Kitchen Gas Appliances - Pilot won't stay lit
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dugnorth
08-15-02, 08:19 PM
I have been told that if the pilot light won't stay lit, it may be because of a bad thermocouple. Is this the type of thing that a mechanically inclined guy with no experience with gas appliances can fix or is it best left to a professional? Thanks!
jeff1
08-16-02, 04:18 AM
Hi,
Dryer?....Range?...Water heater?...Furnace?
A pilot not staying on can be a thermocoupler, dirty pilot orifice, bad control, spider web in the tube....if there is any doubt in your abilty to repair a gas appliance = call an tech!
jeff.
Dryer?....Range?...Water heater?...Furnace?
A pilot not staying on can be a thermocoupler, dirty pilot orifice, bad control, spider web in the tube....if there is any doubt in your abilty to repair a gas appliance = call an tech!
jeff.
dugnorth
08-16-02, 07:24 AM
Right...Sorry! It's a Maytag gas dryer.
A dirty pilot orifice or spider web could certainly be the culprit in this case; the thing is filthy.
Thanks for the advice!
Dug
A dirty pilot orifice or spider web could certainly be the culprit in this case; the thing is filthy.
Thanks for the advice!
Dug
jeff1
08-16-02, 04:54 PM
**Right...Sorry! It's a Maytag gas dryer.**
Howdy,
Some things about pilots....if your dryer is over 20 years old, it may have a pilot...anything newer should be a glow coil style...some help on lighting a common dryer pilot...
<A HREF="http://www.applianceaid.com/dryer_pilot.html">Lighting a dryer pilot</A>.
jeff.
Howdy,
Some things about pilots....if your dryer is over 20 years old, it may have a pilot...anything newer should be a glow coil style...some help on lighting a common dryer pilot...
<A HREF="http://www.applianceaid.com/dryer_pilot.html">Lighting a dryer pilot</A>.
jeff.
dugnorth
08-16-02, 06:55 PM
Jeff,
Since it has instructions to light the pilot, I was thinking this was the pilot type rather than the glow coil type. It certainly looks older than 20 years.
I turned off the gas at the appliance, unplugged the machine, removed the outer shell, vaccuumed like crazy, blew some canned air at the pilot assembly. Viola! The pilot light is solid and steady. Spider web, indeed.
The electrical blade connectors going to what I assume is the main gas jet sensor looked awful so I cleaned those up a bit. It appears to work, the main flame goes on and off every few minutes in what I hope is an effort to maintain a constant, warm air tempature.
The thing smells a bit like burning hair when in operation, however. :mad:
Regards,
Dug
Since it has instructions to light the pilot, I was thinking this was the pilot type rather than the glow coil type. It certainly looks older than 20 years.
I turned off the gas at the appliance, unplugged the machine, removed the outer shell, vaccuumed like crazy, blew some canned air at the pilot assembly. Viola! The pilot light is solid and steady. Spider web, indeed.
The electrical blade connectors going to what I assume is the main gas jet sensor looked awful so I cleaned those up a bit. It appears to work, the main flame goes on and off every few minutes in what I hope is an effort to maintain a constant, warm air tempature.
The thing smells a bit like burning hair when in operation, however. :mad:
Regards,
Dug
jeff1
08-16-02, 09:00 PM
Hi,
**vaccuumed like crazy, blew some canned air at the pilot assembly. Viola! The pilot light is solid and steady. Spider web, indeed.**
Good deal.
**The thing smells a bit like burning hair when in operation, however.**
Maytag gas burner used to be sideways at the front of the dryer...if the flame is lazy ( air shutter adjustment, poor air flow/vent/vent hood/filter ) the flame would often singe the front drum felt and give an odor....just a guess! ;)
jeff.
**vaccuumed like crazy, blew some canned air at the pilot assembly. Viola! The pilot light is solid and steady. Spider web, indeed.**
Good deal.
**The thing smells a bit like burning hair when in operation, however.**
Maytag gas burner used to be sideways at the front of the dryer...if the flame is lazy ( air shutter adjustment, poor air flow/vent/vent hood/filter ) the flame would often singe the front drum felt and give an odor....just a guess! ;)
jeff.
dugnorth
08-18-02, 07:32 AM
Jeff,
Right again! You're good....very good.
The last person that put this machine back together decided to do without a couple of screws that help hold the warm-air-transfer-duct (sorry, I don't know the real name) up. Consequently, the felt was too close to the shroud around the main flame. As you guessed, the felt was the stinky culprit.
I've got a working dryer thanks to you.
Dug
P.S. I wonder how much money I saved on a repair call.
Right again! You're good....very good.
The last person that put this machine back together decided to do without a couple of screws that help hold the warm-air-transfer-duct (sorry, I don't know the real name) up. Consequently, the felt was too close to the shroud around the main flame. As you guessed, the felt was the stinky culprit.
I've got a working dryer thanks to you.
Dug
P.S. I wonder how much money I saved on a repair call.
jeff1
08-18-02, 08:08 AM
**P.S. I wonder how much money I saved on a repair call.**
Ka-ching ;)
I am glad we could help!!
jeff.
Ka-ching ;)
I am glad we could help!!
jeff.