Our Kenmore gas oven (about 10 years old) has been converted to run on propane. It has worked in past years but we're having problems now. First, the oven wouldn't light at all. We had someone look at it. The thermocouple and safety valve were defected. Since we live in the boonies and didn't want to sink $200 into new parts, we asked the guy to just bypass these parts. So, now the oven comes on and can use the broiler for a short time. However, after a time the oven turns itself off (pilot remains lit) and refuses to come back on even if we let it cool off for awhile. Do you have any thoughts?
Many thanks,
Louie

 

Hello Louie. Welcome to my Gas Appliances topic.

HUMMMMM. Difficult to determine an exact or likely cause. Not sure what was done, so I would have to take a guess. No safety gas valve??? Or gas control there physically but blocked open?....

If gas control is physically there and blocked open, possible the thermostat over heats or has been over heated in the past and the internal bellows are now damaged.

All out of thoughts. Unable to help more. Cannot determine what was done in the past. Sorry.

 

Yes, the safety valve and thermocouple were bypassed somehow so that we have ultimate duty of operating safety. So, now the question is how to get around the thermostat. We've looked at the tube and bellows. All appears okay. The oven is clean as a whistle as are all the components. Is it possible to remove the thermostat and just use a thermometer in the oven to control the temperature? I know it's a pain, but we don't use the oven all that much. That is probably why it doesn't work well anyhow...

Thank you for your help. Let us know if it's just a matter of cutting off the thermostat tube.

Louie

 

Hello: Louie

Cannot cut off the sensing element tube or remove the thermostat. The oven will than have zero temp control and burn everything and anything put in the oven. May as well use an outdoor BBQ outside the house. Which would even be far better than any oven without any temp control.

I simply do not have any answer to provide you with. The existing oven is so far out of specs I have no idea where to begin nor what advice to offer. As a professional I cannot provide any further info on an appliance which has been jerry rigged and has safety devices which have been bypassed.

Your safety is at risk and I cannot be part of making that safety risk worse than it already is. Hire a professional or replace the appliance. Hope you understand.

Regards and Good Luck
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