Need help Lighting water heater

[MommaMia]

Ok... I feel silly.   Never had a water heater before.  This question is for our new to us 84 starcraft constellation.

Shur flo pump and Morflo water heater.

After flushing out system...
I filled the water tank with both faucets open (but pump in off position) to aid in preventing air buildup.

Turned the pump on until water ran out the faucet.  
Shut faucets off... pump shut off automatically.

At this point, is the water heater filled and I can proceed to light the heater?  Assuming yes....

Next, the directions say:

1.Turn gas cock to off position, wait 5 min.  (got that)
2.Turn to pilot position, Press reset button and light pilot, hold down until pilot light remains lit.Ok..... here's where my big question comes in.... It says light pilot... How?  Do I hold a match/lighter there while I'm pushing down the reset button?  I don't see an ignitor switch(click click click) anywhere like the fridge pilot.  I know it may take a while of me sitting there holding down the reset button before the gas gets there.  But I want to know what they mean by light the pilot light.
3. Turn to on position
4.Set temp indicator

[tlhdoc]

If your water heater is like mine, you need to use an "aim and flame" type long lighter to light the heater.  You need to light the water heater back in the burner tube.  Don't put your face too close to the water heater when you light it, in case there is a build up of propane :eek: .  Good luck.

[MommaMia]

If your water heater is like mine, you need to use an "aim and flame" type long lighter to light the heater.  You need to light the water heater back in the burner tube.  Don't put your face too close to the water heater when you light it, in case there is a build up of propane :eek: .  Good luck.

Ok that's what I thought.  But I was nervous sitting there with my torch, waiting for the poof.  I never heard/smelled gas get to the burner, but it may just be because I gave up after 45 seconds of nothing.... wanting to keep my eyebrows.

Am I right that the water heater should have water in it if I opened the hot water faucet and water gets pumped out?  I am fearful of lighting the heater without water in it.  Manual says element will burn out in just moments.

Also... what is that round sort of connection thingie with the brass attachment thingie just behind the burner tube? It's not shown in the manual anywhere. It looks like some sort of connector or valve.  I can't describe it well.  I can send a pic tomorrow.

[tlhdoc]

Cindy please send me a pic, I am not sure what you mean. :confused:

[MommaMia]

Cindy please send me a pic, I am not sure what you mean. :confused:

Sure thing!  After the sun's up and coffee is burning a hole in my gut!

[tlhdoc]

Cindy if you sent an email I never got it today. :confused:

[MommaMia]

Cindy if you sent an email I never got it today. :confused:

haaaarrrrgghh!!!   :eek:

I just sat down here and realized " Oh crud!!! I forgot to send the picture!!!"


And to top it all off, we just finished squeezing the camper back into the garage!!!(It's been a looong day)

Sorry!  I'll see if I can suck in my gut enough to snap a shot right now!

Be back in a few!

[MommaMia]

I sent you the pics last night.  Did you get them?  I thought I had your address in my address book but the one you sent was different9Similar but less letters).  When I went to add the new one to the address book it bleeped and told me that address already exists in my book.  So... not sure if it got there.

[tlhdoc]

Wow Cindy I don't know what that is.  Does it look like it unscrews?  Does yours have an anode rod and if it does could that be it (I don't really think so).  Sorry I can't help you on that one.

[MtnCamper]

Cindy, Can you upload the picture here? Someone will know what it is.

[MommaMia]

Wow Cindy I don't know what that is.  Does it look like it unscrews?  Does yours have an anode rod and if it does could that be it (I don't really think so).  Sorry I can't help you on that one.

The anode rod is on the inside of the camper.  I can see it plainly labeled on the water heater unit... it looks like a huge orange bolt.  

This thingie in the panel box outside does not appear to twist off.  I tried to budge it and it's in solid.  I have no clue what it is.  As you can see in the pic it is an open ended thing that I can just about get the end of my pinkie into.  Then it narrows as it enters the camper.  It seems to have some sort of wings on either side of the opening.  It's not shown in the diagrams anywhere.


Anyone?   I can forward you a picture too.

[MommaMia]

Cindy, Can you upload the picture here? Someone will know what it is.

tell me how and I'll try!  The last time I tried to Attach a picture it was way too big and it was the smallest picture I had.

[MtnCamper]

tell me how and I'll try!

Just reply and click on the Manage Attachment, in the attach files portion, below the window, that you are typing in when you reply.

[MommaMia]

Just reply and click on the Manage Attachment, in the attach files portion, below the window, that you are typing in when you reply.

oooh!!!  I got it!!  Not the prettiest resize but you can see the thingie!!!







OH OH OH!!!!  THIS IS SO COOL!   :W  Happy dance!  You don't know how many times I have tried to figure out the attach picture thing!!!!

[MtnCamper]

Cindy, I think this is a drain. Is it on the bottom side of the tank? If it is what I think, it has left hand threads on it. You have to turn it "in" or "clockwise" to open it. That explains why your anode rod is inside, instead of outside. Can you remove the rod, and not drain the tank?