Gas oven temp wont adjust - any tips?

[Spikedriver]

I have a very old Kenmore apartment size oven. The stovetop works fine. But when the oven lights up, the flames are set on high and turning the knob down to low doesn't lower the flames. Is that a regulator problem or maybe the thermostat? I'd like to fix it myself if I could...

 

[Caribou]

I have a very old Kenmore apartment size oven. The stovetop works fine. But when the oven lights up, the flames are set on high and turning the knob down to low doesn't lower the flames. Is that a regulator problem or maybe the thermostat? I'd like to fix it myself if I could...

I’d check for a loose knob or a bad valve. The thermostat may be bad.

 

[OldSchool]

Check for YouTube fix it videos.

@d_marsh knows what I’m talking about. Lol

 

[12icemaker]

Maybe bad packing in the valve, once you open it it is wide open the adjustment for the thermocouple is bad it may be stuck or be bad if it will not regulate.
How old is it, is the temp electrically or pure adjustable thermocouple valve regulated.

 

[OldSchool]

I’m gonna go with it being as simple as loose or broken knob.

He said it’s old…. There isn’t a magic genie involved here. A thermal coupler? Sure, but a faulty one wouldn’t prevent manually turning down the flame.

 

[Spikedriver]

Maybe bad packing in the valve, once you open it it is wide open the adjustment for the thermocouple is bad it may be stuck or be bad if it will not regulate.
How old is it, is the temp electrically or pure adjustable thermocouple valve regulated.

It's OLD old. I'm guessing 1960s or maybe even 1950s. Theoretically, it's my landlord's responsibility. But, I have the cheapest rent on the planet so I try to fix things if I can and I don't mind spending a little to fix little things myself.

 

[Spikedriver]

I've been checking YouTube but almost every video is for the stovetop burners instead of the oven itself and I'm not finding any that look remotely like my oven

 

[OldSchool]

Pull the knob and turn it with pliers. If that doesn’t yield good results… the valve itself is bad.

 

[Spikedriver]

Pull the knob and turn it with pliers. If that doesn’t yield good results… the valve itself is bad.

I'll try that, thanks.

 

[Spikedriver]

I'll try that, thanks.

It's hard to make any kind of dishes when the only temp my oven has is just below "surface of the sun" hot...

 

[OldSchool]

If the valve is bad…. you could put a microwave in the oven space.

Improvise and make more counter space.

 

[Supervisor42]

It's OLD old. I'm guessing 1960s or maybe even 1950s. Theoretically, it's my landlord's responsibility. But, I have the cheapest rent on the planet so I try to fix things if I can and I don't mind spending a little to fix little things myself.

The only advice I can offer is: if you raise the cook top up to access the control valve, don't lower it back down and set it on the oven control valve stem.
By the time you find what is making the hissing sound, the pilot lights for the surface units will light it off with a whoosh.
...BTW, it takes eyebrows a full month to grow back .
(don't ask me how I know)

 

[Spikedriver]

It's got to be the valve. The temp control knob turns the oven on fine. There is about 20 seconds from the time the knob clicks until gas flows to the burners inside the oven. The pilot flame ignites the burners just fine. I just can't turn the flame down once it's started. Maybe there's a regulator of some kind, or a thermostat. There's an identification tag under the stovetop but all the writing is faded and unreadable. Only the raised metal stamping is legible. I'll try and get it figured out but if I can't figure out what model this is it'll be hard to figure out what part I need...

 

[OldSchool]

I’ve done a few things that I wouldn’t advise others to do.

Example is smoking a cigarette while working on a carburetor.

 

[Spikedriver]

I won't be smoking a fatty while I'm working on the stove. If I do, I'll remember to shut the gas off first, and I'll have several bags of Cheetos ready to go...

 

[OldSchool]

It's got to be the valve. The temp control knob turns the oven on fine. There is about 20 seconds from the time the knob clicks until gas flows to the burners inside the oven. The pilot flame ignites the burners just fine. I just can't turn the flame down once it's started. Maybe there's a regulator of some kind, or a thermostat. There's an identification tag under the stovetop but all the writing is faded and unreadable. Only the raised metal stamping is legible. I'll try and get it figured out but if I can't figure out what model this is it'll be hard to figure out what part I need...

It’s toast. Or is good for nothing but making toast.

 

[OldSchool]

It’s toast. Or is good for nothing but making toast.

I suppose someone could prove me wrong and it’s a thermal coupler…. I’m only familiar with ‘em to some extent. And if one goes bad - it has a profound effect on the user’s control.

 

[OldSchool]

Given more thought… there’s a good chance you could save it by replacing the thermal coupler.

They’re not exactly generic, but if you wanna put enough effort in to it… it could be done without having the production model, make and serial number.

 

[Spikedriver]

Given more thought… there’s a good chance you could save it by replacing the thermal coupler.

They’re not exactly generic, but if you wanna put enough effort in to it… it could be done without having the production model, make and serial number.

I discovered that there is an appliance repair company about an hour away from me that also serves DIY customers. Next week I will call them and see if they can offer me any help

 

[OldSchool]

Given more thought… there’s a good chance you could save it by replacing the thermal coupler.

They’re not exactly generic, but if you wanna put enough effort in to it… it could be done without having the production model, make and serial number.

If it has one. I’ll jokingly say they were the first step towards AI

They aren’t really necessary, they just make such appliances more user friendly

 

[Caribou]

If you can figure out which part it is taking it in, with the make would go a long ways towards finding a replacement. I’ve dealt with a similar business. I was very pleased.

 

[Snowman]

I Believe this is One of Five :

 

[Tirediron]

there used to be all kinds of kenmore parts manuals on line, maybe a parts breakdown would help

 

[Spikedriver]

there used to be all kinds of kenmore parts manuals on line, maybe a parts breakdown would help

I entered what I think is the serial number in a Google search but it didn't get any results. Without that, I just be guessing...

 

[Tirediron]

I entered what I think is the serial number in a Google search but it didn't get any results. Without that, I just be guessing...

try this https://www.searspartsdirect.com/brand/0582/kenmore-parts

 

[Tommyice]

It's OLD old. I'm guessing 1960s or maybe even 1950s. Theoretically, it's my landlord's responsibility. But, I have the cheapest rent on the planet so I try to fix things if I can and I don't mind spending a little to fix little things myself.

Speaking as a landlord @Spikedriver , I would let the landlord take care of it. Our property has 4 units (including mine) and I only use licensed and insured repair companies. If any of my tenants fixed something like that themselves I’d probably have kittens.

But then again, I get nervous when there’s a power outage and I worry just thinking one of them is using candles around kids, dogs, and cats. Thatks why I bought battery operated emergency lanterns for each of the apartments.

 

[Neb]

Speaking as a landlord @Spikedriver , I would let the landlord take care of it. Our property has 4 units (including mine) and I only use licensed and insured repair companies. If any of my tenants fixed something like that themselves I’d probably have kittens.

But then again, I get nervous when there’s a power outage and I worry just thinking one of them is using candles around kids, dogs, and cats. Thatks why I bought battery operated emergency lanterns for each of the apartments.

Good point.

We explicitly rule out the tenant doing repairs. Too many headache fixing what they fixed.

If that stove really is 40-50 years old, it is due to be replaced.

Ben

 

[12icemaker]

Yeah if it has a thermostatically controlled temperature control , unless it is plugged into an electrical outlet and has more wires than just the ones going to the light (If there is one) It will have a thermocouple the same as the pilot light on later model pilot safety valves, it is a sealed tube filled with a liquid that has a bulb at the end that attaches to the line going into the Bake/Broil splitter there will be a loop of the tube in the oven that will pick up the amount of heat in the oven and transfer it to the mechanical valve that opens and closes the gas flow valve to maintain the temp.

If it has only an on and off or high-medium-low valve for bake and one for broil (NO TEMP control) and you regulate the temp by adjusting the knob like you would on a common grill.

The valve is the only thing that should come into play.

 

[12icemaker]

An idea about the serial and model number is take a picture with your cell on HD and then you can expand it and it will be clearer than any direct vision is.

 

[Spikedriver]

Speaking as a landlord @Spikedriver , I would let the landlord take care of it. Our property has 4 units (including mine) and I only use licensed and insured repair companies. If any of my tenants fixed something like that themselves I’d probably have kittens.

But then again, I get nervous when there’s a power outage and I worry just thinking one of them is using candles around kids, dogs, and cats. Thatks why I bought battery operated emergency lanterns for each of the apartments.

My landlord encourages it, up to a point. Such as, replacing the HVAC thermostat or the trap under the bathroom sink. I think what I might do, is discuss it with her. That's probably the best idea.