1969 GT DuoTherm

[dbaur]

I have had some difficulty finding a replacement for a pilot thermocoupler unit for our original DuoTherm furnace. Our RV repairman says this is all that is wrong with our furnace. I now have been told I can buy one for $105 and could replace the whole unit with a new furnace for about $450. I do not have experience with gas or furnaces. Are these old units safe and dependable? Would I be safer and better off putting our money in a new replacement? Appreciate any thoughts on this? Thank you,

Dave

[WallaWallaGT]

Last fall when we tried to get the DuoTherm heater working in our new to us '69 GT we could not get the furnace to work properly. We went to The Home Depot and bought a generic thermocoupler for $6.97. We installed it in and the furnace has worked perfectly since. This might work for you too.

Honeywell
36 In. Lead Length Thermocouple, Gas, Universal
Model CQ100A1005


http://www.homedepot.com/

[Fyrzowt]

Based on my previous purchases of therocouplers for the house, $105 sounds like someone trying to take your money unless that includes labor. Even then, that sounds like a lot. But then I'm cheap.

[RV_cool]

Originally Posted by Fyrzowt

Based on my previous purchases of therocouplers for the house, $105 sounds like someone trying to take your money unless that includes labor. Even then, that sounds like a lot. But then I'm cheap.

I quoted them that price, I'm not making nothing off of it. It is a NOS pilot assembly from a surplus parts house, and it's not your normal run of the mill thermopile. Sure you could adapt something cheaper, but the person wants what was there for ease of installation. If I had the unit here I could adapt a universal pilot assembly and thermopile. And thermopiles do cost alot more than thermocouples, theres a difference. a run of the mill thermocouple is about 8 bucks but a thermopile can be up to 60 - 80 bucks. A thermocouple only puts out 32 milli volts compaired to a thermopile which puts out 750 milli volts.

[SteSpot]

Originally Posted by dbaur

Are these old units safe and dependable? Would I be safer and better off putting our money in a new replacement? Appreciate any thoughts on this? Thank you,

Dave

What about the question about safety? Would an original 1969 factory installed furnace be safe today? Is there a way to check that out? Thanks, pj

[RV_cool]

Originally Posted by pjpoll

What about the question about safety? Would an original 1969 factory installed furnace be safe today? Is there a way to check that out? Thanks, pj

yes check the burner out, make sure it is not starting to deterioate, also the combustion chamber check for cracks, or rotting metal. The older units were made out of heavier metal, and also a better grade than late model ones. And in reality, how many hours do they actually have on them. Most people don't use their coaches in winter anyway, so yes it might be 20 years old but never had much use. Use one 12 hours a day for 10 years straight I'm sure it would be shot by that time.

[Fyrzowt]

Originally Posted by RV_cool

I quoted them that price, I'm not making nothing off of it. It is a NOS pilot assembly from a surplus parts house, and it's not your normal run of the mill thermopile. Sure you could adapt something cheaper, but the person wants what was there for ease of installation. If I had the unit here I could adapt a universal pilot assembly and thermopile. And thermopiles do cost alot more than thermocouples, theres a difference. a run of the mill thermocouple is about 8 bucks but a thermopile can be up to 60 - 80 bucks. A thermocouple only puts out 32 milli volts compaired to a thermopile which puts out 750 milli volts.

My apologies if that is a valid price. As stated, my experience is in the home field.