Bad pilot assembly?

[jjknap]

Working on a Heil Propane furnace with electronic ignition.

First symptom was that the pilot flame was sooty, yellow, like burning kerosene, about 6" long. I removed and cleaned the whole pilot assembly inside and out with steel wool, compressed air etc. Adjusted the pilot pressure (VR8440) down until the flame was normal sized, but it is still a lazy sooty yellow flame like a candle. The pilot assembly is a Honeywell Q345ALB 8730 , the pilot flame puts soot on the pilot assembly.

Do these pilot/ignitor assemblies go bad? What would cause such a sooty flame? When the burners light they burn ok.
Any ideas? Ive been pondering this a while.
Thanks.
--J.

[Senior Tech]

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[Toolpusher]

Is the unit on L.P. ?

If so, I'd bet it's not been converted.
Or the assembly needs cleaned.

Call a pro, they should know the difference.

[turtle]

Originally posted by jjknap
Working on a Heil Propane furnace with electronic ignition.

First symptom was that the pilot flame was sooty, yellow, like burning kerosene, about 6" long. I removed and cleaned the whole pilot assembly inside and out with steel wool, compressed air etc. Adjusted the pilot pressure (VR8440) down until the flame was normal sized, but it is still a lazy sooty yellow flame like a candle. The pilot assembly is a Honeywell Q345ALB 8730 , the pilot flame puts soot on the pilot assembly.

Do these pilot/ignitor assemblies go bad? What would cause such a sooty flame? When the burners light they burn ok.
Any ideas? Ive been pondering this a while.
Thanks.
--J.

j , You stated everything here about it but one think you forgot here and it is the only way to get a answer here as to the problem by stating this part.

What was the problem before you started working on it ? Was you just riding your bicycle down the road and saw this furance running on the side of the road and you started working on it ? Did someone call you [ to come fix it ] or [ come look at it for a friend ] or [ had a dream about a furnace running like this and was tring to get a answer before you will wake up.]

a lot of the problem can be told by how the beginning started. Let us Know ?

TURTLE