Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:38:24 -0600
Reply-To: alfred bagdan <abagdan@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: alfred bagdan <abagdan@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Dometic woes
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original
Could it be that the thermocouple is faulty? ( its the wire the flame heats
up, it has a 90 degree bend, ceramic holder, and an electrical wire on the
other end). If it is faulty, it produces insufficient voltage to keep the
gas valve supplying the flame, open. This is an important safety measure.
(Same as all gas house furnaces). It could be that the flame misses or
barely touches the thermocouple and its positioning needs adjusting. Also
shiny it up with a bit of fine sandpaper or steel wool. Check the lead
coming from it. I sheared mine off when reinstalling the fridge, because
the lead is very close to the bottom edge and I was not careful. I was
lucky, I got the last one from the supplier, and that was about 10 years
ago. I also fixed the broken one by reinserting the wire and using solder.
Alfred
85 Westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Chubbuck" <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: Dometic woes
>I sealed one side with a cork and blew in the other end. Very leaky.
>
> I just spent the better part of the today taking it all apart, sealing the
> system with better gaskets and caulk and putting it back together. Same
> cork test was MUCH less leaky, almost no leaking at all afterwards.
>
> But....I just got it back together and, guess what? I cannot get it to
> stay
> it lit more than a few seconds. And the pump, which I cleaned and
> re-lubricated with silicone instead of oil, is so stiff that it's very
> difficult to get more than 5-6 strokes in.
>
> I even obtained a little 2 D-cell operated fish aeration pump which I
> plumbed in next to the air pump with a "T", but that didn't help get it
> started at all.
>
> VERY discouraging. I've put in at least a solid week's work on that damn
> Dometic this season yet don't have an reliable fridge to show for it.
>
> A Norcold by next season, I swear.
>
> Paul
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Roger Sisler
> Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 12:51 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Dometic woes
>
> Check for a leaking combustion chamber, with the Domeitic still installed.
>
> Leaky chamber causes hard staring and flame out when driving.
>
> Remove the chrome vent cover. Put a cork in the deepest of the two vents,
> and blow into the other. It should be an obvious seal.
>
> If not, got to find the reason, and retry. Is the drain cap off? Unsealed
> box? loose orifice in box? Cracked corrigated vent pipes ( a good
> possibility)?
>
> Cracked vents are caused when removing and reinastalling the Dometic.
> Especially the 182b. Very brittle pipes. When bent to much, they will
> crack
> at a bend. If you have cracked vent pipes, remove the side grill and stick
> your hand inside and feel for the crack. Never done it, but muffler cement
> on the crack is the fix.
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