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Tue Oct 02, 2012 12:44 pm

Hey Guys.. Help I'm stumped.. My fridge won't light on Propane.
Gots a Full Tank, and stove lights fine. Fridge gets nice and cold on AC, just can't get her lite on Propane. Trust me I tried all the tricks.

I pulled the fridge thinking it was some Rust Dust in the fire chamber as found over the pass years maintence etc. But this wasn't the problem this time.

I put the Fridge up on the bench and hooked up an external Propane from the BBQ grill. I've always had good luck testing it over the years this way, but this time No Luck..
Got good spark, but don't smell any Propane....

It seems that I'm not getting Gas to the pilot. Thinking it's not getting pass the dial thermostat whats-up with That?

Any idea's or suggestions :?:
.

Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:21 pm

It could be a bad thermocouple--shuts itself off because it thinks the burner's not lit. I've heard of people replacing those with general-issue ones from a hardware store.

Make sure your seals are all tight, air getting in can play hob with that vital little flame.

Good luck!

Best!

Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:03 pm

Its not your thermocouple as that is bypassed manually in the lighting phase.
Sounds like an obstruction, could be anywhere. Disassemble gas lines one at a time, clean then check out thermostat body ect. clean and blow out with air. At each step of this procedure check to see if you have gas. (smell)
Check jet, clean with alcohol. Check burner tube for spiderweb ect.

Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:58 am

OK.. This is Strange..

Removed Fridge and have it on the Bench. Gets real cool on AC.. But when I try to fire the Propane I can't get it lit...

Throughly cleaned both intake and Exhaust pipes.
Cleaned Fire Box.
Cleaned Propane Jet and burner Tube in Alcohol

Nothing.. It seems like it wants to light but all I'm getting is a Puff / Pop sound out of the Exhaust Pipe and seems like it's extingushing it's self.

Any Ideas?

Swapped out the following with items from a Known Good Fridge from a Parts Van.

Propane Jet
Propane Fire Tube
Thermo Cupler
Ignighter

If I listen in the exhaust Pipe, I can hear a slight sound of Propane flowing, but when I try to ignight it I just get a Pop sound.

All with the Same Results.. NUTTEN just a Puff...
Whats Zup with this thing?

Ideas :idea: :?: :idea: :?:

Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:05 pm

Well...... part of what you say is good news. The "puff" you mention is blowing itself out due to an improper gas to oxy ratio. Good news is that means there is gas and air at the burner box. Are you holding the thermocouple valve in too long before actuating the piezzo? If so you are flooding the sytem with too much gas, big combustion eliminating available oxygen=no flame. I would suggest that you remove the bottom of the burner box and try lighting the pilot with a mach. Also take this time to check you spark electrode to burner, it should be robust and blue. If all is clean as you stated you will get a flame.
Propane, oxygen, ignition = flame

Wed Oct 03, 2012 5:17 pm

DLJ wrote: Well...... part of what you say is good news. The "puff" you mention is blowing itself out due to an improper gas to oxy ratio. Good news is that means there is gas and air at the burner box. Are you holding the thermocouple valve in too long before actuating the piezzo? If so you are flooding the sytem with too much gas, big combustion eliminating available oxygen=no flame. I would suggest that you remove the bottom of the burner box and try lighting the pilot with a mach. Also take this time to check you spark electrode to burner, it should be robust and blue. If all is clean as you stated you will get a flame.
Propane, oxygen, ignition = flame

Think you were right.. I tried it a few more times not holding the thermocoupler in as long before I pressed the igniter and got it lit. Also found that the knob that turns on and off the gas valve, was cracked and sometimes not knowing to me it was slipping on the shutoff valve shaft.

Now to reinstall it and find out if I can use the fridge..

Thanks..