Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Miller furnace with Wayne burner M-SRH-1

I rent a mobile home with the above heating unit, and currently have no heat. There is plenty of fuel oil, and I bled the pump until a solid stream flowed. That said, is there anything besides a clogged nozzle that could prevent fuel from getting to the combustion chamber? I don't have a spare nozzle, but I'll get one tomorrow.

What is the best way to test the transformer? Yes, I know, it is supposed to deliver ~ 10,000 volts, so don't grab the springs!! With one re-start, I allowed the springs to make and break contact with the electrode contacts, and there seemed to be decent blue arking, but there was no attempt at fire in the combustion chamber--it just timed out.

I know you are cold but you need to call your landlord. You should not be working on the heater. In addition to putting yourself in possible danger, you are endangering your landlord's property.

I know you are cold but you need to call your landlord. You should not be working on the heater. In addition to putting yourself in possible danger, you are endangering your landlord's property.

Hah! Boy, I called that one! I told my lady, "Now as soon as Grady reads this, he's going to tell me to get away and call a pro."

Grady, first, I am over 50, not a young upstart. Second, I performed most repairs and maintenance on my own heating systems for 25 years before giving that house away. Occasional basement flooding meant removing the oil burners from the oil fired hot water heater and boiler, disassembling, and drying them out.

I'm no brain surgeon, but neither is my HVAC guy. Routine stuff like replacing nozzles, filters, and cleaning things when necessary, or replacing an intermittent ignition primary when needed is not too tough for anyone with a minimal amount of knowledge and brainpower.

I ask advice if I think I can handle a job, and hire it out if I don't. In years past, I have hired "the pros," who have gone on "fishing trips," continuing to replace parts until things worked again. Hell, I could do that, (except that the parts would be about half of what "the pros" charge) but don't want to!!

At motherearthnews.com, an "expert", "who teaches a popular introductory course on furnace repair at a local technical institute" said:
Another possible cause is a shorted-out transformer. To check, Leroy advises, disconnect the wires to the burner motor and the furnace, leaving the transformer wire in place. Take a screwdriver with an insulated handle (and since you're dealing with 10,000 volts, a good wallop, be sure to hold onto the insulated handle), and touch it to one of the terminals of the transformer while slowly lowering the shaft of the screwdriver into contact with the other terminal. The current should form a two-inch arc; if the arc is small, less than 3/4 inch, the transformer is weak and needs to be replaced. :eek:

Now...call me crazy, but I figured there must be a better way to check this out more safely with my test equipment.

My landload for the time being is a very good friend, who loves that I enjoy repairing things when I can. I have previously repaired plumbing fixtures, the electric range, washing machine, and this furnace. I assure you I am very careful and know my limitations, but thanks for your concern.

You can check for an open transformer with an ohm meter. I use the screwdriver method.

You can check for an open transformer with an ohm meter. I use the screwdriver method.

Ok, thanks. When he spoke of a "weak" transformer, I thought maybe there'd be values to check for....

Anyway, before going to get a nozzle this morning, I removed the oil tube et al, and found the ceramic housing of one of the electrodes to be severely cracked. I replaced both of them and the related parts, a nozzle, and everything is running well again.

Thanks again.

I replace more porcelains on Wayne burners than everything else combined, probably by at least a factor of 5. Make sure the metal sleeve is in the electrode holder & the split is NOT under the screw. Those screws need to be good & snug but not impact wrench tight. Glad you got 'er going.

BTW; I look for a nice blue arc with a crisp sound & being able to pull that arc at least half way between the terminals.

I can believe it. The huge old house I used to have had Becketts and maybe one Carlin for everything I had there for 25 years, and I never had one crack. So, not doing this for a living, it didn't occur to me to consider broken porcelain.

I'm glad you're here, but wish this board was available back then when I struggled through many problems. :wall: