Hello, I have a Little Giant Propane unit with my Truck mount machine. This year as I was Testing the unit after the winter I noticed that the burner was not lighting.. Pilot light is strong and I disconnected everything attempting to reset the regulator but it didn't help. The only thing that has changed since last time I used it is the cold water line going in to the unit, which I recently changed since the last one split. The new hose is a size smaller because that is all the shop had at the time. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Little Giant Problems
- Thread starter Philhan
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Mikey P
Administrator
Call the Bomb Squad and have them remove that fooken thing....
Hack Attack
Member
pump some water through it to make sure its not airlocked, if the water is discoloured then the probe has possibly cracked. You might need a new unitrol
Can you hear the gas flow when you turn it from pilot to on? If you can and its not igniting then the pilot flame is too far from the main jet.. thats when they can get exciting
Can you hear the gas flow when you turn it from pilot to on? If you can and its not igniting then the pilot flame is too far from the main jet.. thats when they can get exciting
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Hack Attack
Member
the size of the hose going in shouldnt affect it as they have no flow sensor just a temperature one
FredC
Village Idiot
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Little giant list the gas pressure being too high as one cause of this in the troubleshooting guide
http://www.little-giant.com/water-heating-products/carpet-cleaning/gas-carpet-cleaning.html
http://www.little-giant.com/water-heating-products/carpet-cleaning/gas-carpet-cleaning.html
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FredC
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At 50 bucks I’d probably just replace it
FredC
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You might want to give Les a call at Judson. I’m sure he would be happy to help and he probably knows more than anyone about LG heaters.
864-233-6442
864-233-6442
dealtimeman
Everyday is Saturday.
Like Fred mentioned above, I would give les at Judson a call and he will know very fast what the issue is.
Hack Attack. What kind of discoloration would I see if the probe cracked?
I have changed the regulator and no difference. I pulled the burner out an Am going to clean it. Next I will change the thermocouple. But first I think I'll call Les.
I have changed the regulator and no difference. I pulled the burner out an Am going to clean it. Next I will change the thermocouple. But first I think I'll call Les.
its not all that complicated lol, just time to clean your jets. Look up Les' video on burner maintenance... ur jets are clogged.
I clean ours all the time on both trucks, we run a #3LG and a #4
remove the burner ring and use welding tip cleaner #18, youll see a huge heat increase too
Thanks Fred and dealtime. I called Les and he immediately pointed out that on front of the valve there is a dial and the stopper on the shaft behind it sometimes needs adjusted. I turned it and sure enough the valve was not opening or closing. I have adjusted it according to his recommendations and it sounds like it is working now. I am going to clean the burner before I put it back together. I'm confident that was the problem but I'l let you know.
Hack Attack
Member
the probe I was talking about possibly being cracked is on the inside of the unitrol (its part of the main controller) when that leaks the unit loses its heat sensor and the water looks yellowish briefly almost like antifreeze.
I've had to replace that once on my Dads unit which is well over 30yrs old.
We've never had to clean the jets on ours, dont know if we've just been lucky or if there is a difference between our L.P.G. and your propane?
I've had to replace that once on my Dads unit which is well over 30yrs old.
We've never had to clean the jets on ours, dont know if we've just been lucky or if there is a difference between our L.P.G. and your propane?
definitely should clean your jets hack attack, what kind of temps are you getting?
we slowly get used to lower heat, then you clean the jets and its a quick reminder how hot the LG can actually get your water.
we slowly get used to lower heat, then you clean the jets and its a quick reminder how hot the LG can actually get your water.
Hack Attack
Member
I can melt chewing gum with 6 flow at 400 psi in summer, it runs hotter at 8 flow. So doesn't seem short on heat.
I normally descale it twice a yr.
My Dad thinks its running oversize jets but he cant remember for sure? Maybe thats what has stopped it from getting blocked
I normally descale it twice a yr.
My Dad thinks its running oversize jets but he cant remember for sure? Maybe thats what has stopped it from getting blocked
I love heat exchangers, i think its a neat concept. Got to see heat exchanger in the big geothermal plant in one of the casino and the galena geothermal binary heat exchanger plant.. fun! That was a large scale one tho..
I would like to make this one just for fun..
I would like to make this one just for fun..
Okay Guys my heater is back in business! Behind the temperature control dial on the front of the Unitrol is a lock nut and a stopper on the shaft that was out of adjustment. I adjusted it so it click in and out at the "70" marked on the valve. I cleaned the jets and put it together and sure enough it fired. Thank you everybody for your help. As I was running it it didn' seem to be as hot as it used to be, I wonder if the new regulator was more restrictive than the original one that came with it. Any thoughts on that? Does it use a higher volume regulator?
Cleanworks
Moderator
Someone may have tweaked your regulator to get more heat. Probably why the nut was loose. You have put it back to stock. Adjusting up or down from 70 will change your maximum heat output.
Hack Attack
Member
The gas regulator can ice up if there is to much draw on it, it will feel really cold if that is the problem when constantly on the trigger
More likely what @Cleanworks said that the regulator has been tweaked and you've put it back to factory spec
If it wasn't getting enough water flow from the inlet hose I'm presuming you'd notice it at the wand, I sometimes up my psi slightly if I want more heat
More likely what @Cleanworks said that the regulator has been tweaked and you've put it back to factory spec
If it wasn't getting enough water flow from the inlet hose I'm presuming you'd notice it at the wand, I sometimes up my psi slightly if I want more heat
