Gas water heater won't ignite

[BOWHUNTER74]

I have a 1969 overlander and i can get the pilot to light but nothing else happens. All stove burners work just fine. The pilot will stay lit but that is it. There is no adjustable knobs, it has an electrical start, but it doesn't work i have to light it manually. Any suggestions on where to start looking or checking first?

[Ahzmyrah]

The problem with your water heater could be something as simple as a bad thermocouple. Which is the piece that sits in the pilot flame and heats up to send a signal to the main burner that the pilot is lit. Get the name and model number of the heater and go to the website of the manufacturer for a part number. It is a pretty simple thing to remove and install. If the heater has been replaced with a modern electric start model that turns off and on with a switch you may have a problem with the circuit board.

[tcrum]

I had a problem with my h20 as well. It has electronic ingition, when i turned the switch on it would click and only light sometimes. I replaced the probe and it works great.

[easyride]

If the thermocouple is shot the,the pilot will not stay lit. Dave

[TG Twinkie]

Try loosening the nut where the thermocouple goes into the gas valve, remove the thermocouple line from the gas valve and clean the end of it, then push on the tube as you reinstall it in the valve and tighten the nut. There is a very small electrical current invloved with thermocouples, therefore any oxidation can have an effect.
Another question. Did you say there is no knob to adjust the water temperature setting? There must be, maybe the knob is missing. If the thermostat for the water temp is satisfied or malfunctioning it would not be calling for heat and therefore the main burner won't come on.

[TG Twinkie]

Another thought. Your temp control could be on the circuit board and it may be bad, the board I mean. If you have a circuit board.

[BOWHUNTER74]

I think it may have a circut board im going to try to post pics

[BOWHUNTER74]

HERE IS ONE OF THE PICS IF IT WORKS.


HEATER2.jpg

[BOWHUNTER74]

AND THIS ONE

http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...1&d=1271434966

[Minno]

STOP TRYING TO LIGHT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take a look at the first picture. The tube that should go from the silver gas valve to the burner is missing. It's laying on the floor of the water heater opening. It looks like the buner pipe is pretty well rusted, which may explain why it fell off. Anyway, that rusty pipe with the slots in it all the way around should mount between the gas valve and the burner pipe. It's the air adjustment for controlling the amount of air that gets mixed with the gas before getting to the burner. Right now, if the gas vlave were to open to fire the burner, the gas would not be inside the tube, and you are risking a pretty big flame-up or explosion.

Chris

[Minno]

I wasn't sure I could download and then upload the pic. Area inside the red box is what I'm talking about.

Chris

[Aage]

Good catch, Minno. I was looking at it and wondering what brand it was 'cause it sure didn't look like mine.

No wonder!

[TG Twinkie]

Looks like you should install a new water heater. From the picture a 6 gallon Atwood would fit right in. Here is a pic of mine.

[BOWHUNTER74]

Ya, i took the tube off to check to see if it was clogged. It wouldn't light with the tube on. I guess i'll just change it out with another water heater that i have. Thanks for the help!