Oakville secondary burner not lighting

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Chuck Shuck

New Member
Nov 19, 2022
16
Georgia
I just purchased this Oakville series GDIX4… and converted it from natural gas to propane… I change the ports to 53 orfice and the stepper motor….
Pilot light works fine… Brand new gas insert ..
And I’m trying to figure out what is the problem… Everyone’s on service call and won’t be able to come to my place at least for a month and a half… Crazy looking for help or insight

[Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting [Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting [Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting
 

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The gas pressure from the tank outside 120 gallon tank to gas insert is full… But from the mainline to the outlets, no… I do not have a device to do that… I believe it’s called a manometer
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Kind of hard to pinpoint your issue without knowing if the pressure is adequate.
One more question... Why do the air shutters look like they are closed?
LP fuel generally requires more Air-to-Fuel (ATF) in the mixture, & that
is done by opening the air shutters.
 
Kind of hard to pinpoint your issue without knowing if the pressure is adequate.
One more question... Why do the air shutters look like they are closed?
LP fuel generally requires more Air-to-Fuel (ATF) in the mixture, & that
is done by opening the air shutters.
ATF…I micrometer the opening to the spec

[Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting
 
Loosen the screw in the port. Slip the manometer tube over the outer diameter of the port. Read the manometer.
 
Manometer needs to read inches of Water Column (WC).
With the unit OFF.
Back off the INLET screw until you hear/smell gas.
Tap the inlet port.
Note the manometer reading
Remove the manometer & tighten the screw.
Turn the unit on.
Back off the OUTPUT screw.
Tap the outlet port.
Note the manometer reading.
Remove the manometer & tighten the screw.
 
Manometer needs to read inches of Water Column (WC).
With the unit OFF.
Back off the INLET screw until you hear/smell gas.
Tap the inlet port.
Note the manometer reading
Remove the manometer & tighten the screw.
Turn the unit on.
Back off the OUTPUT screw.
Tap the outlet port.
Note the manometer reading.
Remove the manometer & tighten the screw.
 
If you don't have those readings, the regulator on the fuel tank may need to be looked at.
So after I get these readings, and they’re not in spec… I replaced the step motor from natural gas to propane and I replaced the diaphragm. Could’ve been operator error on how I put in the diaphragm of the step motor the brand new one?
 
Possibly, but i am not sure that's what is the issue with yours.
IIRC, these stepper motors are used in the regulation of the
gas flow for flame height adjustment, not secondary burner ignition.
There is a solenoid that actuates the second burner.
Sometimes they are bad from the factory, but sometimes they are simply
stuck. A sharp "rap" with the plastic handle of a screw driver on the valve
body can free up the solenoid.
 
Possibly, but i am not sure that's what is the issue with yours.
IIRC, these stepper motors are used in the regulation of the
gas flow for flame height adjustment, not secondary burner ignition.
There is a solenoid that actuates the second burner.
Sometimes they are bad from the factory, but sometimes they are simply
stuck. A sharp "rap" with the plastic handle of a screw driver on the valve
body can free up the solenoid.
Update… got manometer… inlet was 14 water columns and the outlet was nine water columns went to the tank, turned up a little bit of the pressure from the tank got to 10 inches of water column… But it worked better after I put in the glass and hooked up the air venting, it started working efficiently… So I believe it was operator error.

[Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting [Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting [Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting [Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting [Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting
 
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Manometer needs to read inches of Water Column (WC).
With the unit OFF.
Back off the INLET screw until you hear/smell gas.
Tap the inlet port.
Note the manometer reading
Remove the manometer & tighten the screw.
Turn the unit on.
Back off the OUTPUT screw.
Tap the outlet port.
Note the manometer reading.
Remove the manometer & tighten the screw.
I’m curious is these glow embers laid in properly above the front burner?

[Hearth.com] Oakville secondary burner not lighting
 
As long as they don’t impede any gas flow from the burner ports, you should be fine. Light er up with the glass on & let’s see what ya got!