Thermocouple for Tappan Stove?

[buffalobill]

does the broiler work to broil a steak? the broiler may light and stay on 100% as opposed to the oven cycling burner on/off.

it may be the thermocouple but if the assembly is damaged it's not cost effective to replace the entire oven gas valve with thermocouple.

some years ago in the 1970's we had a visitor once to one of our apartments helpfully turn on an old gas oven which had no pilot light but required manual lighting. the oven filled with gas, the tenant herself smelled gas and belatedly lit the oven, the gas exploded and promptly singed all her facial hair and sunburned her face. the visitor said "oh, i thought it was supposed to light itself". they cancelled their plans for cooking a frozen pizza that night. there was no fire, everyone survived and recovered.

this is the time to also consider the 2.0 cubic foot microwave big enough to cook a turkey.

consider a safer alternative replacement gas stove with electronic ignition that will pay for itself in savings on the gas wasted on pilot lights.

if you are still inclined to waste time fixing a potentially lethal appliance, there is a brilliant genius at the other end of this site which is packed with free repair tips and pay manuals and pay parts:

note particularly his rule for the half-life of your stove.

on top for your top burners: soak the top burners and clean out the pinhole that points toward the pilot light. remove and clean the spiderwebs or food out of the tube that leads from the flame to the burner.

[James R. Lunsford]

We've got an old Tappan, Wilcolator stove that we purchased from our landlord for $25, good deal as we didn't have one when we moved to our new place.

The top of the stove works fine, although even though the pilot lights are lit, we still have to use a lighter to light the burners, but it cooks well, does the job.

Problem is, the oven won't light. Pilot light comes on, landlord told us that we need to let the thermocouple warm up, but even after holding the "red button" in for 5 minutes as soon as you let it go, the pilot light goes out.

I'm pretty sure that I'll need to replace the thermocouple, but I can't find one on the 'net anywhere. The model number is cs2888 lot 8, but I can't find that model listed on any of the Tappan parts websites that I've found, and a search of Google turned up nothing. The stove is an older model, I'd guesstimate late 60's or so.

Any advice would be appreciated. *DOES* it sound like it's the thermocouple? *IS* there a way to find this part somewhere? HELP!

TIA

[Larry]

James R. Lunsford wrote: : We've got an old Tappan, Wilcolator stove that we purchased from our : landlord for $25, good deal as we didn't have one when we moved to : our new place. : : The top of the stove works fine, although even though the pilot : lights are lit, we still have to use a lighter to light the burners, : but it cooks well, does the job. : : Problem is, the oven won't light. Pilot light comes on, landlord : told us that we need to let the thermocouple warm up, but even after : holding the "red button" in for 5 minutes as soon as you let it go, : the pilot light goes out. : : I'm pretty sure that I'll need to replace the thermocouple, but I : can't find one on the 'net anywhere. The model number is cs2888 lot : 8, but I can't find that model listed on any of the Tappan parts : websites that I've found, and a search of Google turned up nothing. : The stove is an older model, I'd guesstimate late 60's or so. : : Any advice would be appreciated. *DOES* it sound like it's the : thermocouple? *IS* there a way to find this part somewhere? HELP! : : TIA

Hi James,

It is likely the thermocouple.

Try here:

Cheers, Larry Australia