old outside stove help

[deniski]

When we bought out used PU a couple of years ago, it included the original outside stove that had never been used.  We just tried to use it for the first time the last time we camped (Sept) but couldn't get it going.  It didn't seem to be getting any propane, so would the first step to figuring it out be to replace the long piece of hose that it uses to connect to the tank?  Or is there some other parts we should try to somehow clean out first that might be plugged up with dust or whatever?  I think that the outside stove is higher pressure that than the inside stove if that helps.

[rccs]

Could you hear a hissing sound when you tried the outside stove after turning it on? If so I would think you should eventually be able to light it. If it was never used the gas line from the tank to the stove hookup probably never had gas in it and is just full of air now. When I use mine I usually turn on a burner a little so that I hear the hissing sound a little and when I smell LP I turn it off and wait a couple of minutes for the gas that may have filled the bottom of the stove to clear out. Then I turn it on and light it. Usually works fine this way since the air in the line has to be drained out before you get LP there to light.

[deniski]

Well, I don't remember it hissing, but then I was standing back out of the way while my husband tried to start it.  Gas scares me.  But I doubt we left a burner on long enough to clear out all the air... we'll have to try that again.  Once the snow melts enough that we can find our camper!

[aw738]

Could be spider webs in the burners. For some reason they like it in gas appliances.

[tlhdoc]

Was the gas turned on?  If it was than I would give it a little time to clear the air out of the line.  If it still will not light then you might need to replace the hose or the fitting on the end of the hose.  There was a problem with some stoves.  The connection on the end of the hose where it attaches to the gas line wasn't right, and the gas didn't flow fast enough to burn strongly.

[SkipP]

A little "trick" that I use is to hold the lighter close to the burner itself and turn on the gas. Look for the lighter flame to "flicker" like it's being blown on. If it is, that's air in the line getting displaced by the gas. If the flame doesn't flicker or change, there probably isn't any flow through the line. Of course, this doesn't work so well in windy conditions.

[aw738]

Those disposible lighters are dangerous. If you had one in a OSHA regulated area that has welding equipment you could get in big trouble. One of the lighters can in the right conditions blow your hand off. Welding/cutting torches or any other appliance that involves an open flame should not be lighted with them.

[SkipP]

Those disposible lighters are dangerous. If you had one in a OSHA regulated area that has welding equipment you could get in big trouble. One of the lighters can in the right conditions blow your hand off. Welding/cutting torches or any other appliance that involves an open flame should not be lighted with them.

 
I use one of those Scripto "Aim-N-Flame" lighters that has about a six inch extension. I can see how a "Bic" or similar disposable may present a danger though.

[B-flat]

Make sure you have the little lever in the right position for the gas to be on. Some have to be parallel or horizontal to the hose. Well how would I now know that?

[MommaMia]

Also, a tip that was given to me...

Start the appliances that are in line before the outside stove.  Get gas to reach those first then the outside stove if the outside stove is on the same line but at the end of the line.

[campingeyedoc]

I had a problen in not getting gas to the low pressure inside or the high pressure outside stoves. I changed the two regulators at the tank and had no more trouble.

[deniski]

That's a thought!  We had to replace the regulator during our last trip...and we didn't have too many choices to choose from at the time.  Does the high pressure stove use a different type regulator than the inside low pressure stove?? It seems like the original regulator was different than the current one.

[sure2rain]

I had same problem with my fleetwood/coleman. Turned out the problem was the male connector fitting (the PU). Apparently it was clogged. Service dept. said this happens frequently. If inside stove, water heater and furnace are working okay, it is probably this connector.