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10-16-2007, 06:31 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Water Heater Pilot Won't Light
Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this? As the title says, the water heater pilot won't light, but if I hold the flame in there long enough to heat the thermocouple, the main burner will light and burn... so the burner is good, the thermocouple is good, and the valve is good (at least on the main burner portion).
Your thoughts?
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10-16-2007, 08:50 AM
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#2
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The Painted Pig
1979 Argosy Minuet 7.3 Metre
Hailey
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 337
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Mine will not light...unless I turn on a stovetop burner and let the gas flow through that for a minute. Then, I struggle but it lights eventually.
Have you tried that yet?
Scott
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10-16-2007, 08:51 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Steve,
Sounds like the spacing between the pilot and the t/couple might be too large. Check your manual for the exact gap, but they usually are at 1/8". If the pilot is not providing enough heat for the t/couple to maintain the pilot, you might have a partial blockage in the gas burner tube also, or a partially defective gas valve.
Have you been holding the valve down after lighting the pilot for at least 30 seconds to allow for proper t/couple heating?
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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10-16-2007, 10:18 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Thanks for y'alls input, but please read the symtoms again....the pilot light will not light. The main burner works OK after I hold the propane match on the thermocouple long enough for it to heat up, but the pilot light never lights.
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10-16-2007, 04:30 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Thanks for y'alls input, but please read the symtoms again....the pilot light will not light. The main burner works OK after I hold the propane match on the thermocouple long enough for it to heat up, but the pilot light never lights.
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Sorry Steve,
I thought that the pilot would not stay lit. I would then check the gas valve, and disconnect the pilot LP feed tube from the valve and burner head and blow it out with a heavy shot of compressed air. It might be blocked, thus not allowing the LP to flow from the valve to thru the tube to be ignited. If it still wont work, I would then replace the pilot tube AND the gas valve, as the pioot function on the control knob may not be functioning, and the gas valves are not field serviceable.
Hope this helps!
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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10-16-2007, 05:55 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1964 17' Bambi II
Vintage Kin Owner
Schererville
, Indiana
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,637
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When I replaced my thermocouple it wouldn't stay lit either. Andy from Inland told me to tighten it "really hard". That was the problem. Not in tight enough (and I thought I tightened it hard enough the first time). I'd try that before anything. It was an easy fix!
__________________
Becky
1964 Bambi II
1988 Avion 32S
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10-16-2007, 06:01 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1964 17' Bambi II
Vintage Kin Owner
Schererville
, Indiana
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,637
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Sorry, read your post wrong----whatever Lew says, that's the ticket!
__________________
Becky
1964 Bambi II
1988 Avion 32S
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10-16-2007, 06:11 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lewster
Sorry Steve,
I thought that the pilot would not stay lit. I would then check the gas valve, and disconnect the pilot LP feed tube from the valve and burner head and blow it out with a heavy shot of compressed air. It might be blocked, thus not allowing the LP to flow from the valve to thru the tube to be ignited. If it still wont work, I would then replace the pilot tube AND the gas valve, as the pioot function on the control knob may not be functioning, and the gas valves are not field serviceable.
Hope this helps!
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Thanks Lew, I'll disassemble it tomorrow and see if there is an obstuction. If not, I guess it will be a trip to the RV store for parts.
Steve
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10-19-2007, 12:41 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Just an Update
Lew,
You were right...the pilot light feed tube orifice was choked up. When I took it off, I couldn't even see the orifice it was so small, and maybe because it was choked up with whatever. I blew it out, reverse flow, and then I could see the tiny orifice and could even blow thru it with my mouth and feel a small flow.
Result is, it works fine now. Thanks again for your help.
Steve
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10-19-2007, 12:51 PM
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#10
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,617
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Lew's the man!
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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10-19-2007, 06:50 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Naples
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,508
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Awe shucks............. Thanks gang!
__________________
lewster
Solar Tech Energy Systems, Inc.
Victron Solar Components and Inverters, Zamp Solar Panels, LiFeBlue and Battle Born Lithium Batteries, Lifeline AGM Batteries
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10-20-2007, 06:50 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1970 27' Overlander
Espanola
, Full Timer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,753
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glad he got that fixed, also everybody keep an eye out for cob-web accumulation that can plug pipes and outlets too...
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