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11-03-2009, 05:31 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
Vancouver
, B.C.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
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How to use the furnace in a 1973 Airstream?
I have use of my friend's 1973 Airstream that she has parked on a rural property but we can't figure out how to light the furnace.
How do I do that?
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11-03-2009, 05:35 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1993 34' Excella
1962 16' Bambi
New Haven
, Connecticut
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 600
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turn the propane tank on. switch the thermostat to the on position. slide the temp level to where you want it. after 20 seconds or so you should hear a fan turn on then some clicking sounds. that is the igniter trying to light the propane. if the planets are aligned your furnace will start heating the rig.
other will chime in with more details.
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11-03-2009, 05:59 PM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
Vancouver
, B.C.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
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Igniter?
What is supposed to drive the fan and igniter?
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11-03-2009, 06:01 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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Before doing the above, you need to light the pilot light. There should be a little threaded cover that once open will reveal the pilot to you. Make sure the gas is turned on and the thermostat is off. It must be off, or you will experience a blast of fire once that pilot lights. Hold a flame to the pilot and press in the black button on the face of the furnace. This gets the gas flowing to the unit and it may take several moments before the pilot stays lit. Once lit, the button can be released. Put the cover back on over the pilot light and then you can go to the thermostat and set your temperature. You will here the furnace fan kick in and things will almost immediately begin to get toasty warm inside. Also, please get yourself a carbon monoxide and propane gas detector, install it and keep it functioning. Where in Vancouver are you located?
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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11-03-2009, 06:02 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1993 34' Excella
1962 16' Bambi
New Haven
, Connecticut
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 600
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fan and igniter are powered off the 12 volt system batteries.
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11-03-2009, 06:14 PM
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#6
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1 Rivet Member
Vancouver
, B.C.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
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"fan and igniter are powered off the 12 volt system batteries."
This is an older 2nd hand Airstream that probably hasn't had a new battery in 20 years.
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11-03-2009, 06:16 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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You will need a power source for this furnace to function. If the battery isn't working, then you will need shore power. The fan draws a lot of juice from the battery, so it will need to be recharged regularly if the furnace is used. If there is no shore power, then a generator would be needed.
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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11-03-2009, 06:18 PM
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#8
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1 Rivet Member
Vancouver
, B.C.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
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cameront120.
I'm in East Vancouver near the Cultch.
The trailer is in Princeton.
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11-03-2009, 06:22 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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Has the furnace been used at all recently? Does any one even know if it works? Given the time of year, has the trailer been winterized? Have the pipes and holding tanks been cleared?
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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11-03-2009, 06:29 PM
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#10
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1 Rivet Member
Vancouver
, B.C.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
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She bought the trailer 2nd hand last year and towed it to her property.
She couldn't get the stove going so I went in October 2008 and found all the right valves to turn on and got that going.
As far as I know nothing else works in the trailer, particularly water. It's anyone's guess as to when the furnace last ran.
And to be honest, I don't know where the battery lives.
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11-03-2009, 06:39 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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Do you know what model of trailer it is?
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Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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11-03-2009, 06:44 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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How to use a 1973 Furnace.
The best use of a 1973 Furnace is as an anchor.
All seriousness aside. I had a 73. Parts are unavailable or extremely hard to find, as are techs who will work on them. Techs won't work on them for liability reasons. The can be dangerous. If there is a leak in the combustion chamber they can croak you.
I stubbornly would not give up on my 73 furnace. Most owners of early 70s I have heard from eventually decide to replace the furnace with a new model. as I finally did. Not a hard job.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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11-03-2009, 06:47 PM
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#13
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1 Rivet Member
Vancouver
, B.C.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
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Well it's on a rural property, no power, no generator.
I guess it's an icebox.
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11-03-2009, 07:21 PM
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#14
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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As Lumatic pointed out, it may well not be a good idea to get it going. They rust inside as they age, so at a certain point they become unsafe.
Would you use a 36-year-old furnace in a house? Not likely, unless you had it serviced very carefully, right?
Also, even if it worked, you need power (which means an investment of some kind). It may be time to step back and consider just how far you want to take the winter use idea...
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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11-03-2009, 09:33 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
1972 23' Safari
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,356
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What furnace did you replace it with?
Hey Lumatic what did you put in the TW once you pulled out the NT20?
Need to replace mine before I do Yellowstone next year
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11-04-2009, 07:22 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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NT 20 replacement
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichHog
Hey Lumatic what did you put in the TW once you pulled out the NT20?
Need to replace mine before I do Yellowstone next year
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I used a NT30. The process is pretty well explained in a thread by Pizza Chop. We both salvaged the NT20 base to use the ductwork. We both also had to raise the NT30 about an inch up and an inch over to line up the outside inlet/exhaust vents.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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11-04-2009, 08:49 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
2000 25' Excella
Kingston
, Tennessee
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 905
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We recently replaced the Nt-24 in our Tradewind with an Nt-30 and it works very well! Bought it new from Palomino parts for 325.00
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11-04-2009, 12:22 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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The igniter is a piezo electric device and doesn't require 12 volts. It's like the one on a BBQ, no power there! The piezo device may not be working, you can light it by hand like you would any water heater in your home. The thermostat must be in the off position according to the instructions in my furnace.
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11-05-2009, 06:33 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
1972 23' Safari
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,356
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Furnace NT 30 Replacement
Thanks, I'll look up the posts on removal. Who has the best price? $325 seems pretty good.
Saw a used one for $150 on craig's list in Denver
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11-06-2009, 09:40 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
2000 25' Excella
Kingston
, Tennessee
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 905
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325.00 is the best price! anywhere else it will cost you 500-600
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