Sure-fire way to clear a clogged pilot orifice?

[zxcb]

I use a tapered broach: http://www.andersonforrester.com/products.php?PId=183

[5thRoot]

Replace it. If you cant clean it with the normal methods, ie water or air, then its time for a new one.

[slctech]

The white aldehydes that clog the orifice are water soluable. So as strange as it may seem I pop it in my mouth and use my tongue and good old saliva. What my dad did for forty years of pilot furnaces and what I found to work the best. I use a welder tip brush kit for the hood assembly.

[Youngwiseman]

wow dirt get clogged the orifice im guessing nitrogen should help this problem

[darctangent]

This what I've done since I can remember:

After removing the orifice from the pilot assembly I get the brass brush I keep with me for cleaning all sorts of combustion components and I use a pliers to pull out a single strand of brass wire. then I run it in and out of the pilot orifice(s). works each and every time. sometimes I only need to brush the outer tip, but most of the time I pull a single strand and do it that way. Hold the pilot up to a light before and after to see the difference.

There is no damage done to the orifice because the wire is so fine.

[ckartson]

I have always used 1 strand of a wire brush. The steel is stiffer than copper. Learned it from an old timer in the mid 70's when everything was standing pilot. Thank You Mr Bush of Bush Furnace and Boiler!

[buzhall]

the t-stat wire works great on a muzzleloader nipple,its just right!

Stranded #12 or smaller. Tsat wire would be too fat on most.

[tinman]

I'm a brush user too. I use a s.s. brush and pull a wire from it with pliers.

[darctangent]

I'm a brush user too. I use a s.s. brush and pull a wire from it with pliers.

I meant to make a note on this- I use a brass over SS for a couple of reasons. First the brass is an all purpose brush that does less damage to the surfaces worked on. Second, a SS brush has strands that are thicker, sometimes too thick for the pilot orifice. The flip side is that the brass brush strands are weaker and harder to control.

I stick with brass and it works for me.

[fs1]

torch tip cleaner.

These work great and dont damage anything.....


http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lincoln...l#.UJf3t2_A_bM

[darctangent]

These work great and dont damage anything.....


http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lincoln...l#.UJf3t2_A_bM

great Idea, except... it won't work for many pilots.

[doc havoc]

I'm with darctangent here. I owned a few tapered broaches, but after snapping one off in the tip of my finger (trying to pick the damn thing up off the floor) I got rid of them and started using my brass brush wires. If the brass won't/can't clean it, it gets replaced.

[tinman]

I've used brass brushes too, usually there is one kicking around the truck for cleaning munchkin type heat exchangers but the brass is like trying to push a noodle through the pilot LOL. TBH in my area there are few pilots these days.