Help on Cleveland steamer

[fixbear]

Does it have 8 inches of clearance from other objects on both the sides and rear? The sides are ventilated to keep combustion heat and moisture from building up. The ignition wire insulation is a high temp material rated for over 500F. So you have something drastically wrong for the damage to happen. Perhaps even a foreign air flow blowing on the chimney area.

[ryantruck9]

the unit must be front flueing to melt that high temp wire.

I think your gas valve opens to 1.3″WC then ramps up to

3.5″WC.

Leave your manometer on the manifold for the entire heat/pressure up and ensure no gas pressure “creep” or hunting

replace the ignitor /housing (S44096) with a new wire (44169) and the front baffle plate (S44135) insulation. It is likely in poor shape from all the service over the years

poor condition front baffle could allow front flueing

Sometimes the flue riser can “bow in” decreasing flow.

If the unit is level, the front plate and box are new (fairly sealed) operating at the correct gas pressure with clear tubes and an  flue it should not front flue.

[fixbear]

Good catch on the ramp up and gasket/bowing.