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Who are we, and where are we?
Our business address is:
Ivy Cottage
Holton
Wincanton
England BA9 8AR
Tel: (0044) 1963 31858
Email: info@rayburndiyservice.co.uk
We are David and George and, with our respective families, we
live in rural Dorset, England. The RayburnDIYservice web site
is the sister site of the AgaDIYservice website (see www.agadiyservice.co.uk),
and was born out of intense frustration! The cost of servicing
and the technical mystery applied to the trade eventually got
through to us and we decided to record how to perform a basic
service with a limited follow-up service for problem solving.
So, as technically competent individuals, we set about simplifying
the process. That said, the site is not designed to be a ‘fix-all.’
We have focussed on oil-fired Agas and Rayburns – the most
common variety. We do not supply advice for pressurised oil
burner cookers, or gas fired cookers.
Agas and Rayburns are, at their heart – and be sure that
they do have a heart – very simple machines. And most problems
have a simple solution. But fiddle about with the bits that
were working fine until you did, and then you may have to get
specialist help.
We have had very many satisfied customers, and we have asked
for feedback from them by survey on a regular basis. With this,
we improve the site, answer more FAQs, and strive to offer a
genuinely worthwhile service.
WARNING: Please read these advisory
instructions and guidance carefully before you proceed. Take
care over electrical matters. Ensure you follow sensible practices
with heavy items and sharp tools. Check carefully for oil leaks
which can cause extensive damage. If in doubt, stop and ask.
We cannot take responsibility for your accidents or errors.
Why service your own Rayburn?
Two reasons: First, because it is not very difficult. Secondly,
because it will save you lots of money. And once you have the
knowledge, you’ll do it yourself thereafter.
For a basic service, you need a minimum amount of technical
competence (akin to being able to change the plugs and an oil
filter on a car!) The car analogy is a good one because if your
car is working OK and it needs a basic service (ie plugs/oil/hydraulic
fluid levels etc) then that is relatively straight forward.
But, if your car has poor timing or is pulling to the left (in
other words it needs repair, not a service), you’d
have to get specialist help – and the same principle apples
to your Rayburn.
We have found that once our customers have serviced their own
Rayburn, they get more and more confident – and inquisitive!
How do I get Access to the Instructions?
Access follows payment to Paypal via the site, and then you
will immediately and automatically be sent a password. This
gives you access to the full website and you can save the pages
of information, print them off and/or, return to the site at
will. Also, as we update the site and add extra features, you
– at the moment – continue to have access to that
too. For example the technical FAQs are extensive, and are expanded
regularly.
When will I receive the wicks?
They are sent out within 24 hours, by post, with instructions
on what to do. There is plenty of nonsense spoken about wicks.
The wick is used to get the Rayburn started, after which it
plays a limited role at the correct operating temperature, by
ensuring the rapid vaporising of the oil. Also, Rayburns have
two sizes of burner assembly, which means two sizes of wicks.
We supply the larger size, which can easily be cut down if necessary
to fit a smaller burner assembly. It is easy to do.
Can I get further help if I have a problem after using your
instructions?
Certainly! Email us and we will try to respond the same day.
Some of our customers have entered into lengthy electronic
dialogues! But, be reasonable. Can you phone up or email your
service engineer and expect an enduring personal service for
free? Unlikely! Neither can we work miracles, so be reasonable
about what you expect, though we really try to help.
Do you send me a manual?
No. All the instructions are on the web site which you access
using the password we give to you. And the FAQs provide lots
of extra information. Indeed, more so than the instructions
themselves.
Do you advise on other aspects of maintenance, flue and control
valve/regulator?
The FAQs help you out. But we have restricted ourselves to advice
for an oil fired Rayburn, though the instructions are common
to most models. We do not recommend that you change the internal
settings of the control valve/regulator. The reason for
this is that they are initially set up to allow certain oil
flow rates, and also because the time lag taken by the Rayburn
to reflect an adjustment, this makes the setting process (in
situ) frustratingly slow.
Will my Rayburn will be properly serviced if I follow your instructions?
Yes, but remember that you may have other problems that will
have to be dealt with as well. eg. a contaminated oil supply,
or blocked filters, as an example. If your Rayburn is working
fine before you turn it off, there is NO REASON WHY OUR STRAIGHT
FORWARD INSTRUCTIONS will not set you up for the next re-light.
And we will help with advice on request.
May I pay by cheque?
We would rather you didn’t because it drives our costs
up a lot and complicates the accounting. But if you insist,
we will oblige. Please send your cheque payable to Mr David
Badham with your details to the address above.
And finally, what is Rayburn’s history?
Introduced by a firm called Allied Iron Founders Ltd in 1946,
the Rayburn cooker appeared as a combined stove and water heater,
burning solid fuel. Due to its simple design of flue and controllable
oven heat (ha!), it was considered a revolution.
It was then as now, vitreous enamelled, and only available in
cream mottle.
The No.1 model had one oven and was made until around 1958,
when it was modified to become the Rayburn Regent. The No.2
model had twin ovens and the No. 3 model, an improvement on
the No 2, became the most popular.
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