Water heater pilot won't light

[Dunnfamily4]

We have had this problem since we bought the camper used last year.  I wasn't to concerned since we usually camp where they have hot showers and we heat water on the stove for clean-up.  BUT that is getting old when we have a WH right there.  Finally disassembled this weekend to take a look at why the pilot will not light.

The gas is good to the appliance, but there doesn't seem to be any coming out from the point where the flame is placed to light.  Do I need to replace the pilot-lighting-flared thing?  The thermocoupler?  The water heater?  The not-to-talented-repairlady (me)?  Thanks, Dunnfamily4.

[Campaholics]

Dunnfamily4,

I don't know where the WH is on the Westlake. On the Sea Pine it is all the way at the back.  When we set up first I start the burners on the stove in the PU.  When they are burning steady, I shut them off.  Then it takes about two minutes of holding the pilot light valve down in the PILOT position before enough gas gets back there to light.  I just hold the pilot light valve down and attemt to light every thirty seconds.  
 
Assuming you have all the air out of the gas line, I would look for a clogged orifice on the pilot light.  If the pilot light won't stay on when you release the knob, look for a bad thermocouple.  If the pilot light stays lit when you turn it to ON, but the main burner never turns on, look for a bad thermostat.
 
Regards,
Bob

[Dunnfamily4]

Thanks for the information.  I went back to work on it late Sunday evening and concentrated on the orifice on the pilot light.  After some scrapping and poking with a long needle and an adjustment, I got it lit and got the burner to start.  Put the whole thing back to together and re-tested it several times.  Found that it sometimes goes from pilot to "on" without a problem and sometimes it doesn't.  I don't mind the hit or miss and the real test will be our next trip out in a few months.  Thanks for the information on troubleshooting.  I am sure I will need it in the future :p   Oh and the WH in the Westlake in the front storage area close to the tanks.  That is much closer to the source than the back of the trailer.  Thanks again, Dunnfamily4.

Dunnfamily4,

I don't know where the WH is on the Westlake. On the Sea Pine it is all the way at the back.  When we set up first I start the burners on the stove in the PU.  When they are burning steady, I shut them off.  Then it takes about two minutes of holding the pilot light valve down in the PILOT position before enough gas gets back there to light.  I just hold the pilot light valve down and attemt to light every thirty seconds.  
 
Assuming you have all the air out of the gas line, I would look for a clogged orifice on the pilot light.  If the pilot light won't stay on when you release the knob, look for a bad thermocouple.  If the pilot light stays lit when you turn it to ON, but the main burner never turns on, look for a bad thermostat.
 
Regards,
Bob

[popupcop]

Go with a new thermocouple if the pilot does not light or only lights intermittently.  They don't cost much and often are the source of such problems.  Whatever you do, don't bend a kink in the new thermocouple or it won't work well either.