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Forum
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RE: Water heater won't light.
Last season, sliding the thermostat lever back and forth a bit got it going. No such luck this time.
This makes it sound like a bad thermostat to me. When it was failing, moving the lever back and forth would occasionally make it operate and turn on the flame. But at this point it may be too far gone and even that doesn't help. Sounds to me like a new thermostat might be in your future...
A new thermostat MAY be the cure.
I dug out my gas fitter's reference book, with flowcharts for troubleshooting, and had a quick look to see what it had to say.
Three things are listed for no hot water because the main burner is inoperative, starting with a plugged orifice,then defective gas valve (this one I covered in a previous post), and last, low inlet gas pressure (probably unlikely).
With reference to thermostats, check for loose or broken wires.
I would start by checking for a plugged orifice or burner tube (spiders/mud daubers etc.)then look for loose wires on the thermostat, or possibly corroded terminals on the gas valve itself.If none of this works,you should get professional help.
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CRAMD
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05/24/12 11:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water heater won't light.
I returned the 18" thermocouple to the dealer unopened. CRAMD seems to have the best answer here so far. Unfortunately, I still haven't gotten the main burner to fire. Last season, sliding the thermostat lever back and forth a bit got it going. No such luck this time. Assuming I can locate an exact replacement,is replacing the controller/valve a reasonable DIY project?
Replacing a gas valve is not a big project,provided you know what you are doing,such as having the proper tools, knowing how tight you can turn a pipe nipple/fitting in to the valve without either being too loose, or worse, running it in too far and splitting something, making sure you have a replacement valve suitable for the unit it is going on etc..
The other thing to consider, is will you be able to purchase a valve; for domestic plumbing of gas appliances,many supply places will not sell replacement parts to anyone but a licensed plumber. Just a few things to consider.
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CRAMD
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05/24/12 10:59pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water heater won't light.
On my old 75 Champion (Hunt Camp) it has the old style manual rotating button for OFF-ON-PILOT.
If the pilot stays lit and BURNER DOES NOT COME ON IT IS THE THEROCOUPLE ! The thermocouple generates it's own electric charge to open the gas valve. Change the thermocouple. It only costs a few bucks. I'm positve it will work.
As I said in a previous posting, the thermocouple on a manual pilot,such as the O.P's, and yours, is a safety for the pilot only.Yes,it generates it's own current, but this serves only to keep the internal valve open for the pilot gas,i.e.,the pilot goes out, thermocouple stops generating current,magnetic pilot valve closes,pilot gas no longer flows.This is why the valve for the pilot gas must be held in until the pilot flame will stay lit on its own;holding the button down bypasses the safety feature on the pilot.
The thermostat is what causes the main burner valve to open, and causes it to close again, when heat from the main burner is no longer required.
How do I know this for sure?? I worked for a natural gas utility for 36 years, and have had training in the maintenance and trouble shooting of gas fired appliances.
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CRAMD
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05/23/12 08:16pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water heater won't light.
Glad I came back here. Found 18" thermocouple--way too long. Got too late Saturday to exchange. If your confident that the thermocouple is not the issue, I will return it and seek professional help. As for good news, the plumber finished up in the house--had hot shower by Saturday night! New 3/4" PEX lines feeding whole house. Just got washer and dryer both fired up for the first time since I moved into my "Little Cabin In The Woods" here in Faucett back in October. Life is good!!
When replacing a thermocouple,it is always best to replace the old one with one of the same length. Longer is not better,but will probably work alright in a pinch.
If your manual pilot is staying lit, the thermocouple is functioning correctly.
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CRAMD
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05/20/12 11:17pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Water heater won't light.
Is the thermocouple working? If not it won't let the burner have fuel. i'm gonna try blowing everything out. if that doesn't work, thermocouple is next attempt. Should that be easily found at RV dealer parts counter?
In the original poster's case, the thermocouple has nothing to do with whether or not the main burner will light. He says he has a manual pilot, in which case, the thermocouple is a safety for the pilot only.
There is some kind of problem with the main burner itself,or possibly the gas valve.In some cases, the main burner valve can stick, and giving the main burner control a rap with a screwdriver handle may free it up temporarily. Try this, and if the main burner lights, take the trailer to a service department, and get the burner control replaced.
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CRAMD
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05/19/12 06:04pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: pulling with a 5th wheel
Towing really. We just got the Cyclone on Friday and did the drive home on Saturday and Sunday.
We were told to turn on the "towing" mode which I think turns OFF the overdrive? On small streets and once we are going, on a highway, to turn the towing mode off to "normal".
I was in overdrive going 60 MPH but on the backroads. DH turned the towing button on and I felt like we were on very high revs that we didn't need. When we stopped I felt like the engine was 'hot' and I personally didn't want to be in that mode unless NEEDED.
Its all new to me so I'm not sure what we are doing. At all.
No,tow/haul has NO effect on your overdrive whatsoever. All it does is change the RPM at which the transmission shifts to a somewhat higher level in each gear.
As long as your gear selector is in Drive, it will shift as necessary, and once it shifts out of fourth gear,you are then in overdrive in both fifth and sixth gear.
As far as your engine being 'hot' when towing with tow/haul engaged,it is not, unless something is drastically wrong with your truck.If your truck was actually over heating you would know it, as your driver information center would display a message to that effect.
I use tow/haul whenever I have my fifth wheel hooked to the truck, and leave it there, whether on city streets, or on the highway.
The best thing for you to do for your own peace of mind, is get out the owner's manual for your truck, and go through the towing section carefully. It will explain what you need to know.
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CRAMD
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05/07/12 04:44pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Using Helium in a fifth wheel.
But my issue with this 5th wheel. If you were to spring a leak, wonder if it would do like the Blimp? Burn baby burn.
Pete
Do a little research Pete. The "blimp" you are referring to was filled with hydrogen gas,which of course is very flammable. Helium isn't.
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CRAMD
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04/23/12 10:39pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Front Of Fifth Wheel Very High While Driving
It's in the wheels, from fifteen inches to twenty inches.
Not necessarily.
Park a Ford beside a GM or Chev of the same model year,with the same size tires and wheels (EG. both on 16" tires), and the Ford will sit higher. Probably true with Dodge as well.
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CRAMD
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04/23/12 10:26pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Durango 2500 sewer connection question
I have one grey tank gauge (out of two) that always reads 3/4 full. Since there is (theoretically) no paper material going into the grey tanks, any ideas what could be causing this? We are newbies and just figuring things out. Its an 07 Jayco Designer 36RLTS. Thanks!
Tank gauges are notorious for not reading correctly, so take the reading you see with a grain or two of salt until you have used the trailer long enough to have a good idea when they should be getting full.
My black tank sensor reads full long before I think it should, but since I can't open the trap on the toilet, and look into the tank to see one way or the other (fifth wheel with an elbow in the line, so no direct line of sight in to the tank), I just make sure to dump it every couple of days.
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CRAMD
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04/23/12 10:06pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How Many Fan-tastic/Maxxair Fans in 30 Foot 5th Wheel?
We have a 31' fiver with three of these fans.
One over the bed, with a thermostat in it; that one also reverses, if desired, one by the shower, and one in the toilet compartment.
The one over the bed doesn't get used much, but the one near the shower is used lots;also the one in the toilet compartment (for obvious reasons:B).
If we want to get rid of some of the odors from cooking (especially the propane odor when the largest stove burner first lights),or cool down the living area, we open the window over the kitchen sink, and use the shower fan on low speed.Higher speeds are seldom needed, as these fans move a lot of air on low speed.
There is also another vent in the living area, but it is almost never opened, and has no fan at all.
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CRAMD
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07/27/11 05:14pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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