78 Trillium 4500 heater not working

[gomerthetrillium]

Our Duo therm heater is not working. Can't get the pilot to light. Gas is working on stove. Does not seem like gas is coming out of heater. Any ideas?


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[Darwin Maring]

It takes awhile for the gas line to the furnace to bleed out the air.

[gomerthetrillium]

You mean the propane to the furnace? How long do I wait to light pilot?


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[Darwin Maring]

You stand the chance with blowing yourself up so I recommend that you get a trained professional to check it out. GAS is nothing to mess with.

[Darrell O]

It's probably the thermocouple, a minor part. I hope the rest of the furnace is in good shape. Gravity furnaces are priceless assets for off-grid/boondocking in the winter.

[Gilles]

Undoubtedly, it's better to contact a specialist.
I have a trillium 4500 Jubilee 1980 and the last season I managed to start the pilot and as soon as I released the valve of safety, it went out.
I visited a specialist and he found the pipe of copper cut by the friction which occurred then travel.
A chance for us, it was the pipe between the safety valve and the furnace.
The specialist corrected the problem, made a check of the system, completed with a good cleaning.
During the ageing of the plumbing for the propane, the specialist told me, that with years, there is a slender film in pipe and that he is possible, in strength vibration during the travels, that these unstick from the wall of the pipe and find themselves in the tiny jets which feed the fire.
It's may be your problem!!?
Be careful and made beautiful rides with your family.
Do you have a gaz detector ?
Merry christmas to all,
Gilles.

[Gerry Kiernan]

Is this a simple heater, or an actual furnace with blowers?


I do not know if you have had this Trilium for a while, or it is new to you. Some RVs have a shut off valve for the furnace. If this unit is newer to you follow the gas line along. If there is a shut off valve it is usually fairly near the furnace.

[Gilles]

It's a model similar like this : Coleman RV model 4312

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/..._Operation.pdf

The shut off valve is in front of the furnace.

We are an owner of this caravan for 7 years.

Gilles.

[Gerry Kiernan]

If the pilot lights when you have the red button held down it will take maybe thirty seconds of holding it down, while the pilot is lit, [usually doesn't take that long, but could] for the thermocouple to warm up enough for it to command the gas valve to stay open. If even after this the pilot goes out immediately, then it could be the thermocouple that is faulty.

[Gilles]

The best action to be taken at this moment, is to contact a specialist.
Return us with the answer of this one, please.

[JRTrillium]

Is it possible to purchase a new furnace for a travel trailer that is gravity fed and requires no fan? I'm looking around sites and don't seem to be able to find anything.

[mszabo]

You may need to purge the lp line, sometimes they air lock when you change tanks.
Also make sure your battery is fully charged.

[Scott H]

What does the battery have to do with the price of tea in China?

[John A]

Originally Posted by JRTrillium

Is it possible to purchase a new furnace for a travel trailer that is gravity fed and requires no fan? I'm looking around sites and don't seem to be able to find anything.

There aren't any RV gravity furnaces available that I have -ever- heard of in recent history; the closest thing is a marine Dickinson P9000. Old RV gravity furnaces can be rebuilt with new gas valves, such as those by Robertshaw. The liability people will ensure that I now put in the phrase "by a trained and certified professional".

In the meantime check "or have checked" your thermocouple. They are cheap. Clean "or have cleaned" the junction where the thermocouple screws into the gas valve - it is an electrical device and the slight galvanic corrosion between the brass and aluminum can cause it to stop doing its job.

[John A]

Forgot to ask - have you had this furnace running before...

I agree with other posters that they can get some air in the lines from sitting, taking forever to get the gas to the pilot again. Keep one of those long BBQ lighters lit to the pilot, the whole time, while pushing & holding in the bypass on the gas valve, while set to "Pilot"... you are doing this, yes?

[Palindromexox]

We had a similar problem with the furnace on our 4500 when we got it. It does seem to take a long time to get the propane through the lines to the furnace. Do as stated earlier (push in the pilot button and hold, use a butane stove lighting device, not a match to light the pilot).

If your pilot lights, but the furnace does not fire, I found it is important to close the little view hole cover before releasing the pilot button, otherwise the pilot blows out.

Read the instructions on the plate at the base of the furnace and good luck.

[OscarD]

FREE COLEMAN 4312

Our 1979 Jubilee had a Coleman 4312 that has been removed. The fire tube end bracket once was tack welded - now needs a Ship-in-a-Bottle mechanic to put it right. Fan works, new thermocouple, it would light momentarily then blow itself out. Anyone wants to pay shipping can have it.

https://plus.google.com/photos/11521...77398828691521

[David Tilston]

All the smarts of this heater are in the gas valve. If it dies, there is a replacement for a reasonable cost:
Robertshaw® 710-201 Unitrol Gas Valve 710 Series 7000SLC Right Valve® Equivalent

The gas ports are not in the same places as the orignal though, so if you can't bend tube, then get a pro to install.

[evenweight]

Have a look at the battery if it not supplying 12 volts or more while under load that can cause the gas valve to lock out the furnace.
This is the problem we had with our furnace in the past.

[Scott H]

Argh
This is a gravity furnace. The only thing that a battery is going to do is to provided a little light on the situation!