The aga lost its flame so needed to be re-lit. Some noodling on the wire was necessary. Via pod pics, emails sent back and forth along with Pete's detailed descriptions of what I should fine when I stuck my hand in the bowels of the thing, a little light mechanical engineering was learned. Always a thrill. Whether any of it was put into effective practice remains to be seen. Or felt. Or smelt. Since part of ones apprenticeship in this area requires a head for fumes and a strong nose for the difference between that which is burning and that which is not. While looking up some details about these fascinating parameters I came across this wonderful photograph from 1935.
Showing W.L.S. Fleming cooking on his AGA range in Antarctica in 1935.
Photo from Scott Polar Research Institute.
How on earth they managed to convey the staggeringly heavy iron plates over such inhospitable terrain is a real puzzle. (Though, I read of an expedition that carried a disassembled Ford Model T with it into the arctic around the same time. That seemed truly romantic) Agas are phenomenally heavy. It seems more a triumphant gesture against the formidable elements than a plan of good sense. Once in place, though, it must have been heaven to hug. I wonder what was used for fuel, also. Coal, maybe...
This one below runs on kerosene.
Aga
Againn
Again
Ar Agaigh
this iron part is the shape of a foundry smelting bucket at the bottom of which is the burner assembly. It weighs a lot. It is not possible to lift it off to get at the assembly so in goes the arm....
the burner assembly with the little reservoir pot at bottom center.
The circular webbed wick is visible too. The center iron tube-thing is sitting up to the left and the cover plate is tilted up (held with blue twine) while the third plate, which helps deflect heat toward the oven, is visible at lower left.
The small iron lid is lifted off the reservoir pot and a strong light directed at the carbon gunk build-up at the inlet point.
a close up of this fossil deposit
a chunk extracted.
After a thorough reaming it still won't light properly..... will try again in a bit.
The coke chunk build up is typical for oil fired Agas. One discussion online suggested a coke-removal method that had been used on a motorcycle exhaust;
"It involved getting the assembly red hot with an oxy-acetylene torch then turning off the fuel gas and blowing pure oxygen through the carboned port thus oxidising the carbon away !"
...and the AGAMAN reply to this.....
"Even a small amount of grease on a pure oxygen fitting will cause rapid oxidization....commonly known as an explosion..."
Ultimately ultra-low flashpoint elbow-grease is recommended for de-coking.
There is kerosene seeping along the bottom of the burner and then ... flame!
It did not last unfortunately. The flame diminished and sputtered for the next smelly hour until I turned off the supply.
Peter says he will lift out (with his bare hands!) the 120lb casting bucket thing that blocks access to the burner proper and then remove the burner and clean it all through; replace the wicks and ream the ports clearing out the debris.
I will make tea and provide moral support.
and he did......
This demure little plug weighs as much as a grown sheep. The cotton is for padding to protect the arm.
