Reddy heater multifuel forced air heater will start and run 5 minutes then shut down with a big puff of smoke. if I cut the power then reconect if will fire up run 5 minutes and shut down again

There are four possible answers to this problem, if the heater starts normally, runs for a few seconds or minutes and the shuts down but was still running normally at the time of shut down, this could be caused by the photocell, also known as the flame out control. This safety device may be failing, shutting down even though the heater is working normally, check the operation of the photocell. The second cause may be partial fuel filter blockage, the heater is effectively starving itself of fuel, so the flame blows out, hence the puff of smoke, and then shuts down on the safety cut out. Third cause, if this model has a compressor at the rear of the motor, the problem could be low pump pressure, caused by wear or contamination of the carbon blades, this would cause the wrong amount of fuel to be syphoned up, with weak fuel mix the heater may blow itself out and shut down. The fourth cause, perhaps indicated by the puff of white smoke, is contamination of the fuel with water, water will cause the white smoke and also is indecated by white residues or a power like substance on the end plate of the heater which glows red hot when burning.

Hi,

Here are a couple of tips that I wrote that tell you how to troubleshoot a Torpedo or Reddy heater...

Reddy Heater - Troubleshooting Torpedo Heaters

Torpedo Heater Pump Pressure Adjustment

heatman101

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Its not getting enough air to burn with the cover on. See if you can figure out how to adjust the air flow.

This a classic occurance due to low fuel in the tank.

turns on for a minute then shuts off with a puff of smoke

Surges then a big puff of smoke and it shuts down

The R40 has an on board computer with a photocell that views the flame color. If the photocell does not like the color of the flame, then the heater shuts down....within 5 secs.
Your problem could be:

1. the air pump pressure incorrect..
2. defective electronics.
3. restricted fuel supply.
4. air leak in air line or fuel line

You must troubleshoot each of the above- starting with setting the pump pressure.

Tips http://www.reddyparts.com/HSI_tips.htm

runs for awhile shuts down with a big puff of smoke comes out poured diesel 911 thought i had water in diesel fuel cans nothing help need solution ASAP

when unit lights only runs 10 sec then shuts off

reset switch my heater did the same thing after 5 sec of running