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I have a Blodgett BX-14G Combi-oven steamer. the manifold gaskets above the igniter keeps leaking. we have changed gasket and “L” brackets. retightened. stops leaking for a bit but just temporarily. any ideas ?
The propane exhaust manifold is directly above the igniter and burner. one on each side of the oven and very difficult to get to. a Hobart tech fixed it the first time but it didn’t last. I found that the “L” brackets were a little bowed and straghtened them out and retightened. even replacet the “L” brackets. I was thinking that the oven my have become a bit unlevel making the situation worse by directing the flame more toward the gasket area than straight up the manifold but it seems fairly level.
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15 Replies
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First I want to address the elephant in the room. Combi-ovens are a very technical pain in the ass that have to have a lot of controls and a lot of maintenance. This unit is Bodgetts try at entering the Cleveland, Rational, and Baxter market area. Control and adjustment are all important on any Combi. Now, are you talking about the gasket between the burners and the heat ex-changers, or the heat ex-changer and the flue? Mounting stresses, Scaling, and firing rate are the three things that come to mind with this. If the firing rate is not set right for the gas it will cause overheating. the Same for venting. Scaling creates a insulation layer to prevent heat transfer. You also should check condensing and drain venting, as they build pressure. Steam is one of the most powerful forces on earth. If it is contained, it becomes dangerous.
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fixbear is absolutely right. ANY combi-oven is an extremely complex setup.
My experience is mainly on old Groen ovens (also a U.S. product) and Rational ovens (made in Europe). I’ve worked on a few older electric Blodgetts, but never worked on a gas one, though.
I briefly perused some literature on your oven. I see they use inshot burners. Interesting. A very basic system when compared to what Rational, Alto-Shaam, Convotherm and others are using, since they’ve all incorporated more complex metal-mesh burners systems. Not that this helps you. Just something notable.
FYI: Blodgett makes service info readily available on that oven (for now). So, here’s a link to enough on the that oven to make your head spin:
FWIW: As a technician addressing your problem, I wouldn’t hesitate to call Blodgett’s tech support line. Here’s a link for contacting them:
http://www.blodgett.com/contact-us/
5-6 years ago, I’d heard that Blodgett had put somewhat of a restriction on tech support availability – limiting FREE support to only their authorized service providers. Not a common practice, but that’s just what I heard. I could be wrong.
I’m guessing you’re a knowledgeable in-house guy just looking to fix it yourself. My advice is that you’re far better off getting a Blodgett-trained tech to look at it.
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Ectofix, Thanks for reminding me about the old Groen’s Never was a fan. Also I forgot to mention Alto-Sham as a major player in the combi market.
Unrelated, anyone heard from John B?
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Last post I saw from John (that I remember) was him chiming in that changes are a coming here. Going from the “Jive” format to something else. Whatever it is, I hope it’s better. Never liked how this forum is layed out.
I’ve observed the “passing of the baton” of the moderator/administrator seat numerous times here. That seat doesn’t appear to be too popular since there’s no apparent immediate revenue from it. Answering a phone or doing direct on-line parts sales project immediate $$$ numbers. Answering questions HERE? Not so much.
I will say that John has stayed the course longer than any of them. He’s very resourceful and knowledgeable, to boot.
By default (being sponsored by an on-line parts vendor), this forum was the originally set up for technicians. However, that’s not how it played out. It’s become more of a vague DIY resource. In no way similar the lame stuff that eTundra does, but those same DIY questions still arise here more than I ever wanted to see. I know several restaurant owner/operators that will seek the services of a local service company for a diagnosis, then order parts from PartsTOWN in order to fix it them selves to save a few bucks.
For that ALONE, I’m surprised that I’m still here. I’m not a fan of supporting DIY when the potentially ill-begotten DIY repairs might burn a restaurant down around the employees or a dining room full of patrons.
We, who repair restaurant equipment, are an odd bunch of folks. All of us getting into it from backgrounds as diverse as they come. An HVAC/R training or background is probably the best experience base, but not a favored venture in that trade (the grease and the nastiness! Eew!).
I know guys who simply had a “knack” for fixing stuff while being employed as a dishwasher or cook at restaurant who eventually migrated into the trade. Car mechanics who wanted a change in venue. Computer whiz-kids who wanted to move on to something seemingly less complicated and less stressful. Culinary trainees who’d discovered they could make more money fixing broken equipment. The list goes on. YES! (gulp…!) Some started out as DIYers!
Most ALL of us just “happened” into this trade when there is practically NO formal training to prepare us for this trade until we find ourselves IN it. THEN…while employed to do it, only THEN do we see all the training opportunities come our way.
Like ME! Heck…and I actually was more prepared than most. For twenty years, a flight line filled with aircraft was my daily environment while serving in the military. Then I retired from that.
What NOW? WELL, nothing that involves management of people problems! So…my background was that I had a solid experience-base in electricity and knew the basic functions in a refrigeration cycle. So, I can fix stuff!
After three months out of the military…and numerous posts on America’s Job Bank (in 1998), I started a job doing THIS.
I soon learned that I had MUCH to learn.
Nearly twenty years later and I’m still at it…and still learning.
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Your observations are right on. I know of no one that just started out in this trade unless they were second generation. A high percentage had previous experience due to military obligations. Most are handy at fixing mechanical and electrical things. Military “A” schools do cover HVAC well, and touch on kitchen equipment in the right ratings. At sea you don’t have the option of tech support. But the big flaw in the program is you may never see any equipment for years before you are suddenly thrust into it full throttle. Myself, I saw Riverine service for 2.5 years before being assigned to a LPH as leading petty officer for A division.. A division is responsible for all Auxiliary equipment from bow to stern. Including Generators, HVAC, steering, anchor, Elevators., Kitchen and small boats. Nothing like getting thrown into the frying pan. What was worst, is I was the only one of the 19 men in the division that had any formal training. The old “Need and Necessity” situation. Then I came home and started in truck repair migrating to construction equipment repair. Worked in heavy construction till1988 When I got bit by a tick in eastern Mass.Could no longer deal with being on the road 6 days a week, and had to give up a very nice salary. so went back to HVAC. Obviously restaurant customers that like you and trust you try to bring you into equipment repair. I trued to avoid it for years till a customer had a service agency come in and tell him his Vulcan snorkel was broke and he would have to replace it. After looking at it, They had miss-wired the load control. Some weeks later the same service company couldn’t fix their Moyer Diebel dish machine after a new chemical company conversion. They simply forgot a jumper. Started to develop sources and went on from there. And like you say, one learns from every day and every repair. Some are routine and boring while others are challenging and require a bit of thought. I was also lucky enough to have a service company about 50 miles away that it was profitable for them to come up here for small jobs. So they gave me discounts and helped me through the learning curve of kitchen equipment.
The one thing I can say about this business, is one must fully understand the manufacturers design, safeties, and intended operation to be good at servicing them. Basically, “How does it work”. If you can’t answer that before you start, go back to the books. I have spent almost as much time doing research as actually being on site and repairing.
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This is leaking between heat exchanger and flue which are very close. This unit is around 6 years old and hasn’t leaked the first 5 years of it’s life
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Let’s get back to Gene’s problem here. You say the gasket is leaking, but you never said what it was leaking. Water or flue gas? Originally I was thinking flue gas, But now I realize that it has to be water as this oven is naturally fired, not pressurized. There is no real gasket at the flue manifold, just insertion in the manifold. Now the bottom of the heat ex-changer is a different story. There is a plate that is sealed to the tank and the heat ex-changer is sealed to the plate. If you are seeing water at the flue, it means the boiler is overfull. A control problem.
To properly replace the bottom gaskets, one has to remove the tank and heat ex changers to even be able to clean and inspect the surfaces.. Heat ex-changers should be pulled and inspected periodically for corrosion, build-up, and cracks. I have seen some that are fine till heat is applied, Then they drip or steam in the flue from a micro crack that the heat opens up just enough..
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file:///C:/Users/gmattice/Documents/Bx-14G%20gas%20burner.pdf<file:///C:\Users\gmattice\Documents\Bx-14G%20gas%20burner.pdf>
Page 17 shows burner assembly. The square gasket above the burner assembly is what keeps leaking. I don’t think there is any tank or other burners on this besides these two. Gasket 4 on Manifolds 5 & 6. Heat exchanger bracket 13 are almost impossible to get to because this oven sits on top of another oven
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It is leaking water. It leaks on the igniter that is located directly under the manifold/heat exchanger.
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genemattice wrote:
file:///C:/Users/gmattice/Documents/Bx-14G%20gas%20burner.pdf<file:///C:\Users\gmattice\Documents\Bx-14G%20gas%20burner.pdf>
Page 17 shows burner assembly.
Whatever THAT is appears to be located on your C: drive. We don’t have access to your C: drive, therefore can’t look on page 17 of it.
If you want to upload the document so we can see it, use the pulldown tab in the upper right-hand corner, then click on Files:
Once there, follow the instructions.
Afterwards you PUBLISH it, copy the link address and paste it back here so we can follow the link to look at it.
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