RE: [VAL] Thermocouple

["Eddie Huffstetter" <eddiehuffstetter@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The doctor is right.

The flame cannot be pulled away from the thermal couple or it will cool 
dropping the feed solenoid. What changed it from working to not? Dirt, 
debris, corrosion! Orifice cake or trash will cause a jet effect. A gummed 
up regulator will overfeed and also cause a jet effect. Wasp, dirt dabbers, 
and spider webs cause a jetting effect. The air mixer draws in everything. 
But the various tubes and metals get old and flake too. Gently clean it all 
up, blow it all out to remove the loose stuff, and it's going to work again. 
Grease old and new electrical connections to stop moisture, prevent 
corrosion, and promote conductivity, especially the millovolt connection 
that has too little flow to push thru the whitish corrosion film.

Clean it up, make sure the flame stays on the thermal couple, adjust the air 
feed, not beyond the best blue flame, and like the Dr. said, any generic 
thermal couple from a hardware store will work, even if you have to wrap a 
fine wire to place it along side the old thermal couple tied on in tandem.

It worked before, it will work again without major expense or intense labor. 
Just don't try disassembling that old controller from the tank. It's all 
going to crumble etc., and the nightmares begins.

-Eddie-