PDV20 Vermont Cast old gas fireplace issue

[sweaty]

I have this very old Vermont Cast gas fireplace. The tag has PDV20 stamped on it. It has a Hit-and-Glow remote control. You press a button and the fire comes on. It has a pilot.

Recently the remote control does not bring up the fire anymore. Press the button, the remote clicks but I don't hear a click from the stove. Sometimes, if I fiddle with the valve knob (the one turn the flame up and down) I could get lucky and the fire lights.

I did some research on this forum and it sounds like this is a really old stove and there is no replacement parts.

Could someone confirm this? If there is no part, is it possible to get a valve and/or fix the valve so I can operate it manually? I don't have to have the remote function. If the manual valve knob works right now, I would be perfectly satisfied.

Thanks!

 

[DAKSY]

Check the connections on the right side of the gas valve.
There is a terminal block there. Make sure the ALL wiring is tight.

 

[sweaty]

Check the connections on the right side of the gas valve.
There is a terminal block there. Make sure the ALL wiring is tight.

I went back and vacuumed the bottom of the stove. When doing so, I touched some of the wiring down there and the fire came on. I then tested by poking at them. It seemed that the fat red wire and silver wire, when pushed sometimes caused a click in the valve. The connectors are all very tight as far as I can tell.

Suggestions?

 

[DAKSY]

Sounds like a loose connection or broken wire that's got an intermittent connection.
Take each wire off & reinstall it.
What happens when you jump the TH (bottom) & TPTH (top) terminals?

 

[sweaty]

...
What happens when you jump the TH (bottom) & TPTH (top) terminals?

The stove blows up? Joking aside, I have not tried it. I don't really understand the logic behind shorting these two.

I think you are right. It looks like loose connection/broken wire somewhere. We are going on vacation in a couple of days so I will have to put this on hold for now. I may come back with more questions once I have a chance to look into it more.

Thanks!

 

[DAKSY]

Jumping or shorting those two terminals will function as if you closed a switch or a thermostat called for flames.