My cb2800 won't start ... thoughts or ideas?

[gte]

My cb2800 will run for 5 seconds or so but it will not ignite. Does anyone have any ideas what to check for next? I have used motor oil in the tank, I'm seeing oil on nozzle when I pull the heater unit away from the combustion chamber but I'm not sure how to check the electrode? How can I check to see how the oil is spraying/atomizong? What else should I be looking at?

Below is a video of what it is doing.

http://youtu.be/9K9GrK3UR0E

[ShopSpecialties]

First thing I would check is spark. While it is trying to fire, lift up the igniter and see if spark jumps to the electrodes. 

[gte]

Hi,

I stuck a paper towel that was lit and the oil ignited.  The electrical unit is also sending 120vac to the contacts and the electrode insulator has ~0ohms of resistance.

Could the electrodes be bad?

[ShopSpecialties]

Did you actually see the spark jump from the igniter to electrodes when you lifted it ?

[gte]

I will try to do that when I'm back out there tomorrow. I don't know if the way it is setup, I can do that but I will try that next to try and narrow this down.

[ShopSpecialties]

The igniter is right above the primary control and it is on a hinge. 1 tab on the front holds it down, loosen screw and move tab so the igniter can hinge upwards. While it is trying to fire just lift up on it and you will either see spark or not.

No spark - change igniter.
Yes spark - swing burner open and check condition of electrodes and for grooves in nozzle. If you have grooves on the nozzle head spark is grounding out on the nozzle instead of being blown into the oil spray. Change electrodes if worn down and nozzle if it has grooves. Also make sure the combustion air fan is clean.

[ShopSpecialties]

Did you get it figured out ?

[gte]

Strangely enough, I did the test procedure you advised (thank you for that) and I saw spark so I set the contacts back down on the electrodes and she fired up and has been starting on her own ever since?

My only other bug to work out now is that the fan runs constantly, even when I change the position of the white plastic piece from auto to manual or manual to auto.

[ShopSpecialties]

The igniter could be failing but usually 9x out 10 they just quit for good.

Sounds like your fan limit switch needs replaced.

[gte]

Where can you get parts for my cb2800?

[ShopSpecialties]

Where do you live ? I will look up and see who your local CB dist is. 

[gte]

Maryland. I was hoping to avoid a business that has no competition due to regional protectionism ... is that possible?

[ShopSpecialties]

I am a CB dist in Montana and we sign contracts saying we will not poach in another dist area. Have you had a problem with your local dist ?

Some common parts you can find online like your fan limit switch.

[gte]

I consider it to be a problem.

I called 2 locals asking them to hook up my system and asking for an estimate. They wanted to charge me windshield time for an estimate, which I think is asinine. Had they came out and given me a reasonable estimate, I would have told them to go ahead, but I feel they wanted to gouge me because of the protectionist region that Clean Burn provides them and the mentality that can result from that. I even told them they could make it a time when they were servicing a current customer in my area but presumably because of the lack of competition, they had no interest in doing that.

This does not build trust with me. That is when I set about to get it installed myself. I still would have rather paid someone.

[ShopSpecialties]

I personally do not charge for estimates but it can get costly for the dist. to send a guy to do an estimate on a heater they did not sell to you. Used heaters bought from 3rd parties can sometime turn into a nightmare for everyone. The reason for the protected territories is not price gouging but to eliminate throat cutting and no service after the sale. Every dist is different with some being great and others being not so great.

I am here to help in any way I can so please feel free to ask any questions.