Kitchen Gas Appliances - Gas Oven: help cleaning/adjusting pilot light

Hello,
I have searched and browsed this forum. Very helpful! Thanks! but I have a few details to ask of you.....

First, My Situation:
-Older gas oven
-Pilot is lit and extends when turned on
-Delayed lighting (blows open door) or no light (gas smell)
-The lighting/extension flame seems to be aimed low on the burner, not actually touching it
-The lighting/extension flame is not loose to the touch
-There is a fair amount of white residue on the burner

From reading this forum I have determined I need to clean and adjust the lighting flame.

My specific questions:
-I would like to remove the pilot and burner for easier cleaning/adjustment: Is there any problems with disconnecting the pilot gas line (it looks to be a threaded solid line) and then putting it back? Should I just check for leaks with a lighter?
-Should I just leave everything in place to clean it?
-What is the best way to remove all the white residue?
-Any other tips for what I am trying to accomplish?

Thanks,
Shane

I fixed it.

I didn't take the burner or pilot out, I just removed the plate so I could access it from above.

Most of the white crude will scrape, wipe, blow off.

The "extended" flame I left pointing down, away from the burner.

There are two slits in the side of the burner, in addition to the holes. After cleaning all of these out, the burner lights fine. No more explosions!