Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance (Read 438 times) previous topic - next topic

Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Today I finally decided to do my own maintenance on my AH.  I don't know why I was so scared to take this on. I have built 1000 hp engines from ground up, removed and installed motors in boats, rebuilt outdrives, and rebuilt transmissions, and taken a wrecked boat and rebuilt it.

I have noticed that it has started to smell when running so figured it was time for me to get my hands dirty.  I have not been a Youtube guy that watches a video before I dig in but this time I did.

When I went to change the fuel filter it must have been put on by a gorilla.  I had to take my large strap wrench to get enough leverage on the filter and use a big crescent wrench on the older to keep from breaking it off the wall.  The filter was all dented up by the time I got it loose. 

Rest of the tear down, clean up, and replace of the nozzle went good.  When I got to the part of taking the spark probe template and checking to make sure the probes were in the correct locations is where I came to my first real problem.  As you can see in the picture the probes are no were close to where the template says they should be.  The template looked like it was bent out of shape a little bit but I do not think it could be causing me to be that far off.  Since the unit has been running great I decided to go and put it back together with where they were at. Once together started unit up and started right up and was working perfect.

I am about 1" low of the cold mark.  What is the boiler fluid that I should be putting in this?  I have read all different kinds and not sure what I should get.

Anyone have an idea why the probes show to be way off?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #1 –
I would go with the template.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #2 –
Proper location of ignitor points is right in the "Vs" of the gap gauge.

Coolant fluid is GRAS boiler fluid.  If concentrate is purchased, dilute 50/50 with distilled water.  Concentrate freezes at -100.  Only Century brand is diluted.

If needing to top off overflow tank, just use distilled water
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Rudy –
Proper location of ignitor points is right in the "Vs" of the gap gauge.

Any Idea why they are so far off?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #4 –
What smell were you smelling when it was running?
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #5 –
No idea of why someone set them that far off.  I check the gap on every burner service and just usually make minor adjustments to center them right in the Vs.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #6 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
What smell were you smelling when it was running?

Wife says I can't smell $###.  Before last week I could not smell the exhaust. I keep the coach in a 2,500 sq ft building and run the AH while in the building.    When I ran it last week for it's by weekly run it did not smoke at all but had a smell like an old car that had bad rings.  It was way over due for the service and nozzle replacement .
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #7 –
Rudy is the man on all this, but I "assume" ignitor tips only spark during starting phase.  So, tip misalignment wouldn't impact burner performance once lit, eg, smoke/smell?  Pump pressure, air mixture and injector tip condition would seem to be the keys to burner performance.  With the cold snap coming to south Texas, I was thinking about all things AH.  I stumbled on a post in another forum--basic issue was: "will AH pumps run if thermo including basement, call for heat but burner and electric circuits are turned off?"  Reason I was interested is because there are times when basement thermo setting might call for heat but I might have the burner and electric circuits shut off for storage.  With no heat available, would basement pump circuit run continuously?  I am thinking the answer is: yes!
Old Scout
2015 IH45
New Braunfels Tx

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #8 –
The pump would run, but not the diesel or electric, so no heat to the bay.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #9 –
Hey RT--that is exactly my concern.  Agree, it would take a specific set of circumstances, but if you have the AH turned off and ambient temps drop below the basement manual thermo setting, the basement heater fan and circulation pump would run continuously until ambient temps again rose above the thermo setting.  Depending on circumstances, the pump and fan could run needlessly for hours. 
Old Scout
2015 IH45
New Braunfels Tx

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #10 –
Scout,

Several, including myself have installed a switch in the line to keep this from happening when in storage. If the thermostat for the basement had an actual off position, then no switch would be needed.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #11 –
I am not sure, but it is my understanding that if the bathroom thermostat is off, the basement thermostat is off. Therefore it should not call for heat.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #12 –
Wrong, sorry
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #13 –
It's not the first time....
The selected media item is not currently available.
Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Aqua Hot 600D Mantainance

Reply #14 –
As per Rudy to prevent the fans coming on at all in the bay I removed two fuses (4 and 5. I think) in AH. I have not checked but I presume this would render the fans in the coach u/s as well 
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox