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Old 04-03-2016, 09:07 PM   #1
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1961 24' Tradewind
1975 31' Sovereign
Louisville , Kentucky
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1961 trade wind original furnace: seeking advice

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Hi all, we recently acquired a 1961 trade wind with mostly original parts. Having fun checking each system, but we can't figure out the International furnace. After reading the lighting instructions printed on the diagram on the squirrel cage, I can't find the toggle switch referenced. I see "A" but not "D" (see the photo for diagram). And in the second photo, it looks like there should be wires attached but there are not.

Reading other threads, some say to replace original furnaces and others say keep the original. I would really like to hear from others who have had this model. Maybe I'm missing something obvious. Thanks in advance.
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Old 04-03-2016, 09:13 PM   #2
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1961 24' Tradewind
1975 31' Sovereign
Louisville , Kentucky
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 42
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Apologies for the needed clarification: I meant C & D, not A. I've added a photo of the only switch I see on the unit.
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Old 04-03-2016, 10:37 PM   #3
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1951 21' Flying Cloud
1960 24' Tradewind
Folsom , California
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Hi Bourbonshot,
You should be aware, and maybe you are, that there's an early 60's furnace that is potentially dangerous. Something about the chamber rusting through . . . anyway, I'm thinking yours might be "the one". I have a '60 Tradewind and it still had the original Furnace when I got it, and it was "the one" so I tossed it. It has been a few years but it seems like it is/was the same as yours.

There's none better than an Early Tradewind!

MarkR
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Old 04-03-2016, 11:14 PM   #4
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1961 24' Tradewind
1975 31' Sovereign
Louisville , Kentucky
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Thanks for the swift response, MarkR. Please share the model you selected to replace your original unit. Looks like I'll be in the market for a new one.
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Old 04-03-2016, 11:35 PM   #5
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1974 Argosy 20
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Any 55 year old RV furnace needs to be replaced, unless you are looking for a museum quality restoration. And even then, I would not want to use it.
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Old 04-04-2016, 05:52 AM   #6
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1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes , Texas
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This could have gone boom in the night

I decided to keep the furnace in my 1966 Safari. The trailer had spent its first 40 years or so in a desert climate and thus avoided the rust problem. The PO had done the recall modification. An HVAC tech looked it over for me and said it looked good. I planned to camp mostly in Texas and didn't think I'd use it much anyway.

Last Christmas, I was camping in my daughter's family's driveway, and the weather turned cold. I lit the furnace and though all was OK. During the night, I awoke and found it was cold--the pilot light in the furnace had blown out. After a few minutes of crawling around on the floor in my PJ's, I got it re-lit and went back to bed.

Morning came, and with it the decision that I was tired of dealing with old technology in the cold in the middle of the night. When I got home, I ordered a new furnace.

When I removed the old furnace in preparation for installing the new one, I found that the old gas line had been rubbing against the steel housing around the furnace and soon would have caused a very nasty propane leak.

Therefore, I'm a new and enthusiastic convert to the idea that old RV furnaces should be replaced.
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Old 04-04-2016, 06:44 AM   #7
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1961 24' Tradewind
1975 31' Sovereign
Louisville , Kentucky
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 42
Early forum consensus indicates I need to replace. Thanks for weighing in, idroba and mimiandrews. Makes sense.

Shifting to my follow up question, is there a replacement unit that is strongly recommended? Understanding why it's a good choice would be helpful, too.

Many thanks!


1961 24' Trade Wind double
WBCCI # 6161
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Old 04-04-2016, 10:39 AM   #8
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1961 24' Tradewind
1967 26' Overlander
1973 27' Overlander
Savannah , Georgia
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I had the original with my 61 Tradewind. While it was in good shape, it was one of the first things I replaced. Not only for safety issues, but space. The clunker is HUGE. Replace! I also replaced the hot water heater. The original was also a safety issue in my book. I installed a new 6 gallon and used the original exterior metal cover. Looks great if I do say so myself, and is safer and more efficient.
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Old 04-04-2016, 11:12 AM   #9
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1969 27' Overlander
Kimmell , Indiana
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I have a Suburban NT 30K furnace for sale. It is virtually new having been removed from my 1993 Newell. It was one of two installed at the factory but the coach was converted to all electric mid-build. It was never hooked up. The other furnace was installed in a similar A/Stream.
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Old 04-04-2016, 03:56 PM   #10
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1951 21' Flying Cloud
1960 24' Tradewind
Folsom , California
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I put a Suburban NT 16K, which is probably undersized for the size of the trailer, but we're only using heat "to take the edge off" . . . and our most likely camping scenario is going to be on the coast in the summer. Anyway, I think the "30" was the correct size. Having said that, there are other, newer technologies / designs that might be attractive - but I haven't "familiarized" myself w/ the options and/or the reasons for choosing.

Good Luck . . . post photos when you get a chance.

MarkR
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Old 04-04-2016, 05:30 PM   #11
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1975 31' Sovereign
West Liberty , Kentucky
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Our 1975 had the original furnace which I replaced several years ago. When I tried to fire it up, there was a loud rattling noise when the fan came on. Upon inspection, I found a mud dobber's nest in the blower. I also found that the heat exchanger had rusted out which could have caused serious problems. I replaced the furnace. I never thought I would be glad to have mud daubers.
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Old 04-04-2016, 06:06 PM   #12
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I put a Suburban SF-20 in my '59 Tradewind. Works good down to 25F. It's a different form factor than the NT but I was doing a total rebuild and it worked great for us.
Be careful taking out the old furnace. If you drop the tranformer it will crush your concrete driveway.
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Old 04-04-2016, 08:20 PM   #13
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1961 24' Tradewind
1975 31' Sovereign
Louisville , Kentucky
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 42
Thanks so much, everyone. We'll do some research and make the move this summer. Plenty of other projects to keep our attention until then. Really appreciate how helpful the community is, and I'll follow up with photos when the deed is done.


1961 24' Trade Wind double
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Old 04-05-2016, 09:17 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bourbonshot View Post
Thanks so much, everyone. We'll do some research and make the move this summer. Plenty of other projects to keep our attention until then. Really appreciate how helpful the community is, and I'll follow up with photos when the deed is done.


1961 24' Trade Wind double
WBCCI # 6161
DO NOT attempt to even fire up your International Oil Company furnace.

As of the early 1970, many of them in fact, exploded when fired up.

Th cause was very simple.

The main burner fell apart because of it's improper use of the wrong metal for it.

Having worked for the old Aurstream insurance company, over 40 years ago, we advised owners THEN to destroy that furnace and replace it, because many of them exploded upon firing them up.

Parts for them, in 1970, was not to be found, because they were obsolete.

Andy
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Old 04-05-2016, 08:37 PM   #15
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1961 24' Tradewind
1975 31' Sovereign
Louisville , Kentucky
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Thanks for the additional information, Andy.


1961 24' Trade Wind double
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