pump or just replace the pump for a few minutes to confirm.

Stanley cooker problem

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