Thanks Doug. Excellent reply & I'll try to answer without messing up
too much. Webtv can "smallify" but this dummy can't figger it.
OP (Lots sipped)
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My old. old gravity flow oil furnace, which I dearly love, has finally
seen it's last days. Repair parts no longer available for the motor.
Yes, it's that old. FYI, in case that is only true in my area
(Portland,OR), the motor is :

Williams Hi Pressure oil burner
Model "A"' Ser.# 79489, CD-21839

Tech (who I trust but...) can't find new replacement & parts not
available. I'll have to keep on pushing those red buttons 'til problem
resolved. I like oil heat and, with the price of all fuel so high, extra
cost if any is of no concern.
And no, gas is not an alternative.

I'm considering a new oil fired furnace to run on bio-diesel. Ideally a
dual fuel oil/electric. Is such a thing made? Haven't asked my tech.
And, if made, do you have any reccommendations.. Same request for which
company makes a good unit.
(snip)
Have read in here about some kind of "Schedule ?" that should be done
for best results. Refresh my memory.
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(Doug)
I've seen similar furnaces and their fireboxes and heat exchangers do
indeed seem to last forever.

Keep in mind that if the firebox can take it, you can install a
complete, new design "flame retention" burner to replace that old
Williams burner. I'd go with a standard Becket or Wayne burner. You'd
probably gain a good 10 to 15% in efficiency by such a burner changover.
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Tech mentioned some kind of new
burner. Will show him your advice.
BTW furnace itself is Williams Oil-O-
Matic circa late 1920's converted once from
gas to "hard fuel" (coal,wood?) then later
to oil.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Doug)
I mention "if the firebox can take it" since the newer flame retention
burners run with flame temps several 100 degrees hotter than the old
non-retention "J" pump burners. The hotter temps can erode the firebox
liner. If your firebox is lined with firebrick, there is little to worry
about. Ask your tech.
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Will do. Looked in & there is a ring of
reddish material around the big hole
in the bottom. Could be deteriorated
brick.
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BTW, what did your tech say you needed for the old "motor"? By "motor" I
think you mean the burner assembly.
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I, maybe mistakenly, called it a motor.
It sits outside, & pumps oil to, the furnace.
--------------------------------------------------------
(Doug)
I've been able to get virtually all parts for those old burners
including the actual 1725 RPM motor, the electrodes, the ignition
transformer, the oil pump, etc. The only thing that I couldn't get for
an old Monarch burner was a new end cone. I ended up adapting the end
cone from a 1725 RPM Becket flame retention burner and the result worked
fine for several years.
Doug
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Great advice! Will show this to my tech and see what he says. Really
hate to junk the old beast for new. Don't like forced air heat.

Later, 'Liza

"Life is short. Eat chocolate"