A burner retraction system, comprising: a mounting assembly having a mounting plate and a mounting sleeve extending rearwardly from the mounting plate, the mounting sleeve having an axis; an insertion assembly having a tubular sleeve including an insertion portion sized and shaped for insertion into the mounting sleeve of the mounting assembly, the tubular sleeve including an opening therethrough; a pivot rod rigidly mounted to and extending rearwardly from the mounting plate, the pivot rod having an axis, and a pivot assembly rigidly mounted to the insertion sleeve and including a pivot tube surrounding and coaxially rotatable about the pivot rod, characterized in that one of the pivot rod and the pivot tube having a slot including a straight portion extending in the axial direction of the pivot tube, an angled portion extending rearwardly from the straight portion at an angle θ with respect to the axial direction of the pivot tube, and a stop end terminating the angled portion; and a stop pin slidably inserted into the slot in the one of the pivot rod and the pivot tube, the stop pin being secured to the other of the pivot rod and the pivot tube, such that when the insertion assembly is moved rearwardly with respect to the mounting assembly, the insertion portion of the insertion assembly is first retracted straight back from the mounting assembly as the stop pin slides in the straight portion of the slot, and the insertion assembly is then guided to rotate about the pivot rod away from the axis of the mounting assembly as the stop pin slides in the angled portion of the slot, until the stop end of the slot comes into contact with the stop pin. a mounting assembly having a mounting plate and a mounting sleeve extending rearwardly from the mounting plate, the mounting sleeve having an axis; an insertion assembly having a tubular sleeve including an insertion portion sized and shaped for insertion into the mounting sleeve of the mounting assembly, the tubular sleeve including an opening therethrough; a pivot rod rigidly mounted to and extending rearwardly from the mounting plate, the pivot rod having an axis, and a pivot assembly rigidly mounted to the insertion sleeve and including a pivot tube surrounding and coaxially rotatable about the pivot rod, one of the pivot rod and the pivot tube having a slot including a straight portion extending in the axial direction of the pivot tube, an angled portion extending rearwardly from the straight portion at an angle θ with respect to the axial direction of the pivot tube, and a stop end terminating the angled portion; and a stop pin slidably inserted into the slot in the one of the pivot rod and the pivot tube, the stop pin being secured to the other of the pivot rod and the pivot tube, such that when the insertion assembly is moved rearwardly with respect to the mounting assembly, the insertion portion of the insertion assembly is first retracted straight back from the mounting assembly as the stop pin slides in the straight portion of the slot, and the insertion assembly is then guided to rotate about the pivot rod away from the axis of the mounting assembly as the stop pin slides in the angled portion of the slot, until the stop end of the slot comes into contact with the stop pin.