The Vintage Airstream E-mail List

Archive Files


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[VAL] Re:water heater pilot assembly



> All,
> 
>   I don't know the first thing about how a water heater valve assembly
> works and have nursed my old original Bowen G6A-1 along for a couple of
> years now.  
> 
>   I could get the pilot to light and stay on but after one tank heating
> (6.2 gallons) it would flame out so to speak.  It finally gave up the ghost
> about a month ago and wouldn't light at all.
> 
>   A recent thread on this list spurred me to get in touch with Atwood
> (574.264.2131) to see if I could order a pilot assembly replacement from
> them for my Bowen water heater, their part number MPD 91603.  Well I did and
> it arrived today.  I was able to get it fitted to the control valve and the
> heater tube with a little modification to the L-shaped mounting bracket.
> 
>   I turned everything on and used a BBQ starter to fire the thing up.  The
> flame has never looked better and after almost an hour I just checked it
> again to find a tank of hot water, the burner shut off and the pilot still
> lit.  Success!!
> 
>   So if any of you are having similar problems, this assembly might just
> do the trick.  
> 
>   Regards,
> 
>   Glyn Judson, 1969 Caravel #508, Santa Monica, CA
> 

I learned a long time ago that as long as they  "DONT LEAK" , a water heater 
is always fixable. Its the ONE product that has gone unchanged for many 
years.....Electronic ignition as available in the late 70s but that has its 
downfalls.
When I need a new assembly~~~I usually take the parts down to my local 
camping world,  plunk the parts down and demand that they find a similar one. I 
sometimes need to drill a mounting hole or bend something to fit but as long as 
the pilot flame heats up the capilary tube your good to go! 

I've even managed to retrofit a newer gas valve assembly into an old 1964 
beast.

As long as one uses common safety sense when working with PROPANE it can save 
a lot of $ and frustration!

Cheers 

AlanT~ Mesa, AZ
79 International Rear bed W/Alaska pkg.
93 Dodge Cummins and just lately 91 Ford Dually 7.3 turbo Diesel