Hello everyone

My oil boiler (1995) has a Riello G5 burner, it would not start this morning and was on lock-out when I got up etc.

The motor does not start but there is a kind of buzzing (might be a solenoid?) anyway, before it went to lock-out again I gave the motor a sharp (but light) knock with a spanner and it started and ran no problem for 6 hours.

I have tried the same trick 3 times now - knock with spanner - and each time it gets it to start and it then runs fine.

It can't be much so has anyone any ideas PLEASE?

Do motors in Riello Burners have brushes? I was thinking that the spanner knock is making the (worn out ) brushes make contact??

All Suggestions Welcomed
Many Thanks
Grahal

Graham Halsted, March 2008

Hi Guys

Many thanks, it was the capacitor ... less than £10, 20 mins and all done.

Boiler been okay since, but needed a timer some months later ... I must service it one day! (smile)

Cheers
GraHal

GraHal, June 2009

sounds like your capacitor could be faulty (the capacitor sort of jump starts the motor)or you might have a tight spot on the bearings on the motor or pump, if so this will weaken the capacitor. The capacitor is the white round tube under the motor. Costs 15 euro approx.

Paul, June 2008

If motor hums the capacitor should be replaced

bill, April 2008

These are usually brushless (synchronous) motors and it sounds like the starting windings are starting to fail. What you are doing is shocking the motor to start it - it will work for a while but it will fail eventually. The humming you hear is induced current in the motor windings - similar to a buzz you hear from a transformer.

John, March 2008