"Digsy" wrote in message
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Hi everyone. This is my first post here so hopefully someone can help.

My oil-fired boiler has developed a problem which is becoming more and
more frequent. For information the boiler is fitted with an Ecoflam
Monoflame Minor 1 burner.

When the burner starts it is supposd to run the motor and fan for a few
seconds to pre-purge the systm before trying to ignite it. Sometimes
this is not happening. What happens instead is that the burner just
sits there making a buzzing noise. No motor run, no fan - nothing apart
from the buzzing. After about ten seconds of this the burner goes into
lockout because it has not seen any ignition.

Either the motor/capacitor is failing/has failed or the oil pump is
stiffening up. There isn't enough Ommph to kick off the rotation. From
bitter experience you will find that the last of these you try will be the
right one!

the motor start and run capacitors are the cheapest option at around a
tenner. work up from there - motor around £80, pump also around £80 g


I have found that if I hit the burner assembly fairly hard with my fist
I can usually get it to start running.

the knock or jerk is often enough to get the first movement going to
overcome "sticktion". You could of course have a ball in the bearings which
has worn or chipped out out spherical and gets stuck sometimes. Remove the
motor and rotate it by hand gently to "feel" whats going on. At the same
time rotate the oil pump gently it should turn fairly smoothly although it
will be stiffer than the motor.


Also, I've only just really started experimenting but it would appear
that the problem is temperature-related. For example, the boiler has
been playing up all weekend but tonight I started running it at setting
3 on the boiler thermostat with the front panel off and it hasn't missed
a beat. I have (literally) just turned it up to 6 (maximum setting) and
left the front panel off and so far all appears to be OK.

I have done a bit of research myself and the prime suspects seem to be
either the motor or the motor capacitor. The fact that the motor won't
start makes me think it is the capacitor, but the fact that I can fix
it by hitting it makes me think it is the motor getting stuck!

Yep. or both - as the replacement motor comes with a capacitor and if you
are having to make a journey to get any parts you need it might be easiest
to get a motor straight away. Do try rotating as above first though.

Any thoughts from someone who really knows their stuff?

Its always easier to attack these situations with a vanload of spares :-)