In article ,
"Jon Danniken" wrote:

The problem is that thermal fuses don't set themselves off for no reason.
Besides replacing the thermal fuse, you will have to fix whatever problem
caused it to open up in the first place.

Good grief. The thing is 53 yrs. old. Thermal fuses fail for "no reason"
just like any other fuse, or any other thing at all. OP, don't worry
about why the fuse failed. Just replace it and carry on with life. *IF*
the new one fails rapidly - and I seriously doubt that it will, given
your successful bypass test - then you can poke a little deeper.