redhed83402
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1968 Aristocrat Lo-Liner
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Post by redhed83402 on Sept 19, 2015 9:30:03 GMT -8
Hello again!
So we have been looking over some of the systems in the trailer, & there is a vented hydro flame furnace. It's so cute, the PO said it fires right up, cooks yah out ~ but here's the thing ~ we're not sure how he turned it on.
Plus, we can see hornet nests in the can, if we look through the hole. Which leads us to wonder if he really used it or not. The original owner (according to the PO) used it all the time & showed him how to use it. But thinking back on it, neither myself nor my husband recalls how he did it, or if it actually lit, we just remember him showing it to us. (So many other things we had to think about...wood integrity, towability, space, etc, etc)
So can we use it? How do we clean it out?
Would it be fine to just use some long needlenose pliers & remove it that way?
Will the hornets nests just burn up & it'll be fine to use?
For the record, the oven & stove did light up just fine, we have since tested it, the propane lines all look very sound, both under the trailer & in the backs.
And once again, thank you for your time ~ i can't tell you how we appreciate it! (Well, not yet, when we finally get her up & running, i'm gonna have homemade jam & cookies at one these rallies for all ya all!)
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Post by vikx on Sept 19, 2015 21:58:05 GMT -8
Where are you located again? NO COOKIES = no help...
I would definitely not try to light the furnace before it is cleaned out. The wasp nest won't just burn up and could start a real chain reaction.
You may have to pull the furnace and really take it apart to clean it. I had one years ago filled with thousands of tiny bugs. What a mess! After cleaning (air blowing/vacuuming), it did work.
Is there any way to take a picture of the nests? Might help us help you.
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Post by bigbill on Sept 20, 2015 4:59:13 GMT -8
You want to makes sure all areas of furnace including vents, both intake and exhaust are clear anything that doesn't belong there can cause disastrous results.
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Sept 20, 2015 5:56:36 GMT -8
Another thing that you may consider...the exhaust vent leads into the burner chamber, and it is possible for mice and other pests to make their way inside. Removing the heater from the camper and complete dis-assembly to clean everything may be the best course of action if there is no proof the heater has been run in some time. Physically removing the nests is quite feasible with pliars or any tool that will reach, but I would suggest using a coil brush, or long large version of a pipe cleaner, to brush out the walls of the vents. Compressed air can be a great friend here too. My camper had sat under cover and full of critters for 30-something years, and they got into the burner chamber. Even after it was completely cleaned of debris, the residues stunk something awful when it first burned. It was removed and outside when I fired it, so it had a chance to burn off the smell before it was fired inside... This is a Glen-Aire Duo Therm model, might be somewhat different than the HydroFlame, but the principals are all the same...  |
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Post by vintagebruce on Sept 20, 2015 7:06:01 GMT -8
Lots of good advice in these posts. One thing I would suggest is to make sure you know exactly what your make and model Hydroflame heater is, and then do a straight forward "HOW TO" search on the internet. When I am wondering about a lot of stuff I do not know, I usually do a HOW TO...search, to begin with. Chances are if it is something like an Atwood you can pull up a manufacturers Operation Manual pdf, that will include start up as well as troubleshooting information. I follow the "It's not what you don't know that can hurt you...It's what you DON'T KNOW you don't know, that can hurt you, approach to a perceived problem. Reviewing such a Manual might alert you to procedures or dangers you never even considered. That coupled with Member's comments should predispose you for a good result.
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redhed83402
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1968 Aristocrat Lo-Liner
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Post by redhed83402 on Sept 20, 2015 19:57:08 GMT -8
Thanks everyone ~ i am getting pictures uploaded so i can post them here, to help clarify. In the meantime, where do you find the information that says what make or model hydro flame it is?
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Post by vikx on Sept 20, 2015 22:08:15 GMT -8
There should be a plate on the furnace close to the pilot and/or controls with lighting and model info. Sometimes they are not readable.
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redhed83402
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1968 Aristocrat Lo-Liner
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Post by redhed83402 on Sept 21, 2015 6:09:20 GMT -8
Ok, here are the pictures ~ This is the hydro flame with the access panel removed, the outside vent & intake, with the cover removed, & the hole where the wasps & a mud dobber set up housekeeping. Tony was able to remove the all of the nests from that hole, but because the wing nuts are rusted into place, he has not yet been able to free up the furnace itself to take it out (despite the generous use of WD40).
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redhed83402
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1968 Aristocrat Lo-Liner
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Post by redhed83402 on Sept 21, 2015 19:55:02 GMT -8
Well, once all cleaned out, we figured out how to start the furnace up ~ believe it or not, the instructions were on a little metal placard on the inside of the box ~ we thought that was just a UL approved sticker, but no, it's actually the model number & the instructions! Good to know, good to know. So here they are, for anyone else that has this Hydro Flame furnace, from 1968.
See it? Way over there in the corner, on the left side, turned sideways, looking like UL badge or something? Written too small for actually reading? Yah, we missed it, too.
Here it is, close-up, & turned so that anyone can read it.
Hydro Flame Furnace, Model number ARS-10L.
It is supposedly quite the heater, but it's a radiant heat, so it's not blowing the heat anywhere, it's just sort of warm over by the door & dining area. I guess they figured the kids would need the heat, and the parents could keep each other warm. :-D
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redhed83402
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1968 Aristocrat Lo-Liner
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Post by redhed83402 on Sept 21, 2015 20:18:16 GMT -8
There is a trick to lighting it, too, you have to hold down the large silver knob / dial UNTIL IT LIGHTS, & then CONTINUE to hold it down for a good minute plus.
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alaskanco78
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78 Alaskan CO, 97 Sunline 24T
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Post by alaskanco78 on Oct 6, 2015 5:09:20 GMT -8
Hello All,
I have read the rules and hope it is OK to talk about/ask questions about an old truck camper on this Forum. I have a Vintage, 8', Alaskan camper, Cab over, not sure if it is a 72 or 78.
It has an ARS-10L. same as shown above, I have removed the burner and cleaned it along with the drum, also vacuumed and blew out the Vents.
I still have smoke. :-(
The outside vent seems to be stuck tight, I have tried to remove it to clean the vents properly. How did you get your outside vent off the tubes. Mine is sealed with duck seal and I have pryed on it but it wont come out. Yes, I did remove the 4 outside screws. Just dont want to destroy it.
Ken
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Post by vikx on Oct 6, 2015 23:46:24 GMT -8
Welcome Ken! We enjoy helping everyone who has questions.
Sometimes, the outside vent tubes are rusted together and can be an real pain to loosen. Sometimes NEVER. You might consider blowing with more air. (that being said, they are just tubes, and usually not blocked) Air will make a dusty mess, but possibly allow use of the heater.
Smoke might mean the orifices are not open enough or there is still debris.
I've had good ones and bad ones on these heaters. Rusted out burner chambers are dangerous, so inspect carefully before trying to light it.
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alaskanco78
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78 Alaskan CO, 97 Sunline 24T
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Post by alaskanco78 on Oct 7, 2015 3:21:09 GMT -8
vikx, Thank you.
I will pull the burner out again and take the flower head off this time get a good look at the orifice for cleaning. When I light the unit and veiw the burner the flame looks good and clean, then a few minutes later I see smoke out the exhaust and black building on vent and camper back. It lights perfectly.
I have very little rust on the unit and there is now heat burn marks as shown in the above photos of Redhead's unit.
I did some more reading after my first post and found other threads further down addressing the stuck pipes. Isn't that always the case. :-)
Ken
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redhed83402
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Posts: 99
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1968 Aristocrat Lo-Liner
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Post by redhed83402 on Oct 7, 2015 13:12:31 GMT -8
Hello All, I have read the rules and hope it is OK to talk about/ask questions about an old truck camper on this Forum. I have a Vintage, 8', Alaskan camper, Cab over, not sure if it is a 72 or 78. It has an ARS-10L. same as shown above, I have removed the burner and cleaned it along with the drum, also vacuumed and blew out the Vents. I still have smoke. :-( The outside vent seems to be stuck tight, I have tried to remove it to clean the vents properly. How did you get your outside vent off the tubes. Mine is sealed with duck seal and I have pryed on it but it wont come out. Yes, I did remove the 4 outside screws. Just dont want to destroy it. Ken Welcome Ken! A camper is a camper, whether it's on the back of a truck or stuck on a trailer ~ :-D And those Alaskan campers are pretty cool! ( I might be slightly biased, my husband is an Alaskan camper, too :-D ) Once we took out the 4 screws, Our vent cover needed some twisting & cajoling to get off as there was a bit of rusty-ness going on. My husband used needle nosed pliers, a shop vac & an air compressor to get the hornets nests & mud dobber nests out of the lower can. It needs to be completely cleaned out in order to operate safely. White smoke may indicate either plugged burner holes or something like a wasp nest still in there where it can't be seen. Also, there is an adjustment screw down under the pilot lighting knob that adjusts the flame / gas ratio ~ be very careful in adjusting that, however, as too little can leave a bad bit of gas leaking out with no ability to light, and too much can cause the flame to be too intense too close to the burner platform, (probably not the right words, hopefully you understand what parts i am referring to) which would also be quite dangerous. |
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Post by travcoman45 on Aug 10, 2018 10:27:44 GMT -8
Anyone know where to get a replacement gas valve for the Hydro Flame ARS-10L? Thanks.
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