20 Most Recent Reddy Heater-30-55,000 BTU Variable - Page 8 Questions & Answers

Hi,

Here are a couple of tips that I wrote that tell you how to troubleshoot a Torpedo or Reddy heater...

Reddy Heater - Troubleshooting Torpedo Heaters

Torpedo Heater Pump Pressure Adjustment

heatman101

Have you changes the switch

Calm down and lets do routine maintenance this is what I do each and every year. Remove the top half of the burner tube, this exposes the burner tray. Locate the flame sensor these collect carbon,dirt,and the occasional insect nest. Now clean the flame sensor with windex and a soft terry cloth rag, make sure it has a clear unobstructed view of the flame. Next is the fuel nozzle, locate it and remove it,they say that you can not clean these, I say carb cleaner, q-tips and tooth pick work fine, clean the nozzle.Behind the nozzle there should be a screen these corrode while in storage some times clean it and now reinstall the nozzle assembly. Inspect the fuel lines for cracks, dry rot or holes, do this back to the fuel pump. Replace the top half of the tube and remove the side cover on the side where the fuel line drops thru, in doing this you should now be able to see the fuel filter. Remove the filter and using a compressor and an air gun blow air backwards thru the filter, now it is clean put it back in line, finish inspecting fuel line to the tank making sure it is submerged in the fuel. Put the side cover back on. Last is the air filter on the rear intake, it is usually a foam filter, wash it out dry it real good put it back in. Now you plug in your heater and it should now run like new. Good Luck and take your time this is not that hard.

There is a flame sensor inside the case, remove the top half look directly below the nozzle assembly and there it should be. These get dirty so clean it with windex and soft terry cloth rag, there are yearly routines you get in to owning one of these things, and if you do them each year they are good heaters. Biggest enemy is dirt and corrosion be it fuel system or the safety and sensors. The filters both fuel and air are important for proper fuel distribution and mixture.

its not sensing flame there is sensor located that sees the flame it will be located right next to spark ignitor

The ignition sensor is a metal tube about 1/4" diameter and 2" long, set so it sits in the flame.
Use a green scotch-brite pad or some steel wool to clean the soot off. This usually works.

check amp draw on the ignitor.

check ignitor element. sometimes they rust and get loose. replace if element is loose. this causes an open and the ignitor fails putting out the flame and then the safety kicks on turning off the heater blower.

Is there a fuel pressure gauge on it? IF so it be set to the pressure on the nameplate rating. Mine did samething and I had to replace the rubber hoses from the pump to the injector. Your fuel pressure will tell us whats going on.

Does it have a pressure gauge in the back by the fan?

Hi,
The fan motor is setup...
Tear it part and get some WD-40 worked into the motor at the shaft end... then when you get it spinning freely... get some light motor oil worked into the bearing...

Works best if you can tip the heater back so the WD-40 and oil naturally run back into the motor...

heatman101

330-207-4880

Unfortunately it sounds as if you are loosing the fan motor, or it could possibly be in the fuel pump as it is run from the same motor.You could try cleaning out the fuel pump by taking it apart and cleaning it then make sure you pay attention to detail putting it together. It could be dirt in the pump but I lean more towards fan motor.

Check your fuel lines and most models have a fuel filter in line. A few things come to mind one how old is the fuel? Check the screen in the nozzle assembly by removing nozzle it sits directly behind the nozzle, these corrode and affect fuel flow. While you have this tore down clean the fire-eye with windex and terry cloth rag, it may not be seeing the flame. Check the air filter at the back of the heater as well. These are common problems with these heaters.

Sounds like the thermocouple is bad. Pushing the knob bypasses the thermocouple and permits ignition once you let go after thirty seconds it is supposed to stay lit. This is common with heaters.

They can run on diesel but I myself would not do it. Diesel is an unrefined form of kerosene and has higher amounts of sulfur and parafin which means it will stink more and burns dirtier. Yes you can do it, K1 kerosene is the fuel of choice here and I would not change. This is my personal opinion you do not have to follow it.

Well these simple heaters are good but can be quite annoying. This sounds as though you have lost the fan motor. You should hear a roar after ignition and being that all you have is a blue flame and little to no heat this tells me you lost the fan motor.

It has a flame sensor that is either dirty or has failed.

Hi,

Here are a couple of tips that I wrote that tell you how to troubleshoot a Torpedo or Reddy heater...

Reddy Heater - Troubleshooting Torpedo Heaters

Torpedo Heater Pump Pressure Adjustment

heatman101

is there a tube to the pressure switch you can clean this could be blocked