Andrew Gabriel wrote:


Was it getting stiff before (grease gunged up), or is this a
unexpected sudden failure (such as a mechanical part obstructing
movement, possibly internally)?


Not a sudden failure AFAIK (see below)

On ours I had to take it apart and grease the spindle. Careful
dismantling of the valve made it simple enough - used silicone grease,

You should be using gas cock grease. You can get it from BES, and
possibly from a local plumbers merchant.

OK, Ta.

[...]


IIRC, 'cos I had some around. It's not done it again and this was about
three years ago.

Before that, however, you could try pulling the spindle gently up and
down with some WD40 or similar on it to see if it'll come free.

After squirting WD-40 in, you really are committed to disassembly,
cleaning, and correctly regreasing, as WD-40 will wash out the grease
which forms part of the gas seal.


Now you tell me! ;-o

Have just given it a squirt of WD40 etc and with a bit of judicious riving,
it seems to be 'mostly sorted' - although it's not as smooth in its travel
as the rest. It'd probably be worth me taking the whole thing apart and
having a look sometime anyway.

I've never fitted or demounted a hob - how are they fitted to the worktop
below? Is the enamelled (white, in this case) 'fascia' just siliconed on, or
something (ie can be prised off, leaving the 'sub-frame' visible), or are
there eg. screws that I'd have to undo from below?

Thanks
Jon N