Fan oven repair - false economy?

[Theo Markettos]

You could try the 'old banger' approach. If you have somewhere to store it, buy a second one on ebay (probably dirt cheap nowadays) and keep it handy to rob for parts when the time comes. This probably works less well for ovens (not much to go wrong and most likely to be the element each time) as it does for, say, washing machines (lots of parts).

This can come especially handy for builtin appliances, where the alternative is rebuilding the kitchen to match the cutouts of a replacement, which always seem to be in a different place.

Theo

[Clive George]

Ours was bought by my parents in about 1985. It's had at least one element, the fan sometimes sticks, the clocky bit died many years ago, I had to machine a new door switch pushy bit, the catch has been unhappy for a long time, there's a thermostat problem when it's off, the door seals may be suffering, but it's a really simple to use twin oven/grill

- one knob for each oven, one for the grill, no selecting which mode to use etc, so it's staying till something properly breaks.

[tabbypurr]

Unless you've got a fair reason for a new one I see no sense getting one. A nd nothing above comes anywhere near being such a reason.

If you want long lived reliable appliances, keep old ones rather than buy n ew. Old ones have proven their ability to last. I know someone that replace d her 1930s oven a couple of years ago. There was nothing wrong with it, a new one was just safer.

NT

[Adrian Brentnall]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't agree with the 'throwaway society' . "Three wheels on my wagon" & all that!

I think we'll have a bit of a dismantle after breakfast - just got to find my torx drivers!

[Adrian Brentnall]

Understand the principle - but I'm trying to _empty_ the shed! Also don't think it'd go down very well with SWMBO....

- in fact I KNOW it wouldn't go down very well - and I'd probably end us sleeping in said shed.

[Adrian Brentnall]

Agreed - it's out with the screwdrivers after breakfast!

[Ash Burton]

The oven thermostat often is the next to go.

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[damduck-egg]

Was that because of your own droopy element?

G.Harman

[Ash Burton]

Any proprietary brand of spray oven cleaner should remove gunge e.g Mr Muscle, it would be worth a try before repairing or replacing.

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[Adrian Brentnall]

Now that's a good thought - I'll pull the fan out and have a look. Thanks A

[dennis]

You need to be careful with those as you can't clean them off the elements very well and they cause corrosion which make the element fail prematurely. This is specially so in fan ovens where the element is behind a plate and you don't take the plate off to remove the cleaner.

[Adrian Brentnall]

Follow-up!

So far so good. Cooker out of housing, element removed, measured & photographed, photo sent to supplier to confirm that the item they suggested as an equivalent will fit OK.

While at it, gave the oven fan two tiny drops of 3-in-1, and (so far) it's spinning up every time, rather than waiting a few minutes (as before).

Replaced element for the time-being - cursing the designers who saw fit to secure it with a pair of M5 nuts on 1"-long studs (where's an M5 nutrunner when you want one?!)

So - with a bit of luck, we may be back in business for under 50 quid! And no pingfuckits, weird torx screws, or screws left over afterwards..

Adrian

[Andrew Gabriel]

Also, don't get them on stay-clean liners - take the liners out of the oven whilst using any cleaning products in it.

[Fredxxx]

For far less than than the cost of an element and fan motor, you could pick up a used oven from eBay that's in good condition, and only a couple of years old.

In built ovens and hobs don't go for much s/h.

[Adrian Brentnall]

Hmm - probably true - but wouldn't be a popular choice - not sure I want somebody else's 2nd-hand oven, and I'm sure that SWMBO doesn't.

Did have a quick look on eBay (Ireland, 'cos that's where we are) and couldn't see any ...

Waiting on a UK supplier who thinks that they might have an element to fit - fan motor 'repaired' with two drops of oil - we'll see if it stays repaired!

Thanks, A

[Richard]

Have you tried this supplier?

Had good service from them - no affiliation.

[ARW]

I think her implant might have more to do with it:-)

[Adrian Brentnall]

HI All

Just for those who come after....

The 'unobtainable' dual grill element from the Zanussi ZBQ 665n is in fact obtainable - or a very close equivalent.. contrary to what Zanussi / Electrolux said.

You can see it here

Big thanks to the people at elementman.co.uk who took the trouble to measure their 'spare' and check it against my old droopy element - and supplied it to us in West Cork, Ireland in double-quick time.

Only caveat - the original part had a hinged mounting arrangement that allowed the element to be dropped down an inch or so (presumably for cleaning) - whereas the new one has a fixed mounting instead. This means that the green/yellow striped earth 'jumper' cable is not required - and can be stored safely in that box in the shed full of 'things that will come in useful one day'. Sadly, the old element won't fit in the same box - so it may need to be thrown away (shock!).

Success! - and saved the price of a new cooker (pro tem).

Thanks for all the advice, folks.

[Stephen]

I've been looking at ovens but I am confused what is the different between a catalytic liner and a pyrolitic liner or are they different terms for the same thing?