I have an oil boiler with a Riello Mectron 3BM, burner (Model 169/T12) with a hydrolically operated shutter over the air intake on the right hand side.  The hydrolic ram is currently leaking oil.

I have looked everywhere on the net to find out how to fix it with little success till I came across a posting that suggested that this was a common fault and it was common for the shutter on this model to have been removed and the pump tapping plugged.

Well this would be extreemly easy to do as I would just need to slap in an 1/8 inch plug.

It looks simple and logically it should work as removing the shutter would just leave the intake fully open which is the state it is in when running anyway - however not being experienced it leaves me wondering whether it will damage the oil pump and/or mean that the burn rate or something else needs adjusting.

I guess my real worry is - if the boiler runs fine without the shutter then why did someone go to the effort and expense of making it in the first place - is it just a bit of over engineering?

Can anyone help  

Firstly, welcome to this here forum Laurence......

but.....

Hate to say this Scruff, but the newbie, may not be JESTING!!, i've just "alta-vista'd" the info,and got all sorts of DANGEROUS "tips" and "D.I.Y" hints etc...

woooahhh!! SCARY!! or what!!!!
so i think that pointing the poor unsuspecting person in the CORRECT DIRECTION would not go a miss dear chap!!!

there is actually a guy in the States doing $200 seminars of how to rig your oil boiler to be more efficent ,and keeping running costs down!!!
Quote:


so i think a gentle hand to steer is in order! eh??

p.s like the new "label dear chap! re: ATT!!!

Ah !! okay dear chap!, i stand "corrected" ..(and wiser!)

get in touch with http://www.heating-parts.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=48

they may have a ram seal or something on the shelf, in the meantime I will look in our stores tomorrow and see if theres anything kicking about.

"Having a laugh right"

Actually this is a fairly common way to deal with leaking hydraulic jacks on reillo mectron style burners.

The jack has no other function but to open the air inlet into the burner to a predetermined amount - found by measuring flue gas analiser etc and smoke readings.

The original hydraulic jack (long type) had replaceable spare parts. Replacing the seal is however only a short term repair in as far as the new seals do not last that long because of the worn internal jack bore. Few boiler engineers would replace the seals because they know they would be back and have to replace the whole jack.

The next generation of these burners had a shorter jack for which parts are not listed. After that the burners were produced with just an adjustable grill NO closing damper. They are essencially identical burners.

The original opening flap was fitted to prevent any oil smells entering the room by this means. However those burners not fitted with the arrangement do not normally suffer.

When making the automatic air flap fixed it is important to ensure that the flap is fixed in the same position as it would be if opened by the jack. Note the jack has NO influence on the flaps position when open. It does NOT adjust its opening according to oil pressure or the like it just opens it to a preset position. There is NO danger of any safety related issue in the fixing  (provided in correct position) of this flap.

Problem here John is so many things going on at the moment time on any forum has to be limited/shared about!!

I was searching a reference and ended up here and started reading a few of the questions. Will try to come back sooner though.