Magic Chef, Robert Shaw oven won't work

[63 Safari MT]

Greetings. I have a 63 Safari with the original Magic Chef four burner stove with oven run by a Robert Shaw thermostat. The burners work fine. The oven pilot lights but the burner won't go. If I hold a match to what I believe is the thermocoupler which is a few inches away from the pilot the oven comes on. I take the match away, it goes out. Does this conclusively mean the thermocoupler is dead or might there be another problem. Any ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks

[silverleeper]

Is the thermocouple over the top of the pilot light? The thermocouple sends a small electrical charge to open the main valve. The pilot light must be heating thermocouple for this to happen. It's a safety thing.

[Jim & Susan]

The thermocouple on the water heater in the house went out a couple of years ago. When I removed it, the "flame end" was badly burned and it was obviously done for. When I put the new one on, the other end (the end that connects to the thermostat) didn't want to make a tight connection to the thermostat. I had to remove and reinstall it to get a good fit. If yours fits like a household water heater, you might check those things.

Jim

[dwightdi]

This model oven uses a thermostat which control temperature. via volume expansion of a gas in a bulb. This pressure passes through a tube to the control on the front of the range. 15 years ago mine did not work and I had to buy a new Robert Shaw control. It was pretty expensive and I do not know whether they are still available. In 15 years My wife rarely used the oven. I would have better off forgetting about the oven and spend my money on something more useful.