We've got an old Tappan, Wilcolator stove that we purchased from our
landlord for $25, good deal as we didn't have one when we moved to our new
place.

The top of the stove works fine, although even though the pilot lights are
lit, we still have to use a lighter to light the burners, but it cooks well,
does the job.

Problem is, the oven won't light. Pilot light comes on, landlord told us
that we need to let the thermocouple warm up, but even after holding the
"red button" in for 5 minutes as soon as you let it go, the pilot light goes
out.

I'm pretty sure that I'll need to replace the thermocouple, but I can't find
one on the 'net anywhere. The model number is cs2888 lot 8, but I can't
find that model listed on any of the Tappan parts websites that I've found,
and a search of Google turned up nothing. The stove is an older model, I'd
guesstimate late 60's or so.

Any advice would be appreciated. *DOES* it sound like it's the
thermocouple? *IS* there a way to find this part somewhere? HELP!

TIA

James R. Lunsford wrote:
: We've got an old Tappan, Wilcolator stove that we purchased from our
: landlord for $25, good deal as we didn't have one when we moved to
: our new place.
:
: The top of the stove works fine, although even though the pilot
: lights are lit, we still have to use a lighter to light the burners,
: but it cooks well, does the job.
:
: Problem is, the oven won't light. Pilot light comes on, landlord
: told us that we need to let the thermocouple warm up, but even after
: holding the "red button" in for 5 minutes as soon as you let it go,
: the pilot light goes out.
:
: I'm pretty sure that I'll need to replace the thermocouple, but I
: can't find one on the 'net anywhere. The model number is cs2888 lot
: 8, but I can't find that model listed on any of the Tappan parts
: websites that I've found, and a search of Google turned up nothing.
: The stove is an older model, I'd guesstimate late 60's or so.
:
: Any advice would be appreciated. *DOES* it sound like it's the
: thermocouple? *IS* there a way to find this part somewhere? HELP!
:
: TIA

Hi James,

It is likely the thermocouple.

Try he
http://aandb.best.vwh.net/pages/parts/gas.html
http://www.antiquestoves.com/toac/stoveparts.htm
http://www.partselect.com/default.aspx
http://www.repairclinic.com/0070.asp...nge/stove/oven

Cheers,
Larry
Australia

does the broiler work to broil a steak? the broiler may light and stay
on 100% as opposed to the oven cycling burner on/off.

it may be the thermocouple but if the assembly is damaged it's not cost
effective to replace the entire oven gas valve with thermocouple.

some years ago in the 1970's we had a visitor once to one of our
apartments helpfully turn on an old gas oven which had no pilot light
but required manual lighting. the oven filled with gas, the tenant
herself smelled gas and belatedly lit the oven, the gas exploded and
promptly singed all her facial hair and sunburned her face. the visitor
said "oh, i thought it was supposed to light itself". they cancelled
their plans for cooking a frozen pizza that night. there was no fire,
everyone survived and recovered.

this is the time to also consider the 2.0 cubic foot microwave big
enough to cook a turkey.

consider a safer alternative replacement gas stove with electronic
ignition that will pay for itself in savings on the gas wasted on pilot
lights.

if you are still inclined to waste time fixing a potentially lethal
appliance, there is a brilliant genius at the other end of this site
which is packed with free repair tips and pay manuals and pay parts:

http://fixitnow.com/

note particularly his rule for the half-life of your stove.

on top for your top burners: soak the top burners and clean out the
pinhole that points toward the pilot light. remove and clean the
spiderwebs or food out of the tube that leads from the flame to the
burner.