Bought a used forced air/ salamander heater

[diesel lover]

You guys talked me into it!! I just bought a 55k btu for 85$. Not bad!! Check it out! Can run kerosene, fuel oil no 1 (diesel #1 is close), and jet fuel! Very happy. New a similar model is 180$ or more. I was hoping to get one that runs on diesel but that's ok. I own a diesel Massey ferguson so I figured I could have 5 gallons of diesel fuel at any time and run in both the tractor and the salamander. It's not for the expense I wanted to run diesel but for the ability to have only one fuel. Now I need three types, gasoline, diesel and kerosene.











Tested in a 12.5 by 25 foot garage. The fumes are kinda making my stomach sick. I am cracking the door a small amount. I have worked around these before.

The fuel is red?? Says can use no 1 fuel oil or kerosene only. I have never seen dyed kerosene in this entire state. I know it exists. Is it possible someone filled it with off road diesel or fuel oil? Is that why the fumes are slightly stronger than kerosene should be? It's not too bad overall. I know the newer kerosene units burn cleaner than the older.

I plan to remove all the fuel and replace it with fresh kerosene. Than I will test it again and let you guys know

 

[diesel lover]

http://youtu.be/WDQO1ZvWE-Y
Check it out here

 

[diesel lover]

Wow!!! I changed it to kerosene from the pump!! Smell and headaches are gone. It had nothing but number 2 fuel oil or dyed diesel fuel. What a change

 

[Stimw]

You need to do a search on how to service it.
They are pretty simple but there are filters that need cleaning/or replacing. Also should have a screen on the pick up tube to check.
To adjust the pressure you need a very low pressure gauge, IIRC it's in the single digits.
I hope you drained it completely, they will get water/condensation in the tank and it will cause them to act up and flame out.
Best to do a service check in the early fall BEFORE you need it too.

 

[diesel lover]

You need to do a search on how to service it. They are pretty simple but there are filters that need cleaning/or replacing. Also should have a screen on the pick up tube to check. To adjust the pressure you need a very low pressure gauge, IIRC it's in the single digits. I hope you drained it completely, they will get water/condensation in the tank and it will cause them to act up and flame out. Best to do a service check in the early fall BEFORE you need it too.

Found this video of the same heater!! Has great information including adjusting the pressure, replacing the spark plug and coil and how they work. Best part is it is the same exact heater as mine!

http://youtu.be/ve0nzByP6SU

 

[Stimw]

I just watched the video, a good tip about the vacuum gauge I hadn't thought of that. I have a 0-15 psi gauge that found me.
He didn't cover the filters. I have seen heaters with foam filters that came apart and stopped things up.
There should be a screen on the pick up tube in the tank that could get trash on it too.

I have 3 older heaters, I haven't used them in a few years. They are stored under some pallet racking in the back of my shop.
I looked at dragging one out because it was only in the mid 40's today but I was afraid it would turn into another project and I am backed up as it is so I just dealt with the cold.
Now I feel like I have a scratchy throat from being out there all day!

 

[diesel lover]

This is the mystery fluid I removed from the salamander I bought !! I have a feeling it's HHO or off road diesel. I never have seen dyed kerosene in this state.











The other two photos are of our kerosene pumps. They say that kerosene is a motor fuel. It's not dyed

 

[zzvyb6]

Here in Michigan Off road diesel is red. On-road is greenish yellow and store bought kerosene can be clear or yellow. If you don't like the smell, go to lamp oil (gardenia, rose, banana, cherry blossom or dog butt).

I always keep a door open. My goal is to heat the object (tools, tractor, pump, water line), not the air so much.

 

[caver]

Not trying to hijack but at the plant we have two propane salamanders that have about a 2' diameter barrel on them with a three phase/480volt fan. The propane line is 1-2" diameter. Everyone calls them "Puff" as in puff the magic dragon. A couple years ago new safety managers felt they weren't safe anymore so they stopped using them in the winter to keep the lower boiler house from freezing.

 

[the old grind]

I don't recall ever seeing one of these run properly on #2 FO or diesel. IMO, red dye means 'wrong stuff'. Further comments on this?

btw: A simple touch-up I learned to keep odor down and output high is cleaning a little gizmo I can't picture at the moment. IIRC it's a collar or shroud near/around the fuel nozzle and cakes up a bit with dust or whatever, reducing airflow just beyond it and creating a dirtier burn with less O2 going into the swirl. Only needs blown out with compressed air and minimal fuss to reach it, but is a quick fix in a pinch. That said, it's no substitute for a thorough preseason checkup.