Wallas Troubleshooting Help

SeaSpray · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

Last Sept. we took a cruise in the SJ islands and one morning my Wallas would not start. I found the fuse was blown. I replaced it and it worked okay for dinner. The next morning I turned it on and went into the cockpit. when I came back into the cabin it was full of smoke. I looks under the wallas and could see that electrical components were burning up. I pulled off the main power lines and aired out the boat.

On the way home I stopped at Scanmar and took in the stove. The knew I was on my way home and had little time so they worked on it right away. The tech person said that it should not have burned up like this unless it had been exposed to saltwater - which it had not. They replaced the circuit board and checked out the stove and I had it installed in the boat by 1pm - all for no charge! (I had about 200hrs on the boat so not a lot of use on the stove)

I don't know if the Wallas has some inherent problems or if Scanmar will do this on a regular basis but I sure was happy that they stood behind their product for me.

Steve

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

THAT is sort of the understatement of the year...the majority of the posts about Wallas problems relate to problems when the battery voltage is too low...

Zelpha · Guest

Have two boats with WALLAS equipment which are several years old. One has a 950 Stove/Heater, the other a 1300 stove. No problems except when I put some old fuel in the 950 (my fault). Replaced the fuel and all OK. If you only want a stove I highly recommend the 1300. Scan Marine has been great and supportive.
Zelpha

John S · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:57 am Post subject:

Update

I talked to Mike today (the technician) at Scan Marine. He said there was NOTHING wrong with my stove. Started up and ran fine.

I don't get it and am concerned. He said it was one of the cleanest stoves he has seen. He says, he thinks it isn't getting run enough. (Even thought it failed on its 6th straight day of running 24 hrs a day.)

He said he did bang the pump HARD! He said he knows how to hit the pump to make them work. I beat the pump and manually ran the pump on a 12 volt battery successfully. So I'm confused.

Now I get to pay to return it. If you're just joining this thread you can look above to see all the things I tried to make it work before sending it in. I really think it will quit again on my upcoming 3 week voyage, but we'll see.

Just thought I'd pass it all along.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:

I don't get his statements:

Capital Sea · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

Aaaaaaa....what we may have done and might have found is aaaa.... on a need to know basis. All I can state for the record is that the stove runs now.....
Kind of reminds me of the VP and WMD.

John S · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject:

Dora~Jean · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject:

This is good info John. Perhaps the tolerances on your pump are so close that temperature variations can cause it to seize (mildly) or not start pumping on its own. At least you've got a place to first look should it happen again (knock on wood). Thumbs Up

John S · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

Update

The stove is headed back to me in AK. The shipping cost is $60 by mail. I called back and talked to Doug and he asked if I had tried the hair dryer trick. I hadn't been told previously of this one. You heat the pump with a hair dryer and it helps loosen the gum in the pump.

He said my stove interior was VERY clean with me currently burning diesel. Doug said that if I use low settings often I might then want to consider the Kleen Heat Fuel.

I bought a spare fuel pump for $246 and a spare glow plug. Doug is allowing me to send the fuel pump back for a full refund within 6 months if I don't use it. Nice Gesture.

So the stove is headed back with about a $470 bill with nothing done to actually fix it, but with a couple spare parts.

Again, banging the pump was discussed, they have had GREAT success bringing the pumps back to life by banging on their metal frame.

Hope this might help someone else.

John

Capital Sea · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:44 am Post subject:

Clean fuel is far better than diesel and more stable. That may make a difference as well.
Wallis tool kit: Hammer, hair dryer....
Heat is nice though.

garyk · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:34 pm Post subject:

We have a 2006 Tomcat. The Wallas works fine while at the dock or at anchor. Every time it's heating under power at any speed it starts smoking. Some times it may have been heating just fine for an hour or more before it goes into the "SMOKE" mode. This happends at high, med, or low settings We shut it down at this point.
I'm sure it is a vent problem, but don't know what the fix would be. The instalation is the same as every other CD 25.5. Has any one else had this problem? WE have talked to the factory people at the past two SBS and received, no worthwhile suggestions. This has been going on since day one.
Rick had the same model (different Year) in his CD 22 and it never missed a beat. We have 650 hours on the Tomcat, mostly BC and Alaska It would sure be nice to have a warm cabin while running.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

Sea Wolf · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

Here's the last post on the previous thread about the back-pressure problem. Looks like we're due for a report from Moose!

John S · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

Wouldn't there be issues with the clam shell getting smashed into the boat on a dock??? Otherwise I'm intersted in trying this. Scan Marine (the wallas dealer) has recommended installing some kind of a wind diverter previously.

John

Oh yeah, might be worth mentioning that when my Wallas quit working on me was with a large crosswind blowing right into the exhaust while at trolling speeds.

Dora~Jean · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject:

John,

What lead thru do you have? Mine is shown below, I've been in 30-40 kt headwinds while underway, no problems, although I have the Wallas 1300 heater, don't know if it has the same sensitivities as the stove.