Lighting a 1962 Dometic Gas Refrigerator

[smcpheters]

I just bought a 1962 Airstream Flying Cloud. It has a Dometic Gas Refrigerator. I got it to light this weekend. I set it at the maximum temperature and in a couple hours it got down to freezing in the chilling compartment. Then it went out.

I don't think I understand the lighting proceedure.

1. I turn the gas on
2. I press and hold the red button in and wait a few seconds
3. I touch a flame to the end of the pipe that goes back to the burner.
4. At this point a flame appears at the burner. Looks large to me.
5. I wait for the burner to light.
6. I let go of the red button and pull it out.
7. I set the temperature to the desired number.

Is my mistake pulling out the red button? The "pilot light" looks larger than the burner flame. Both are blue. The pilot looks orange on the top, not much though.

[Ganglin]

Do you know what the model number of the unit is....?

[bigeasy63]

I am at about the same stage as you...so I am by no means an expert, but you might try the Vintage Airstream site (airstream.net, I think). I found an excellent diagram of the Dometic and they also give several troubleshooting solutions. When you get there go to the vintage library then go to the 1965 Caravel owners manual. Its 25 or so pages in. It is a slightly newer system as it has a flint lighter, but the mechanics should still be the same.

Good luck and check out my post on AS comedy club for a laugh regarding this topic.

[bigeasy63]

They also explain how to adjust the air intake which may explain the orangeish flame.

[smcpheters]

Hi all,
I found a manual online for this reefer. It may already be posted on the forums, but here is the link, http://www.bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/M52.pdf. It is a service manual and very informative.

Steve