On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:36:54 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article .com,
painterman1 wrote:
my central heating has packed up so for now im going to fit the old
immersion heater wireing back together its old say about 20 years the
immersion heater is still in the tank its just acase of putting the
wires back can anyone see a problem with this

It's very likely the element has corroded through. You can but try, though.

And the thermostat might not have a safety cutout as all present day ones have .
Stuart