Hi Vic!

I like your new thread.

Great idea Vic

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This thread is a good idea.

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That might well be a better idea than you might think.....assume nothing. Some years ago, I paid a visit to the Vehicle Workshop for the Council I worked for and arrived just in time to hear a ton of expletives reverberate around the walls. The object of this verbal tirade, was a humble Ford Escort van (of 2002 vintage, I think) and the reason for the 'abuse' were the wheels....in particular, the spare wheel, or more accurately, spare wheels. A seemingly simple front wheel change had turned into a nightmare. A wheel would be put on and seemed to fit fine, but once it was fully tightened, the wheel wouldn't turn. Loosen the wheel nuts a little and the problem disappeared. In the end, something like four seemingly identical wheels were tried, before one was found that turned when tightened. For what seem silly reasons to me, all the spare wheels for the vehicles were kept at the workshop, so, it can probably be assumed that the wheel which did fit, was the one that came with that particular van. There were other vans, which were at least 6 months older, but none of them apparently were 'fussy' about their wheels....any wheel from the newer vehicle (it was the newest) would be fine on any axle of the older vans, but wheels from the older vans would only work on the rear of the newer van, apparently. It suggests that, there was a difference to the calipers, but there may well have been differences to the wheels, or even, both (very small differences, but enough to make the difference).

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Don't take life too seriously, as you'll never come out of it alive!

I would have gone to a junk yard. They are networked and if they don't have it, if someone else does they can get it for you.

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Good Luck, Vic. :)

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There's probably more money in it for them installing a new furnace than repairing an old one.
Sitting a few thousand miles away I can picture the scenario:
They've sent a guy out to fix the problems as described by you, the customer, and find not only that problem but a number of others that make the proposed repair a non-starter, so they suggest that the best way forward is to replace the old furnace with a new one as that is better for their finances than sending out a stream of guys to replace this bit, then that bit, then the other. You, the customer feels shafted because nobody has explained to you the whole stack of problems with your thirty year old furnace. You the customer has no money to fund the new furnace, but, if the repairs of your old furnace amounted to more than the $300 you've budgeted for (via your sister-in-law) you can't afford to have it repaired.

All this ignores the fact that there may be a legal issue with them repairing your old furnace, such as a design issue, or a (major) change in the law that results in it being illegal to repair, but not illegal to use while it is working....

You are, in effect, caught in the classical cleft stick situation - whatever you do (or they do) it's going to hurt :-(

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

The oil burning furnace in my home is the original Bard installed when the home was built in 1954. So it is 63 years old. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
I have little doubt that if I had it professionally serviced, they would try to tell me it has to be replaced.
However, I service it myself. Replaced the oil burner unit itself many years ago, change the nozzle, check the air adjustment, replace the air filters if needed, check the heat exchanger with a smoke bomb (no leaks so far..........), and check the final exhaust going to the chimney with smoke test kit...same thing the professionals use.
I have had to replace the flue pipe from the heat exchanger to the chimney a few times. They tend to corrode from the acids in the exhaust, but I can readily get replacement pipe from Meownards when needed, it's not anything specific to this furnace.
I actually have not run it for a few years, other than for testing, as my crunchers supply enough heat to keep the water pipes thawed except on very very cold winter nights. I actually added Sta-Bil for fuel oil to the oil tank, as I am not using much of it. And then I am usually running an electric heater to keep the bedroom warm for me and the kitties. But I still test fire and check the old furnace every fall just so I know it is ready to use if desired or needed. I also invested in a couple of CO alarms as a safety precaution just in case there would be a sudden failure or break in the heat exchanger due to it's age.
At some point I shall get it replaced and have central AC added when I do.
But for now, it is still serviceable and safe to fire up.

Meow!

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

However, I service it myself. Replaced the oil burner unit itself many years ago, change the nozzle, check the air adjustment, check the heat exchanger with a smoke bomb (no leaks so far..........), and check the final exhaust going to the chimney with smoke test kit...same thing the professionals use.

I have had to replace the flue pipe from the heat exchanger to the chimney a few times. They tend to corrode from the acids in the exhaust, but I can readily get replacement pipe from Meownards when needed, it's not anything specific to this furnace. But I still test fire and check the old furnace every fall just so I know it is ready to use if desired or needed. I also invested in a couple of CO alarms as a safety precaution just in case there would be a sudden failure or break in the heat exchanger

That is exactly what I mean by being technically competent. In the UK oil burning systems are quite common in rural areas, in the main towns and cities it's all gas fired these days.

The majority of home here are gas heated as well.
Back in the 80's (I bought the home in 1980), there was a big push by the gas company to convert old oil furnaces to gas. They offered big discounts and rebates to replace furnaces, and if you did not have a gas line to your home, they would actually install the lateral from the street at no charge!! LOL. Not anymore.

I am very thankful that I can work on my furnace myself.
It is good to have those skills.
It has saved me at least several thousand dollars over the years!!

Meow!!

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

I am very thankful that I can work on my furnace myself.
It is good to have those skills.
It has saved me at least several thousand dollars over the years!!

To be fair, Vic is not so fortunate.

I wouldn't call it exactly 'fortunate', Chris.
When I was younger, I studied handyman books and such. And when there was something that I wanted to do, I would find out how. Sometimes I could find a kind adult that knew how to do a job, and they would share their knowledge with me. Sometimes, I would go to the library and find a book about the task. Also read many magazines with how-to articles.
People today are much more fortunate. With the internet, you can usually have the information at your fingertips in an instant. Back then, you had to look a bit harder to find it. Now, you can often even find videos on youtube with people SHOWING you how to tackle a task. Such as replacing a garbage disposal. Here is a vid of a lady telling you how, step by step.

I have over the years, replaced the drain lines on the bathroom and kitchen sinks, both sets of faucets, and the kitchen sink itself. Rebuilt the faucets for the tub. So, I guess I am a neophyte plumber.
I've replaced most light switches with automatic occupancy sensing ones, they turn the lights out automatically. Replaced many old receptacles with new ones. Replaced two electric hot water heaters. Repaired a fractured pipe in the basement that was spraying water all about. Plumbed a water line for the ice maker when I got a new fridge.

In 37 years, I've replaced the toilet flush valve I don't know how many times. And the wax ring once.
Helped upgrade my electrical service box. An out of work friend electrician installed the box and the mains connections. I finished the job and installed all of the new breakers myself. All done to code. I also added a 240v 50a subfeed box to power my Seti crunchers years later. I am an electrician by trade. Although never certified to do work for other people, I worked with a licensed master electrician for several years as an apprentice. And now I wire fire trucks for a living.

I've maintained all of my automobiles. Everything from air cleaner and spark plug and tire changes, to water pumps, alternators, timing chains, a camshaft, v and serpentine belts, valve cover gaskets, carbeurators, fuel injectors, thermostats, an intake manifold, heater hoses, radiators, more than a few exhaust systems, and a power steering pump. Couple of ball joints, many starters, batteries, and installed a new engine in my little RX7. Once installed a lower A frame in one of my Buick Electra boats out on a residential street when the ball joint failed and left the tire sitting at a rather inopportune angle. Factory manuals are sooooooooooooooo helpful! So, I guess that makes me a motorhead as well.

Helped re-shingle the roof a number of years back, replaced door locksets a few times, my window air conditioner several times, caulked the cracks, cleaned and sealed the gutters, replaced stove burner elements and a couple of broken windows. I guess that makes me a homeowner.

I also studied many aspects of kitty husbandry, cared for one cat through her battle with CRF, another through her battle with cancer, and nursed a third through her final senior years until it was time for her to go. So I am better equipped these days to properly care for my kitties.
But I do not think that begins to make me a vet.

I could not begin to add up the money I have saved all these years by being a man who, when he is determined to do something, gets down to brass tacks and begins to learn how.

Meowtinkertinker.

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Propane is a hydrocarbon (C3H8) which is gas at normal temperature and liquefies under fairly low pressure (about 100pisa).
Methane is the main component of natural gas (or at least after purification), it is also a hydrocarbon (CH4). It is the lightest hydrocarbon, and is a gas at normal temperatures, it requires a much higher pressure to liquefy it (something in the region of 1000psia).
For domestic use both have strongly smelling chemicals added as otherwise leaks & spills would be very difficult to detect without special equipment. Their "natural" smell is a faint, sweet petroleum smell which the human nose is very good at filtering out so after prolonged exposure to low concentrations people stop smelling it which is not a good situation to be in - there have been a number of accidents caused by this over the years. Both are easy to ignite, and have wide explosive concentration ranges (somewhere between 1% and 20% from memory).

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

I learned by taking things apart and putting them back together.
I have rebuilt engines, whole cars and trucks. Restored model A's, T's and a Land Cruiser. As for homes I have restored a Victorian, personally designed and built 3, and lead the design, build and sale of over 2,000.
Vic, in your case I would just take the AC-A frame out and leave the existing plenum.
You also need to change your furnace filters more often. That should prevent the cat hair build up.

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I would be worried seeing filters in that very clean state after a couple of years use - the a/c filters at work are in a far worse state than that after one week.
That suggests there are other problems lurking around the corner with the air handling on your furnace or a/c (which ever those filters are from), or the system hasn't actually been used. Second thoughts - if something else was clogged with cat fur and other stuff then that might explain why air isn't being circulated properly through the filters.

As Carlos said, get rid of that useless a/c frame - you've nothing on the 'fridge side so all it is doing is collecting cat fur etc. Removing this might cure might cure a few other problems with your furnace - such as the ignition/pilot light faults you've had in the past.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Vic,
Fleetwood is still in business. I suspect this may be your floor plan. That filter is not doing it's job. The air is being picked up somewhere else. I developed one project where I installed just over 200 Fleetwood manufactured homes. I have been at the factory many times. The filter should be a paper filter located at the base of the furnace. It should be replaced monthly but at most every 3 months.
Here are the Department of Energy recommendations.

Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months.

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That's a cool looking cone! I'm thinking the "sprinkles" will light up at night.

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The mind is a weird and mysterious place

Well done Vic. Slow and steady is a good way to go. Congrats!

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I'm hoping by Thanksgiving, that I will be down to about 365 lbs.

I'm sure your knees will appreciate that.

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I'm hoping by Thanksgiving, that I will be down to about 365 lbs.

Tell ya what, Vic.
Just to show ya I am not all hiss and fangs....................

If you can hit that goal. And I would in some fashion need reliable proof of it.

I will send you $3.00 a pound.
And you can spend it on any dang thing you wish to.
How's that sound?

Meow.

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

I'm hoping by Thanksgiving, that I will be down to about 365 lbs.

Tell ya what, Vic.
Just to show ya I am not all hiss and fangs....................

If you can hit that goal. And I would in some fashion need reliable proof of it.

I will send you $3.00 a pound.
And you can spend it on any dang thing you wish to.
How's that sound?

Meow.

I'll keep that in mind, a picture or a screen grab of an email should do to start things off. I started out at 445 lbs on 01/03/2017, That's 46 lbs so far.

My offer is from 399 to 365.
If you would lose more and go below 365, it would be pretty amazing, and I might even cover that.

Good luck, Vic.

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"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

i would match that