Parts for a 1981 Hydro flame furnace

[BCSierra]

I know it's ancient but until now it still worked great. Now I need a part for the furnace, specifically the pilot orifice. Any ideas in Vancouver where I'm currently camping with no heat? Furnace model is BRC-10. Anyone with an old one I can buy the part from?

[enblethen]

Thanks for the update!
Nice to find someone that knows what you are dealing with and being close to home.

[BCSierra]

Not sure it was Bob Fennell I was talking to but in any case, he knew his stuff. I asked him about getting the new orifice installed on the old elbow and he suggested a new one. The elbow comes with a compression fitting that becomes detached the first time you tighten it, thus seating itself on the elbow tube that the orifice sits on.

Installed it without issue yesterday and it is back to normal, all good.

[BFL13]

Here is a thread of my adventures with that furnace. Some mention of the orifice and how it works. See page 3 part way down for when I got it all apart etc. Photo in the OP page 1.
Mt "RV guy" in this thread is indeed Bob Fennell-- a good man! 🙂

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28166002/srt/pa/pging/1/page/3.cfm

[westend]

I've seen a few pilot adjustment screws that control the air/fuel mixture. If the orifice is too large, there would be no adjustment to the flame intensity as all of the pilot tube fuel would flow through.

[Reddog1]

Moved to Tech Issues.

Wayne
Moderator

[BCSierra]

tattoobob wrote:
Those Adjustment screws never work, Good luck

Someone must know what the intent is/was.

Have not seen reference to it in the install manual, perhaps the gas valve was intended for multiple applications, this one being of a set of conditions where the adjustment makes no difference.

Probably never know.

[tattoobob]

Those Adjustment screws never work, Good luck

[enblethen]

Thanks for the update!

[BCSierra]

Update for anyone finding this thread at a later date.

First of all, thanks enblethen for the suggestions. I did have a look at the Laurelhurst website but they don't list the BRC-10, probably too old. It's likely they or Eric's could help with some old stock but I was hoping to find something locally as I need the camper soon and didn't want to wait for mailed parts unless it was the only option.

As I was stuck in Vancouver with no heat for 4 days, I improvised. The initial problem was the orifice delivering a tiny flame, not enough to lock the pilot on. I initially took the tube off feeding the pilot and found it chock fully of rust, probably a solid 1-1.5 inches of the tube full. I cleaned it out, reinstalled the tube, and at this point, had way too much fuel. I guess the rust was acting as a bit of a regulator, just a bit too much. The orifice was rusted out so delivering way too much gas through the rust holes via the now cleaned feeder tube, making way to big of a flame. The interim solution was to pack some tinfoil into the pilot supply tube. Amazingly, it took a lot of tinfoil packed tightly into the tube to reduce the gas flow enough to prevent over-firing and resultant black smoke.
Edit, I forgot to mention that I tried to reduce the pilot by removing the cover screw labelled pilot adjust, and turning the screw inside as far in (and also out) as it would go with seemingly no affect on the size of the pilot flame. It must only work when the pilot orifice isn't messed up.

I found the pilot orifice and elbow at Fennells RV in Victoria BC so will install it tonight and hopefully no more issues for the next 34 years.

[enblethen]

What is the model of furnace?
LP supplier in Victoria maybe able to help.
These people are in Portland and may help.Laurelhurst distributors
I would try emailing Eric's RV in Sequim, WA. They should be able to help.
Eric's RV