68 Airstream water heater

[Mickeymc]

Hi gang
can anyone out there give me some advice please.
im restoring a 68 Airstream with the original water heater, the pilot lights but does not stayed lit when i release the button, im thinking its the thermocouple. any advice on what i can do to try to get it to work or where i can find a replacement thermocouple
Thanks
MickeyMC

[TG Twinkie]

I bought mine at the local hardware store.
Before buying a new one.
Is the TC in the flame?
Disconnect the TC at the gas valve.
Clean the contact points.
Push the TC end into the gas valve firmly when tightening the nut. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN.

[rideair]

This may sound crazy, but I've found on my original Bowen water heater (1966) that it requires me to after turning the knob to "pilot", to push in the knob many times real fast (almost like your priming it) before holding it in to start the gas flowing (I think the pilot gas valve is sticking) to light the pilot. If I don't do that, as soon as I let the knob out in order to turn it to run, the pilot light will go out.

Not saying it's your problem, but I've been doing it for over 10 years!

Enjoy,