Atwood Oven: sometimes no gas at pilot
Hi all, maybe you have an idea. We have had our new camper since June of 2017. Until a short while ago, the oven has worked just fine. Set to Pilot, press valve knob, light pilot light. Now, about ...
Forum Discussion
Newer Atwoods the oven knob is pushed in to light pilot, the knob will have a "Pilot/push/hold" position written on it.
I can't offer suggestion on OPs question- unless its also a 'wait to purge air condition'. this may help in Atwood 2015 manual
Older Atwoods (pre 2004) knob is only pushed in to rotate to "Pilot" position but it is NOT required to hold pushed in to light pilot. The pushing in of knob is only a mechanical positioner, pushing knob in doesn't start gas flow. Once turned to "pilot" gas starts flowing.
However if gas bottle had just been opened (air in lines) it may take a while for the air in pilot tube to bleed out and pilot to light. (hence why some think they need to hold flame to thermocoupler, continue pushing knob when all that's really happening is waiting to air to purge). The thermocoupler does not control pilot gas flow on older Atwoods, it signals main valve once hot allowing main burner flow. Again this is on older Atwoods.
However and reason for post 'cause I just noted Erics comment, is if older Atwood with oven cold, pilot off and valve can be turned to heat and gas flows to main burner there is, In my opinion, a problem. That should not happen unless pilot on and themocoupler hot. Pilot flame is pretty small- there is a secondary and substantial increase of flow when knob turned past pilot (maybe what your describing?) but main burner flow should not be occurring.
I can't offer suggestion on OPs question- unless its also a 'wait to purge air condition'. this may help in Atwood 2015 manual
Older Atwoods (pre 2004) knob is only pushed in to rotate to "Pilot" position but it is NOT required to hold pushed in to light pilot. The pushing in of knob is only a mechanical positioner, pushing knob in doesn't start gas flow. Once turned to "pilot" gas starts flowing.
However if gas bottle had just been opened (air in lines) it may take a while for the air in pilot tube to bleed out and pilot to light. (hence why some think they need to hold flame to thermocoupler, continue pushing knob when all that's really happening is waiting to air to purge). The thermocoupler does not control pilot gas flow on older Atwoods, it signals main valve once hot allowing main burner flow. Again this is on older Atwoods.
However and reason for post 'cause I just noted Erics comment, is if older Atwood with oven cold, pilot off and valve can be turned to heat and gas flows to main burner there is, In my opinion, a problem. That should not happen unless pilot on and themocoupler hot. Pilot flame is pretty small- there is a secondary and substantial increase of flow when knob turned past pilot (maybe what your describing?) but main burner flow should not be occurring.
