So I scored a forced air furnace that has a suntec model A pump on it. when I got around to trying it out,The pump was seized up, I took it apart and it was full of rust.

After a complete teardown and cleaning, it does pump oil, but I dont have the right adapter for my 200psi gauge to set pressure. I am thinking that while the pump will move oil, it may not build enough pressure to operate correctly. maybe it will work, or maybe I should find a new pump.

So the first ? is does anyone know if you can install a webster bio-fuel pump in place of a model A suntec? or is it a different gun set-up?

I plan on using the unit to heat my garage using WVO.

The first step is to get it running on PD or kero, then tune it for veg.

thanks,mo

Your rusty pump should clean up enough to at least be used for testing, I have done this with 3 rusted-up pumps so far, all now work. It should get better over time as running it will polish the surfaces of the pump gears and the walls of the gear chamber so they seal better.

Pressure guage -- don't understand the need for an adapter, the pressure guage port on the top of the pump is a standard 1/8 inch pipe thread. Look over the verious tech info at suntecpumps.com.

Don't have any experiance with a Webster pump.

Tune it for veg -- There is a LOT of tuning to do if trying to run on veg, first thing is to choose what style of burner to convert to, high pressure, syphon style, or even a Babington style conversion. after a couple unreliable attempts at high pressure and syphon style conversions I am now starting to test a Babington style conversion but probably will end up using the same drip heaters I used all last winter, a tiny bit smokey, but simple and reliable, I also prefer the nice quiet small-fire-all-the-time approach to heating rather than the big-blast-of-heat-now-and-then that you get from the normal operation of the forced air spray type burners. I hope I can turn the Babington conversion down enough to burn it all the time at anywhere from about half a pint to a half gallon per hour, supposedly this can be done?

Do a search for Suntec on ebay, there is a sale for a pressure test setup there now. This kit is listed as a Subtec test unit but the hose connectors look more like those used for air conditioners? _ Buyer beware..

Thanks ,Tim

the pump does work, but I think maybe the seal on the pressure adjusting cartridge may not seal so well.

I do have a 1/8"npt 200 psi gauge, but need a 3" nipple to thread it in, as there is no room for the gauge when the pump is mounted.

I hope to use the unit pretty much as is, it will be in the garage. adjusting the pump for wvo. maybe add a preheater. I think that a 40 watt pipe trace cable will keep a 30 gallon barrel of fuel liquid even when the furnace is off.

Good luck burning WVO with only those modifications, usually takes a lot more changes to get veg to ignite and burn reliably.

Read through the extensive info available at the altfuelfurnace.com web group, the link is at the top of these "bio heating" forums discussion list. That discussion forum is dedicated to the type of modifications needed to do just what you want to do.

Pump - The seal on the outside of the pressure adjusting cylinder is a standard "O" ring, check with your local commercial seal and bearing retailer for a replacememt, they also will have, or can order, a replacement shaft seal. Both these are also available in viton rubber if you ever want to use the pump for biodoesel. There is also a small rubber disk seal on the end of the pressure regulator piston, this seals the nozzle output when the pump is not running. depending on if you use the nozzle output for it's original use or not, This should also be replaced with viton for biodiesel use. For all my uses of these Suntec pumps the nozzle output is plugged and the guage ouptut is used for the actual output. This 3/8 inch diameter by 1/16 inch thick replacement disc seal will have to be made from sheet gasket material but I haven't yet researched a source of viton for this, I hope McMasters.com will have viton sheet material ?

hmmmm....
well, I finally got some time to tinker again. I only get 7-8 psi with K1.
the only seal That I have on my pressure cylinder is the disc on the end. maybe that is my problem. I do have various metric and sae O-rings,but am unsure as to where they would go? none that I have fit very well.

I was/ am in the process of signing up to altfuelfurnace discussion.

is there any particular reason that you use the pressure fitting? I believe that you are using these as metering pumps for your drip stove? maybe the 1/8 npt are easier to size to 1/4 copper line?

I am hoping to use a racor 200fg filter housing
as a oil filter for my furnace, as I have one already. is 30 micron sufficient?

thanks,mo