NEW England HVAC Insider Guest Column

Nozzle Tools
By George Lanthier

A couple of months ago I did an article on some tools and promised there would be more especially on our #222 adaptor, well here it is. This is about all of the tools available for making repairs and testing out problems in and around oilburner nozzles.

The first thing I want to look at is the #517 Nozzle Adaptor Resurfacing Tool, Figure 1. Its purpose is to repair nozzle adaptors where the face has been scored from over tightening of the nozzle, and we’ll look at that too, that can lead to off-center fires and poor burner operation. I’ve owned one of these tools since the 1980s and trust me, it has more than paid for itself over and over again. If used properly it will ensure better burner performance, but please note that this tool is not a tapping tool, but will clear some minor thread damage. You can learn how to use it and everything else in this article on my website by reading FIREDRAGON Field Note #1.

When the nozzle adaptor has been stripped, the #517 won’t fi x it, but our #518 Nozzle Adaptor Tap will. If the threads of a nozzle adaptor are found to be damaged or crossed using the #518, Figure 2, to repair the adaptor threads and that may get you home on a night call before the sun comes up.

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Both of these tools, in my experience, are needed mostly because someone wasn’t paying attention and/or didn’t tighten the nozzle into the adapter correctly. There is no doubt that there is a tool for every job and there’s one for that job too, the #519 Nozzle Wrench, Figure 3. But, even if you use one, many can still screw it up because they were never taught right! You can use separate wrenches too, but you should always use a 16 point socket on a nozzle to create equal, square, torque pressure on all sides. You can find that 16 point socket in a lot of places and the leading one is one side of a 5/8” combination wrench. The adapter is a pretty hefty piece of metal so just use a wrench (3/4”) that fits snugly. Now comes the important stuff.

To correctly install the new nozzle, insert the nozzle using only the outer hex part into the adapter. Never, ever touch the orifice, face or strainer of a nozzle, you could contaminate it, plug its very small openings and ruin it! Run the nozzle into the adapter until finger tight. If it doesn’t go in easily, try our #517 or #518 tools to fix the adapter. After the nozzle is finger tight place the nozzle wrench or separate wrenches onto the adapter and nozzle. Then, using the nozzle wrench as an example, place the outer handle and internal wrench so that the handles are about an eighth of a turn apart and tighten, Figure 4. That’s all there is to properly tightening a nozzle, really, it’s that simple and DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN, there’s no need, really!

Finally the #222 Universal Nozzle Adapter. The adapter, Figure 5, simply replaces any standard nozzle and provides a ¼” female hole that will allow you to install a gauge into the nozzle adapter, Figure 6. The adapter provides an easy way to check for leaks outside of the burner acting as a plugged nozzle and will also allow for the adjustment of pump pressure and for checking flow by using an additional tee fitting (not supplied). The adapter can also be used to verify fuel pump cutoff pressure. It is used outside the burner chassis and therefore does not require any additional hoses and adapters. Never over-tighten the adapter. Overtightening can lead to potential damage to nozzle adapter and adapter. We designed the #222 for working on RIELLO burners, but since then we’ve sold a lot of them to guys working on all kinds of oilburners because it works, simple.
 See ya.

*George Lanthier is the owner of Firedragon Academy, a teaching, publishing and consulting fi rm. He is the author of over 25 books on oilheat and HVAC subjects and can be reached at 608 Moose Hill Road, Leicester, MA 01524. His phone is 508-421-3490, fax at 508-421-3477 and his website can be found at www.FiredragonEnt.com. Copyright 2011-George Lanthier/ HVAC Insider/First Serial Printing.

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