RE: [VAL] Re: VAL Digest V2 #210

["David Tidmore" <dtidmore@xxxxxxx>]

Make sure that the pilot light has not rusted closed.  Water vapor is a
byproduct of burning propane/butane and over time that can cause rust to
form.  I would remove the pilot light tube and assembly and clean it out
with a fine wire.  If it is rusted completely shut, you may have to use a
small drill bit, twisted by hand, to open it.  The rust should only be at
the very end.  Once you can blow air thru the tube (still removed), then
replace it and see if it will light.  Understand that the thermocouple only
keeps the gas to the pilot supplied once the pilot flame is present.  The
thermocouple has nothing to do with the actual lighting of the pilot (that
is why you have to hold in the knob while lighting the pilot...you are
mechanically opening the gas supply to the pilot).  There is a chance that
the gas valve itself is the culprit, but unlikely.  

david