Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Shaun on August 31, 2020, 12:15:09 am

Title: 1985 Travco ORED Stove/water-heater/furnace issues.
Post by: Shaun on August 31, 2020, 12:15:09 am
So our Travco has been running great and worry free for the last couple years, but today we woke up to a stove that barely kept a flame. a furnace that blows cold, and a water heater that is warm at best. The fridge seems to run fine and stay cold, and the other appliances all hold pilot lights (except the water heater if it is windy:) but the stove runs very weak (one burner only! if I try to run two or more the whole thing dies) and so I am assuming the others are too... (hence the hampered performance) I initially thought that the regulator must be the issue, the grate of the vent on my Coach regulator faces toward the back of the coach and I understand that can be a problem. I just wanted to request some more experienced second opinions/advice on how to proceed. Let me know if you need more info and I will get some pics up tomorrow evening or the next day. 
Title: Re: 1985 Travco ORED Stove/water-heater/furnace issues.
Post by: Tim Fiedler on August 31, 2020, 12:25:27 am
oil built up in the regulator? there are a number of threads on this phenomenon on the forum.

Search found this post (from our esteemed Brett Wolfe) on the topic

"Liquid LP contains impurities consisting of longer hydrocarbon chains. These accumulate in the regulator (a good regulator, but installed "on its side" not as regulator maker intended). Good chance you will find the regulator clogged with a thin-viscosity grease-like substance. Fix is to replace the regulator OR overhaul it (requires HIGH TEMP Silicone gasket kit).

Also, I suggest changing over from liquid to HIGH PRESSURE VAPOR which eliminates the recurrence of the problem. This is a very quick/low cost conversion."

Note: replacing the regulator requires removal of the generator and a minor amount of disassembly.

try search for more insight from prior posts, but regulator blockage might be a source of your problems

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start (http://www.gen-pro.biz) - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct - Generac Home Standby Installation Wire (http://www.tcerdirect.com) - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable Home | generator-gas-prod (http://www.generatorgasproducts.com) - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
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Title: Re: 1985 Travco ORED Stove/water-heater/furnace issues.
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 31, 2020, 08:29:55 am
Oil built up in the regulator? there are a number of threads on this phenomenon on the forum.
More info on "oil in propane" phenomenon:

Oil Accumulation in Propane System (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=40088)
Title: Re: 1985 Travco ORED Stove/water-heater/furnace issues.
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 31, 2020, 08:33:45 am
Silly question, but I must ask:  "Are you sure your propane tank is not (nearly) empty?"
Title: Re: 1985 Travco ORED Stove/water-heater/furnace issues.
Post by: red tractor on August 31, 2020, 07:30:17 pm
It could also be the electric safety shut off valve which can be removed. This coach should only have vapor regulators one for the generator and one for the house.
Title: Re: 1985 Travco ORED Stove/water-heater/furnace issues.
Post by: Old Toolmaker on September 01, 2020, 09:03:05 am
It could also be the electric safety shut off valve which can be removed. This coach should only have vapor regulators one for the generator and one for the house.

I have had an electric propane safety shut off valve fail in this manner. I removed the valve and taped over and secured the wires.  Then, again, I've also replaced the regulator.