Replaced thermostat as well as the thermometer wire. Heat turns on if I shut down thermostat, gas, electric, and fuse then turn them back on in the following order: 1. fuse 2.gas, 3. electric switch to the furnace, and 4 thermostat. It shuts down after a couple of minutes. I am a single parent on a limited budget and do not feel like going this procedure to raise the house temp from 56 to 57... Help! Thank you for your suggestions!!

I think that system has a 3 wire pilot assembly on it. Will the burners ignite and burn.

If you have one of these tap on it with a screwdriver or other tool. This may get it working for a time or two. If not I would still suspect the 3 wire pilot as T-Top mentioned.

The thermostat could be the problem. Try this: turn off power to furnace, remove thermostat wires "R" & "W" and connect together. Turn power back on and observe. If furnace sustains operation, the thermostat is the problem. If not, at least it has been eliminated from contention for blame.

First of all, Thank all of you who replied to my post, and I know a whimpy californian shouldn't be complaining about 45 and rain when I saw how cold it was in Ohio this week.
Reply in regards to the first 2 replies.
I do have a three wire pilot that stays lit after I go through my progression of: fuse, gas, electric, thermostat to get the heat to function for a couple minutes. The pilot lights almost immediately followed a minute or so by the burners then finally the blower turns on. The burners turn off first then the blower turns off next; however the pilot light stays lit.

Reply to post 3
I have powered down and connected the R&W wires together, and the furnace functions exactly as described above which I guess means my thermometer is the culprit?
I have tried 3 different thermostats after getting rid of the old mercury one.
Models are all 5-2 programmable
Rite temp model 6022
Honeywell rth2310b
Honeywell rth2309
Is my ancient furnace to old for one of these thermostats? Or could it still be the pilot?

Thank you very much

Actually on the three wire pilot style the pilot usually goes out when the furnace shuts down and relights on a call for heat. Why your is staying on is a good question since those pilots have spark or on the real old one glow coil ignition.

Thanks again for your continued support. A few things I've observed about the pilot light with all models of thermostats mentioned above: when I switch the thermostat to off the pilot light slowly goes out. When I switch the heat back on after 5 or so minutes the pilot lights up and the furnace goes through one cycle and the pilot stays on until I either turn the gas off or switch the thermostat off. Also, I hear a quick loud squeek when the burners shut down, I imagine this is some kind of valve in desperate need of some lubrication. When the burners light no squeek upon firing up. I'm going to look up the pilot light's part number (probably after market version) and replace it. If anyone knows the part number off the top of their head, please let me know.
Thanks and have a great day

If the pilot switch hot contact circuit opens during a heating demand, it will cause exactly what you are experiencing. This circuit not only powers the main gas control, but also initiates the blower timing control circuit. Part # LH680005.

I've ordered the part. I will let you know what happens upon installation. Thank you again for all of your assistance, Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays for all of you PC folks.
Peace.

The pilot light assembly was the answer! I received and replaced the part. She fired up and kept the temperature at 68. I brought the first progamable thermostat out of the doghouse and back into full service. Returning the other two. Thank you for all of your assistance, I could not have tamed the beast without your help!

Does this mean you'll be changing your name?