White smoke from burner

mike barrett

mike barrett

Member
I have an Alkota hot water machine, 4305 13 hp Honda 4gpm 3500 psi.
It's just started blowing white smoke when I let go of the trigger or the thermostat cycles. When the burners on no smoke, let off on the gun and white smoke for about 5 seconds (smells like unburned fuel). Any ideas?
Fuel pressure 120 the gauge fluctuates about 10 psi
New fuel nozzle and tune up around 20 hours ago.
 
12 or 120?
In your maintenance did you change any wires?
If so, try pulling the burner and while exposed, turn it on to see if your spark maintains while you toggle the flow/pressure sensor and thermostat.
If the spark is turning off (shouldn't on a 120v) it will allow the fuel nozzle to drain un-combusted.
 
Mine started doing the exact same thing this week along with a louder normal roar while the burner is running. If it's the same thing mine was doing, it will take longer for the burner to fire after a few days of acting up like this. I ran some soot remover through and it seemed to help. Don't know if it will permanently fix it though, seemed too easy of a fix. Electrical would make more sense, I'll keep my eye on this thread in case it persist.
One of my customers nicknamed my rig for me after it started, "The Dragon". Funny thing he was Oriental, so I couldn't help cracking up thinking of him running outside pointing and saying "Godzilla!"...
 
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Well sounds like for sure fuel is on and no flame. Don't know the answer because if it happens when you let off the trigger the flame should stay lit until the fuel cuts of, spark or no spark. Is it extra loud and takes an extra second when it starts? Maybe the nozzle didn't seal after replacement and extra fuel is getting in the chamber or nozzle is clogged and some fuel is dripping or shooting out sideways or nozzle is bigger size and too much fuel is getting in or some insulation has fallen and is getting soaked with diesel or solenoid is not closing all the way and some fuel is dribbling in
 
tomtucson said:
Well sounds like for sure fuel is on and no flame. Don't know the answer because if it happens when you let off the trigger the flame should stay lit until the fuel cuts of, spark or no spark. Is it extra loud and takes an extra second when it starts? Maybe the nozzle didn't seal after replacement and extra fuel is getting in the chamber or nozzle is clogged and some fuel is dripping or shooting out sideways or nozzle is bigger size and too much fuel is getting in or some insulation has fallen and is getting soaked with diesel or solenoid is not closing all the way and some fuel is dribbling in
Click to expand...

No it's not loud on start up, the burner starts right up.
I removed the burner assy. today and found a lot of black soot around the top of the burner. When I removed the fuel nozzle it didn't have a sealing washer. Should it? The nozzle # is 2.50 Think thats the correct size?

The burner/blower/fuel pump is belt driven. This is an older Alkota, 4305-2T 1999 but in excellent condition. I bought it used six years ago and only use it a few times a year.:banghead:
 
No washer on the burner nozzle. There is different letter designations for the nozzles for spray pattern, could double check that. 2.5 sounds about right to me? I'm going with diesel on insulation for 20 - good luck.
 
So what was the problem and the solution to this smoke issue?

Mine only does it when/if I run it out fuel.
 
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