Refrigerator burner won't stay lit

Chris Bryant wrote:
First try unscrewing the thermocouple from the safety valve and lightly clean the end with a pencil eraser, screw it back in snug plus 1/4 turn.
You will have to buy a Dometic thermocouple if it is bad, as the threads are metric, but in 25 years, I have replaced maybe two of the old style- they are really reliable.

A 1984 will likely be an RM2600 or 2800- I do have most manuals at http://bryantrv.com/docs.html, but the one for yours will probably be this one.

I removed the thermocouple and burner tube. Burner tube had a lot of rust sediment inside. Cleaned it out with some denatured alcohol. Used the suggestion to clean the end of the thermocouple that sits above the flame with a pencil eraser. The other end had some yellow stuff inside the threaded piece that connects to the gas button. I cleaned that **** out. Put everything back in and wallah. At first, I couldn't get a flame at all. Prior to removing the thermocouple and burner tube, I could get a flame but it went out when I released the button. It seemed like the selector nob that allows you to turn from off to gas to electric was not turning the mechanism when turned. So I kept the gas button pressed, and turned that back of the selector nob with a a screwdriver from behind the fridge while lighting the flame and it worked! Now maybe I should start investigating why it doest work on. I wonder if the selector nob was my problem all along. But I don't think so bc I wouldn't have been able to get a flame at all if the selector was not turned to"gas", right? Thanks for the helpful advice. Now I need to investigate why it doesn't work on electricity.

First try unscrewing the thermocouple from the safety valve and lightly clean the end with a pencil eraser, screw it back in snug plus 1/4 turn.
You will have to buy a Dometic thermocouple if it is bad, as the threads are metric, but in 25 years, I have replaced maybe two of the old style- they are really reliable.

A 1984 will likely be an RM2600 or 2800- I do have most manuals at http://bryantrv.com/docs.html, but the one for yours will probably be this one.

"wedging a curtain rod between the gas button and a cabinet in order to keep the flame lit, is that dangerous?"

Oh my God is that dangerous!! Absolutely NEVER try that. Your odds of dying go through the roof. That safety feature is there for a very good reason.

Sometimes you can get lucky and take a scotch brite pad or emery paper to the thermocouple and clean the soot off it.

Try checking the thermocouple first then backtrack to the gas valve.

lifeinthesnaillane wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Thermocouple has to get HOT

When it gets HOT it signals that a flame is lit

That signal holds magnet up in safety valve allowing gas flow


What Brand/Model of fridge?

Sounds like a early Dometic (RM77 or earlier)???

Early Dometic Service Manual

Pg. 35 of interest

Wow thanks for the manual and page number. I'm not sure of the model #. I'm in mcdonalds using wifi. I'll check when i leave. Hopefully camping world has the thermocouple. I'm on the road in Utah. If I keep the button pressed by wedging a curtain rod between the gas button and a cabinet in order to keep the flame lit, is that dangerous?

It may or may not be thermocouple......could also be safety valve (magnet)

Yes it is dangerous to override the safety valve......if flame should go out propane will continue to flow and could fill camper BOOM!


IF.big IF
It is an early Dometic RM Model then your regular thermocouple will NOT work.........

Check with Dometic first for correct part number
You can order parts for your Dometic RV product(s) directly by calling the retail sales department at 1-800-544-4881. Please be sure to have your model number available so the correct parts list can be obtained.

Then Check with PPL RV Parts On-line catalog for parts
CLICK


Good luck

DON'T TRY TO DEFEAT A SAFETY MECHANISM! IT'S THERE FOR A REASON.

You can buy a thermocouple in any good hardware store - try Ace Hdw. No need to go to CW for one of them.

You can take the old one along to compare but there aren't that many different styles and some replacement are supposedly universal.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Thermocouple has to get HOT

When it gets HOT it signals that a flame is lit

That signal holds magnet up in safety valve allowing gas flow


What Brand/Model of fridge?

Sounds like a early Dometic (RM77 or earlier)???

Early Dometic Service Manual

Pg. 35 of interest

Wow thanks for the manual and page number. I'm not sure of the model #. I'm in mcdonalds using wifi. I'll check when i leave. Hopefully camping world has the thermocouple. I'm on the road in Utah. If I keep the button pressed by wedging a curtain rod between the gas button and a cabinet in order to keep the flame lit, is that dangerous?

Thermocouple has to get HOT

When it gets HOT it signals that a flame is lit

That signal holds magnet up in safety valve allowing gas flow


What Brand/Model of fridge?

Sounds like a early Dometic (RM77 or earlier)???

Early Dometic Service Manual

Pg. 35 of interest

Sounds like the thermocouple had bit the dust..