Bowen 6 gal. water heater is not cooperative, no flames.

[kage]

74 Brave, 6 gal water heater,  P.O. said it worked for him and I believe it. Pretty much anyway.  Pilot lights up, not a problem. Shuts off immediately when I turn to on position and try to turn up heat. Replaced thermocouple, still same problem. I notice an audible click when I turn the temp up. Any thoughts on next step? Frankly I'm not sure what I should be seeing when I turn on the heat after letting the pilot heat up. A big blue flame shooting under the water heater?

[Stripe]

You should see a flame in the heating tube that is under the tank. As to the pilot going out after turning to the on position, I know that some valves had an emergency shutoff feature that rendered the valve permanently useless, but that was on the water heater I had.  There was a sticker that explained all that..

[legomybago]

Make sure your tanks are full of propane....

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

Is the sequence you are using:
1. Turn valve to Pilot, light pilot and hold in pilot position for at least 30 seconds (allows thermocouple to warm up).
2. Turn valve back to run.  With a cold tank, a heavy blue flame should shoot past the pilot into the burner tube. 

Atwood Service Manual: http://www.mediafire.com/?ceoxmek6f4zq7sb

Dave

[kage]

Hi Dave, that is the sequence I am using and no blue flame.  I can turn to 'on' but when I turn the temp adjustment there is a faint 'doink' and the pilot goes out.  Looking at the manual (thanks for the link) it would seem to suggest I replace the gas control -- as I have already replaced the thermocouple. I don't know where the gas control is and weather it's replaceable?

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

If it is an atwood tank, then the control knob and thermocouple is the attached to the gas control

Dave

[EarlJr]

I've had this same issue. I had to hold the red "primer button" down for about half an hour before I got a sustained burner flame. I'm thinking this had to do with air in the lines from when I replaced the thermostat control unit. You might try that before springing for a new unit.

[Froggy1936]

Its a lot easier to bleed the syestem . Turn on the propane at the tank and loosen a fitting at the main feed line to the appliance. when you smell Propane tighten the fitting (no smokeing or any flames and do not turn on or off any electrical syestem ) The arc at the switch can ignight ! allow a few min (till there is no odor)for propane to dissapate Then ck fitting with soapy water  solution if no bubbles  light appliance ! Frank

[tiinytina]

If my propane has been off as in all winter etc.. I always turn on and light a burner on my stove to get the propane running through before I try lighting the water heater or furnace.
Tina

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

I do the same as Tina

[kage]

Hey! Lots of good ideas. I was on a little trip (a hot waterless trip) so I wasn't really online. I will try these excellent suggestions.  The Stove works well so I Know gas is getting around somewhat. I also have an extra thermo unit, so I may pull the current one out and try switching.  Though when I took the spare out of the unit it was in -DANG! that sucker was really in there.  It took my longest (26") monkey wrench and a lot of penetrating oil, and even then the unit looked a little like it had been through the war. I am a little worried about damaging my current WH getting the thermo unit out. Well, I guess is doesn't work now so maybe not a big loss. Hm?

[Froggy1936]

Hi Kage They are not that expensive Reccomend replaceing 40 yr old part Make sure replacement is for propane. i replaced my tank and control and installed a hotrod electric waterheater wile i was at it i have not used propane for hot water yet except when boondocking   Frank

[Stripe]

  What is this "Hot Water" you speak of and what is it used for??

[kage]

OK.  Replaced old controller with salvaged controller from other unit. Other unit was propane, propane is on (runs stove and fridge) after hooking it all up - no gas to pilot.  Controller is 'Atwood', does anyone who has this controller know anything else about lighting the pilot - other than turning it to 'pilot' and holding a match to it?  Here's a pic.

[Madathlon]

Have you check your propane supply line coming to the hot water heater? If the line is pinched it could cause a lack of fuel flow and you will never get enough flow to run the main burner.

[Froggy1936]

You did not state clearly Turning it to pilot and holding a match to it . You have to turn it past pilot (against spring Pressure)  and hold it there after it ignights till thermo couple is headed then release to on . Also reccomend useing a trigger operated lighter as it may take a wile for all the air to come out of the line (and you can get a propane bubble followed by an air bubble) this will seem to be a not working condition but just proceed again till all air is out of line may have to relight a few times Pilot flame is adjustable by removing screw (marked) and turning adjuster You just need enough flame to keep thermo heated Frank

[DaveVA78Chieftain]

That is a White Rodgers control so I assume you are following this procedure:

   
• Turn lighting control knob to PILOT position and hold against stop while lighting pilot burner.  Note: It may take several minutes with the control held in this position to purge air out of the lines so that only propane is present and the pilot flame lights.
• Allow pilot to burn thirty seconds then release lighting control knob.
• Turn lighting control knob to ON position.
• If pilot does not remain lit, repeat operation allowing longer period before releasing lighting control knob.
• Set temperature selection lever at mark between warm and hot position.
• Close access door.

[kage]

  FLAMES!! FLAMES!!!!
Thank you all for plenty of good advice. I think this new controller is kind of worn because the 'spring' when you trnn the pilot knob is pretty much sprung.  If you didn't tell me there was a spring there I never would have felt it. But that finally got the pilot going (also pretty feeble flame) and then finally a big blue flame. Tomorrow fill up the tank and see how hot it gets.

[eddie]

I promise that the ONE time I used it it worked!!! The wife almost slapped me because I had not tried it prior and it was SO EASY!!!!!!

[kage]

OK.  Hot water is happening - about 15 minutes and hot enough to take a shower. Yay! But now I have some new questions.  The flame is sizable -- a couple of inches long and one inch wide,  makes a little roaring sound.  Does it just go on and on like that? When it reaches a temperature will it lower the flame?   Is there a thermostat?

And I believe you Eddie, but that was probably the last gasp. Though I'd like to avoid the slapping part so I won't mention to the wife.

[ClydesdaleKevin]

The flame will blow like a blowtorch until the water heats up to temperature, then shut itself off...hopefully leaving the pilot light still lit...lol!

That is how they cycle.  The big flame comes nice and loud until the water temperature is reached, then goes off until the water is used up or cools down from not being used.  Then it comes back on courtesy of the pilot light.

Kev

[Oz]

Yes, there's a thermostat (although I don't know where on your Bowen) and the main burner (but not the pilot) should go out completely when the set temperature is reached.

[kage]

Water heater performing as expected, but when the main burner shuts down it seems to blow out the pilot light.  There's a screw in the body of the controller that says pilot underneath.  I thought I could adjust the pilot up and down by turning it, but nothing seems to happen.  I'm guessing that if the pilot light was a little more robust it wouldn't blow out?

[kage]

Water heater is operating but I'm still having problems with the intensity of the pilot, it blows out when the burner re-ignites.  Adjustment screw doesn't affect the size of the flame.  I removed the pilot fill tube (the silver tube that supplies the pilot) and tried to blow through one end - no dice - blocked. I am assuming the gas is controlled back in the controller box so I thought I would be able to blow right through.  Tried cleaning it out with denatured alcohol and a wire - also no dice. Can it be replaced, or am I barking up the wrong tree? Or just barking?   >m'

[Stripe]

Or barking mad?  Lol.
So, the Bowen isn't a automatic spark ignition then? Have you been able to find technical drawings for it?

Also, look at this site: http://www.ducktec.com/bowen-waterheaters.htm  Says Bowen was bought out by Atwood in '65.

I'd give Ducktec a call and see if they recommend anything.