Potterton Flamingo no heating or hot water

So my brother sends me a text message: "Are you available in an afternoon some time to look at our heating? Pilot light is on but the boiler is not kicking in."

I go round and the pilot is lit. I switch the timer on for heating and hot water, and the boiler lights. I put my hand on the pump and I cannot feel it vibrating. I check to make sure there is power to the pump live, which there is. I switch the pump valves off, and attempt to undo the pump nuts but they won't budge. I try penetrating oil, bigger tools and a little chisel to get them moving but after 30 years they are seized on. I loosen the four allen bolts securing the pump head to the housing and separate them gently to ensure the valves have switched off stopping the water fully. A cups worth of water comes out but no more thankfully. I remove the pump head and use a junior hacksaw to cut a slice in the pump nuts. Inserting suitably sized screwdriver into the new slit I tap it with a hammer to split the brass nut. I hit it in the direction to undo the nut and it starts to come loose so I can put my grips on them and remove the pump body. Now the nuts are no good, but fortunately I have saved some nuts off of pump valves in the past, they are manufactured with cut outs, allowing me to slip them onto the old pump valves. I can now fit the new pump and washers, and successfully heat test the system.

Disclaimer: The works described in this blog are a record of work undertaken and should not be taken as guaranteed to solve your problem. Work should only be carried out by persons qualified and competent to do so.