I have a 1985 Rockwood class C with an oven that looks like it may have never been used. It's likely, considering it only had 47k miles on it when I bought it, and the interior of the coach shows little wear.The instruction manual for the oven/range says to light the burner (right rear) and let it burn for 2 minutes, then light the pilot in the oven. I did that. It doesn't say to let the pilot stay lit for a while before turning the knob to a certain temperature, but I've tried both ways. The tube never catches flame. It also doesn't say to leave right rear burner turned on after oven pilot is lit. I turn it off.I have a feeling something needs a minor adjustment but right now, I have my left arm in a splint. Just had a wrist fracture operated on. No, this oven thing isn't urgent, but I'd like to use the oven if I can.Thanks for any info coming my way. :)

Is the valve at the propane tank open and tank filled?

Tank has lots of propane in it. If stove is getting gas, wouldn't oven also be getting gas?

If the pilot is lit, then turning the knob to desired temp should light the oven, it may take a minute or 2. I have no idea what the back burner has to do with it, unless it's just to ensure that air is out of the line.

There are (quite a few) differences in the details of how these ovens work. My understanding is:The Pilot is controlled by the Oven Thermostat (where the Temperature Knob is)The Pilot does NOT have a "safety" on it (such as an expansion bulb) to shut the gas off if Pilot goes outSetting Oven Thermostat OFF of Pilot and ON to a Temperature (getting ready to bake) causes the Pilot Flame to Flare Up to a noticeably bigger (therefore hotter) flameThis hotter Pilot Flame heats an Expansion Bulb in the Safety Valve (down inside the oven on the back wall) and the Safety is what turns the Gas on for the Oven BurnerThis means that either Valve (Oven Thermostat ***OR*** Safety Valve) could be bad if the Oven won't light, even if Pilot IS lit.Can you post Make/Model of the Range?In the meanwhile, look at the Pilot Flame when the Oven Thermostat is set to Pilot. See what it looks like. Then, select a baking temperature on the Thermostat Knob. Look again at the Pilot Flame. Let us know if it got bigger.

If the pilot light stays on but the oven won't light there may be an issue with the thermocouple (that little pencil type tube that's in the flame when the pilot light is lit). You may need to replace it. The oven won't fire up if the thermocouple is faulty. It's a safety feature that shuts off the gas if the flame goes out.

Oven won't light but pilot will. | Good Sam Community

turbojimmy
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
j-d wrote:
turbojimmy wrote:
The gas valves go bad on them and there is no replacement available.

True but maybe not quite. Chris Bryant posted a link to a company that rebuilds the old-style Thermostats and Oven Valves. Maybe he'll jump in with it. I may have it bookmarked somewhere but can't look right now.

We had an '84 Magic Chef 4-burner and I ended up replacing both valves. At the time, around 1999, they were still available around $100 each. I imagine only one was bad and I bought the wrong one first, replacing a good one.

Sounds like a good option. Mine might have been a Magic Chef since my microwave is Magic Chef, but I'm reasonably sure it was an Atwood. Either way, if someone is rebuilding the valves that could be the way to go. I'm really liking the new 3-burner over the 4-burner unit but to each his own!
wrybread
Explorer
Oct 05, 2016
I had this happen in a friend's old rig recently. Turned out the issue was a faulty propane regulator. When they fail they fail safe, so the oven wasn't getting enough pressure to kick on.
Cheryl_B
Explorer
Dec 19, 2016
Hi, folks. Been a long time since I started this thread. I've left CT, made it to IN to see family, drove down through KY, TN, NC and GA and am now spending the winter in Brunswick. I feel comfy cozy down here. Thankful to make it in one piece, since my GPS took me over "the tail of the dragon."

I tried the oven again today (not a big priority for me at all) and the same thing happened. Pilot lights (but not eagerly) and then nothing else happens. I'll go and find the paperwork for it and post more details. I swear, it doesn't look like anyone has ever cooked a thing in that oven. I'll post pics if I can, too.

It's so hard for me to see in there. My eyes aren't what they used to be. Hard to see details like that. Anyway, I'll try. I really would like to use the oven sometimes. And I'm sure it's just something that needs tweaked, not replaced.

Merry Christmas!
j-d
Explorer II
Dec 19, 2016
I asked before, about the size of the pilot flame. If you light it with the knob to Pilot, it'll be hard to light and will produce a very small flame. If you then turn the knob to a baking temp setting, say 300, the pilot flame should flare up to a noticeably larger flame. Is it doing that?

Wish I'd known you were in Brunswick, just drove past on the way to/from Savannah this past week.

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Oven won't light but pilot will.

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