westy hob thermocouple

[Shaundon]

Anyone know where I can get a new thermocouple for my westy hob?

Also looking for the little round metal bit that sits on top of burner to spread the frame...

S.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Standard universal thermocouple - couple of £ on eBay - just make sure you get the correct length.

[Shaundon]

ok - i take it you've tried one and it works?

any idea what the length is? dont have the van to hand!

S.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Just had a look in the workshop but I've only got a spare for the fridge which is a lot longer - they are 900mm. I wouldn't have thought that they are more than 450mm for the longest one (you can coil the unused length ) Wait for someone else who has done one more recently and they may know.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Just looked on eBay - a Smev one is 350mm. Best you get yours off first or get to it and measure. (I shouldn't think that yours is the more modern two wire type)

[Shaundon]

Ta, will get it off the van at the weekend and measure it.

[Shaundon]

Ta, will get it off the van at the weekend and measure it.

[Shaundon]

Weird hit submit twice as screen froze and its posted last message twice!

The thermocouple on the hob is only about 100mm long for the front burner! Ordered the shortest one i could find on ebay which was 300mm.

Will see if it fits - although the burner is proving hard to remove to get at the thermocouple nut.

[Shaundon]

Got my new 300mm universal thermocouple today and the length is closer than i thought, however on inspection it wont fit through the hole as the original is a lot shorter and narrower at the tip.

Posting a few photos incase anyone else is attempting this as they may help...

In order to remove the parts i undid the gas nut to the valve and jet assembly then slid the valve off.
You can then slide a wooden pole or pipe of the right diameter into the part of the burner assembly below the top and a pair of oil filter pliers can grab the burner above the top and twist slightly to get it moving (use a cloth between pliars and burner so you dont scratch it like I did). Be careful to not twist too much if you want to not break the old thermocouple.
Then the inner ring inside the burner assembly can be turned until the lugs match up with the gaps and slid off upwards, at which point the burner should came away.

heres all the bits dismantled with the old and new thermocouples


heres attempting to insert the new themocouple and realising it wont go


will attempt to drill a larger hole and reassemble now...

[Shaundon]

Update - drilled the hole out with an 8mm drill and inserted the threaded end into the burner just enough so that it pocked out on the other side enough to catch the flame(about 4 or 5mm). Tightened the nuts to hold it at this and then reassembled the burner in the hob. Then carefully bent the thermocouple so it would fit in the end of the gas valve without kinking it.

here it is from below

and above



tightening the retaining ring on the top side of the burner proved tricky until i realised the spanner from my small angle grinder fitted perfectly to allow me to turn it tight.




now all i need is a gas bottle so i can test this before reassembling it in the van....

[Shaundon]

Well its all back in the van now and working - makes such a difference not having to hold the button in for ages to light the ring.

This is the thermocouple i used incase anyone else is looking to do this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140656428431? ... 1439.l2649

[Oldiebut goodie]

Amazing what you can do when you get stuck in isn't it!

[Shaundon]

Yeah - cheers for pointing me in the right direction..

I'm now toying with the idea of casting the flame spreader that sits on top out of aluminium as i cant find one that fits anywhere!!

S.

[Oldiebut goodie]

It may be worth checking out your local tip/recycling centre as the small burner on old gas hobs may be the right size. My smallest kitchen one is 41.5mm overall diameter with the central raised piece that sits in the flame spreader at 29.5mm.