Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

[Noggin]

Hi all, I’m sure this topic has been posted before, but the usual answer ( replace the thermocouple ) doesn’t work for my Smeg Hob.

It’s an A42 Opera, with 4 burners on the hob. The largest one has always been a problem – the burner won’t stay on once the gas control knob is released after ignition. This was fixed a while back by an engineer, but the problem returned. This time I ordered the part and fitted it myself ( tricky, but not rocket-science ) and it worked for a week or two. I assumed it was a dodgy part ( despite it being a Smeg original ) and fitted another recently, but it worked for a few minutes, and now goes out straight after the knob is released.

Just wondering where to go from here? And is there a way of bypassing the thermocouple to see it that is the problem?

All thoughts gratefully received!

[electrofix]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

you cant bypass the thermocouple as far as i know and could not recommend it if i did know. check the connection is clean where the thermocouple connects to the valve. make sure the end in the burner is getting hot enough. ie no blocked jets etc

Dave

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

Thanks – I will check those things and try again.

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

right – I think you might be onto something there Dave, because I notice the Thermocouple sits slightly between 2 of the flame ‘fans’ and doesn’t get the full blast. If I blow on the flame to push it over the Thermo it will work for a while ( untill I stop blowing ) . This makes me wonder if I should either cut a new small slot in the alloy slotted thing ( for want of a better word for it ) so the flame playts exactly on the thermo, or maybe find a way of getting the thermo closer to the flame.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree? Why do Smegs seem to always have this problem??

Cheers, Ian.

[electrofix]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

are the flames on the other burners the same

ie do the flames miss the thermocouple ?

Dave

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

I will have a look. This problem always seems to affect the large burner on Smeg hobs though.

Cheers, Ian.

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

just realised I am away for a week from tomorrow, so this discussion to be continued….

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

the other burners are similar – the thermocouple is in or near the flames, It’s just that the big burner turns itself off even when the therm is hot. I even tried directing a gentle flame from a propane torch onto that therm and it made no difference. Any thoughts? I’m hesitant to fit yet another therm ( at £19 a pop! ) or call an engineer if he will just fit a therm. Help!

[electrofix]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

if the thermocouples are the same as another ring swop them and see if the fault moves too

Dave

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

Thanks for your suggestion but I find that getting the therms’ out means destroying them, and @ £19 per-pop it could be an expensive experiment. Plus, I have had lots of brand-new ones and the fault remains.

I think it is time to contact a Smeg engineer and pass the problem over to the professionals. It’s getting too time-consuming for me.

Thanks for your thoughts though.

Cheers, Ian.

[electrofix]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

search on this site for a local independant engineer who repairs gas cookers

Dave

[Noggin]

Re: Smeg burner won’t stay alight…..

Update – I fitted yet another Thermocouple, and this time it works fine. Perhaps the last one was faulty ( despite being a brand-new original item ) . So fingers crossed it’s fixed for a while. Thanks for your help & advice. Regards, Ian.

[Author]

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