How to Fix a Commercial Deep Fat Fryer?

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EarthWindandFire
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Wed. May. 21, 2014 7:47 pm

Hi guys,

My wife and I volunteer at our local Little League. My wife also serves on the board and runs the small and neglected concession stand. They have a deep fat fryer that doesn't work properly and needs to be repaired. The brand name is Imperial and the fryer has two vats, one small and one large. It's the large vat that doesn't work and shuts off after cooking just one batch of French fries. The strange thing is that the pilot light also goes out. I troubleshooted the fryer tonight and had it working. I thought that my wife was turning the temperature up too high which would cause the high-limit switch to turn the fryer off. The concession stand has lost lots of money because they can't fry anything like corn dogs or mozzarella sticks, only french fries.

If anyone has experience with fryers please help. It's the kids who lose out and I'm sorry this hasn't been fixed sooner. Thanks!

 
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Freddy
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Post by Freddy » Wed. May. 21, 2014 8:12 pm

I can't help directly, but I can tell you what I'd do around here.... there are two restaurant supply places within 15 miles. I'd be on the phone to one or both. Certainly they should know how to get it fixed. I'm assuming that somewhere around you there is a supply store. Track 'em down & see what they have to say.

 
grumpy
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Post by grumpy » Wed. May. 21, 2014 8:47 pm

If the pilot light is turning off I would look for a bad thermocouple..


 
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EarthWindandFire
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Wed. May. 21, 2014 8:53 pm

I think the thermopile is the only logical problem. If the oil was getting too hot the high-limit would shut the unit off. However, the oil is only 300 degrees and the high-limit activates at 450.

 
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Post by McGiever » Wed. May. 21, 2014 8:57 pm

Pilot light is a function of the switching relay...light on or off = relay on or off...not necessarily heat on and off if other faults exist.

A faulty switch, faulty thermostat or a loose connection somewhere in circuit will cause what you describe.

Worse case is the heating element is cracked/broken internally and makes good enough connection while cold and after it gets hot it will expand and open circuit and then stop heating until it would again cool down and then starts the whole cycle all over again.

 
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Post by cabinover » Wed. May. 21, 2014 9:20 pm

Is this an LP fryer? Sounds like it from the description of symptoms. If so let me know and I can do some digging for ya.

Try this link..... http://blog.etundra.com/tech-talk/commercial-fryer-repair/

Sounds like the thermostat may be you culprit.


 
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Post by Penn507 » Wed. May. 21, 2014 9:48 pm

This is a gas fryer with a pilot flame . what do you do to restart it ? How long does it take after it "shuts off" to restart ? Are there any circuit boards on this fryer or is it all mechanical controls ? If it does not plug into the wall outlet it is a power pile system , which is it?

 
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Post by michaelanthony » Thu. May. 22, 2014 9:40 am

I recently had the same problem at a restaurant with a LP fryer. The temp control dial switch went belly up. These are a quick switch out if this is the problem, they get full of crap (oil and crud) and eventually burn up in a hot environment...get two because the other side isn't far behind.

same function as a control on a gas hot water heater with the push and hold pilot setting etc.

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