Pilot in Atwood stove hard to light

First it takes a FULL MINUTE for the sensor to register the thing is lit, YOu must hold the dial depressed during that time.

I usually use a propane torch as a match.

stickdog wrote:
Is the thermocouple directly over the pilot flame. I always heat the thermocouple with the flame of the bar-b-que lighter and then turn up the oven to get the gas to the burner. Ours is 13 years old and gets used at least once a week.
As far as thermocouples go they either work or they don't.

Not sure, I'll check.

dougrainer wrote:
Take the Oven tstat knob off. Insert a small piece of paper inside the "D" shapped hole in the knob. This will cause the knob to NOT fully be inserted into the tstat metal shaft. The usual problem is, when you push the knob IN to light the pilot, you cannot get it fully pushed IN to allow the pilot gas flow. By shimming the knob you get the shaft to fully push IN and the gas flows. VERY common problem and easy fix. Doug

Good info, thanks. I recall reading a while back a guy did the same thing but he used a small piece of aluminum foil to accomplish the same thing.

Is the thermocouple directly over the pilot flame. I always heat the thermocouple with the flame of the bar-b-que lighter and then turn up the oven to get the gas to the burner. Ours is 13 years old and gets used at least once a week.
As far as thermocouples go they either work or they don't.

Take the Oven tstat knob off. Insert a small piece of paper inside the "D" shapped hole in the knob. This will cause the knob to NOT fully be inserted into the tstat metal shaft. The usual problem is, when you push the knob IN to light the pilot, you cannot get it fully pushed IN to allow the pilot gas flow. By shimming the knob you get the shaft to fully push IN and the gas flows. VERY common problem and easy fix. Doug

SoundGuy wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
I've got the typical 3 burner Atwood stove, about 3 years old, and the last few times we've had the trailer out, the pilot in the stove has been hard to light, taking forever. I eventually get it lit, but does anyone know why it would be so hard to light recently?

Being only 3 yrs old I would have thought your 3 stove burners would be spark ignition, with the just the oven below having a pilot. Perhaps you can clarify exactly what it is you're having difficulty with. :h

Yes, the 3 burners are spark ignition and work fine. The issue is the pilot inside the oven. Sorry, I did not explain clearly.

Ron3rd wrote:
I've got the typical 3 burner Atwood stove, about 3 years old, and the last few times we've had the trailer out, the pilot in the stove has been hard to light, taking forever. I eventually get it lit, but does anyone know why it would be so hard to light recently?

Being only 3 yrs old I would have thought your 3 stove burners would be spark ignition, with the just the oven below having a pilot. Perhaps you can clarify exactly what it is you're having difficulty with. :h

darsben1 wrote:
Do not know why it is hard to light, but if you light off a burner first before trying to light the pilot is that easier?

Do you mean one of the top burners, or the burner in the stove?

Do not know why it is hard to light, but if you light off a burner first before trying to light the pilot is that easier?