Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - question about replacing the rope gasket on my Burnham oil burner

I have a Burnham v74 and want to change out the front rope gasket on it since in some places around the cover slight leakage is getting by.
It's listed in my manual that came with my burner as:
Item # 12b = Rope Gasket (BMP) 72027214 (what's the bmp stand for)

Thinking I could use a standard brand I bought a small bag of 1/4" Lynnn rope at the local plumbing store, but as is, it looks too expanded or fluffy to fit into the grove - besides that with this brand obviously I'll need some kind of adhesive to hold it into place first - but the rope will be too expanded or fluffy to fit right unless somehow I twist it smaller tight, but still will have to adhere it somehow.. ..so my question is perhaps I need to order the original part number I've listed above? ..hoping that it's a better fit and somehow have a self adhesive to it?

Suggestions

Thank you


...ps tidbit
(I have always done my own yearly cleanings on it, changing nozzles, etc.. every 5 yrs I like to take the whole front Burner Mounting Plate (8172704) off to be able to also more easily get in there to gently vacuum up the extra debris, etc, hence, why if needed I'd like to replace the rope gasket every 3rd time too)

If the rope you have is too large, simply pulling on it should shrink it down. I usually use anti-seize compound to hold it in place until I can get the door closed or plate on. Any kind of automotive weatherstripping adhesive will do. Once the plate or door is on the pressure will hold the gasket in place. The best thing to use is probably a compound called "water glass" but you would likely have to get it from an HVAC or plumbing supply house. If you do find some, be sure to wear vinyl gloves when handling it.

Hi Grady,

Yes pulling it does tighten\makesmaller the rope to the right size, but therein lies the problem since the Lynn Kaowool rope is kindof stretchy when you pull it to make smaller, and so I'm not sure any compound is sticky enough to hold it taughter until I place the front plate on; although granted I've never used 'water glass' before so I don't know how its 'hands on' workable properties are? ..I do see they do have water glass at my local plumbing outlet in the quart size which is one quart more than I need for a one time use at the $ it is, however I have all kinds of other caulking like you mentioned, but I'm really wondering if the Lynn 1/4" kaowool rope is a proper replacement for the Burnham Rope Gasket (BMP) 72027214 ? ..or do I need to actually get the Burnham rope itself where it maybe a simpler or right fit?

The only reason I thought of replacing it at this point is it seems to be compressed enough now that there's no extra gapping ability left in it and in a few spots on the top I can see by a couple little trails left, that a little escaping has occurred.

thank you

A quart of water glass would cover about 1/2 the world. I have a little bottle (4oz.) I've been using on for years. Something else you can do is to use the kaowool "strip". It comes in 1/4" thick x 1" wide x 300" long. Just put it on top of the existing gasket by using anti-seize compound to hold it in place.
I really don't know what size the original gasket was but usually it is a lot stiffer than the kaowool rope. The strip is pretty much a one time deal. Replace each disassembly.

Hi Grady,

The strip is a good idea thank you, which brings me to another idea too - let's see what you think.. ..the original rope is really not that bad and is intact, but it's just from removing/installing that front plate the few times has the rope compressed enough that in just a few places I can see the heat trails of some minor leakage - and so how about if I just leave the original rope gasket in place, but since having 1/2 inch room still left on the plate before the edge, well how about around the entire perimeter left I can put a 'very small thin strip bead' of high temp caulk - and so when the plate is re-installed the current rope gasket is still the first main seal but now with the squeezed out caulk next in line to it taking care of any minor leakage, that should do it.. what do you think?

I'd stay away from the high temp caulk. It makes future removal of the plate a real job.

I'd stay away from the high temp caulk. It makes future removal of the plate a real job.

hmmm, okay then. I was only talking a slim slim bead of it, but if it sticks too much then after unbolting the plate perhaps the plate will be 'somewhat' glued in place if that's what you mean? I just thought if it was a thin enough bead that a simple pry would pop it loose again..

Some of it really sticks, at least the stuff I've used.

> Some of it really sticks, at least the stuff I've used.


Agreed, and so then perhaps I would just put a 'thin' bead around the 'outside' of that front plate 'after' I bolt it back on, then it would be very easy to peel that bead off visibly. For good measure first though since my local Burnham dealer shows it for only $5 I will order the original part number rope and hopefully when it comes it will be compact like its original one looks (compared to the Lynn) and maybe even have an adhesive backing too. ..if the part doesn't come in then I'll go to plan b as mentioned above, or lastly if I have to I could always use the 1/4 Lynn and pull it taught to slim it, to fit right, while using the adhesive you mentioned.

thank you for the conversations and ideas

Let me know how it goes. Hope I was at least a little help in some small way.

Let me know how it goes. Hope I was at least a little help in some small way.

Hi Grady,

I went through my local plumbing supply and ordered the original burnham rope and it just came in today. It' was $2.95 ...imagine that good price. Anyway it is exactly the right fit and soooo much better than the 1/4" Lynn was being that the Lynn even at 1/4'' was too bulky and having to pull it taught to size while trying to glue it in was a royal pita as it wanted to spring back; comparatively the original rope is more compact, denser, and just all around better, and will install with Ease, and so without question the original rope is the one to get imho...

Thanks again for your conversation about it.

For $2.95 it certainly isn't worth the fight & yes the OEM stuff is a lot more dense. Glad you got fixed up.