Dickenson newport diesel heater

[mariner2k]

Has anyone had any problems with the newport sooting up above the burner ring? I've had this stove for about ten years and have never had a problem until this year.
kevin

[SV Papillon]

Had the same problem with ours. It was a combination of dirty filter and plugged needle valve. I took the float apart and vacumed out the line and chamber, cleaned the valve. After that it worked great.

Jake

[mariner2k]

Thanks. seeing that the only variable (assuming fuel is fairly cinsistent) is the metering valve. I plan to take it apart and clean it, again and test the flow rate. Do you use a barometric damper?

[SV Papillon]

Yes, I have the barametric damper.
Jake

[mariner2k]

Is there much heat loss from air going through the barometric damper? I've toyed with the idea of making it a balanced draft system or using a damper. Any opinions out there?
kevin

[SV Papillon]

I think there is quite a bit of heat loss in the stack. A friend in RI had the same heater and put a stack fan on it. He said it helped alot.

Jake

[mariner2k]

I've got two full sections of flue, plus the damper (installed last night),
so it stands to reason a lot of heat passes through there. Did your friend use the fan from Dickinson or his own design?
Also, after installing the damper, the flame didn't necessarily burn above the ring completely, which I had hoped. The flame, mostly a blue and yellow mix, rises up from the center to above the ring. It does not burn below the ring on the sides, or touch the ring at all. Just the center.
Does this sound normal? I tried a few adjustments on the damper, waited, but there was no change. I only burned for about an hour, so I wonder if the stove even got to operating temperature.
kevin

[SV Papillon]

That sounds about right. THe yellow in the flame will depend on the amount of sulfer in the fuel. Heating oil probably more than most. I think my friend had the dickenson model fan. As long as the flame isn't orange and below the ring, it can overheat the chamber if it's below. I would run it on high for a couple hours to see how it does. We had a dampner on deck below the cap but I never messed with it.

Jake