Unusual problem - flamethrower
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 4:27 pm
Hi,
I have an unusual & uncommon problem (I think) with my Bugg - it lives under a cover on our rear deck with a roof. I pulled it out the other day after not using it for a couple of weeks and it wouldnt light.
After some poking around I discovered the problem. The flamethrowers are ignited by a spark from a small metal spike/electrode mounted in a ceramic/plastic block. Much like a spark plug. The wire to this electrode (not sure of the correct term) is insulated with a woven heat resistant material because of the high heat environment.
What i suspect has happened is that over time the woven fabric has absorbed fine fat splatter to the point that it has become an attractive meal for some vermin. When I looked at the back of the bbq the ignition wires were pretty much stripped clean. On 1 burner the wire was somehow stripped and disconnected from the electrode and the other side was stripped and shorting out on the body. There is a pic of the electrode removed from the bbq.
No idea what animal was the culprit - no evidence of rats around or any poo that I could see.....regardless, I need to replace both wires from the switch to the electrodes - and probably also the electrodes themselves as the wires appear to be permanently fixed.
Before going to beefeater, does anyone know if these are a generic part ? Anyone had this happen before ? Ideas to prevent it happening again ? Can the electrode be removed from the body so that the wire can be replaced ?
Any comments appreciated.
cheers
I have an unusual & uncommon problem (I think) with my Bugg - it lives under a cover on our rear deck with a roof. I pulled it out the other day after not using it for a couple of weeks and it wouldnt light.
After some poking around I discovered the problem. The flamethrowers are ignited by a spark from a small metal spike/electrode mounted in a ceramic/plastic block. Much like a spark plug. The wire to this electrode (not sure of the correct term) is insulated with a woven heat resistant material because of the high heat environment.
What i suspect has happened is that over time the woven fabric has absorbed fine fat splatter to the point that it has become an attractive meal for some vermin. When I looked at the back of the bbq the ignition wires were pretty much stripped clean. On 1 burner the wire was somehow stripped and disconnected from the electrode and the other side was stripped and shorting out on the body. There is a pic of the electrode removed from the bbq.
No idea what animal was the culprit - no evidence of rats around or any poo that I could see.....regardless, I need to replace both wires from the switch to the electrodes - and probably also the electrodes themselves as the wires appear to be permanently fixed.
Before going to beefeater, does anyone know if these are a generic part ? Anyone had this happen before ? Ideas to prevent it happening again ? Can the electrode be removed from the body so that the wire can be replaced ?
Any comments appreciated.
cheers