Whitfield Pilot light not staying lit

[normhar]

I purchased a Whitfield Propane fireplace and the pilot light does not stay lit. The previous owner said it was working when he stopped a couple of years ago. I attach the propane to the stove using a 100# bottle... I press the pilot light button and light the pilot... hold it for a long time and when I let go, it goes out. Someone told me that I needed to replace the Thermopile, which I did... still the same thing. Any Ideas for me??? Thanks a lot

 

[DAKSY]

You need to replace the thermocouple. That controls gas flow to the pilot.
If you were told to replace the thermopile, you were told the wrong info.
The thermopile controls gas flow to the burner.

 

[normhar]

thanks for the reply - as far as I know there is no thermocouple only the thermopile

 

[DAKSY]

Can you post a pic of the pilot assembly?

 

[normhar]

Here are the photos

 

[DAKSY]

Hmmm. Not familiar with this set up, but if I had to
venture a guess, I'd say that the T-Pile is too low...
Generally, the pilot flame needs to engulf about
3/8" at the top of the T-Pile...
Can you raise it in the assembly?

 

[normhar]

I think that I can....when I light the pilot there are small flames around the T-pile... I also used a torch to heat it up a bit to see if I could jumpstart it

 

[DAKSY]

If you try the torch, only heat the top 3/8".
If you heat the entire T-Pile, it won't work.

 

[normhar]

I cant move it up anymore and yes I only heat up the tip...the T-Pile goes through a "spill switch" I have hooked up the T-Pile to route through this switch and bypassing it as well... still does not stay lit

 

[DAKSY]

Do you have a multimeter?
Set it to milliVolts & with the torch on the T-Pile,
take a reading off the terminals where it's connected to the valve.
What reading do you get?

 

[normhar]

I have some sort of a meter...not sure how to use it...but will look at it today thanks

 

[normhar]

I was able to get the pilot light to stay lit... I blew out the lines and re-tightened everything...and then I put a torch to the T-Pile and it worked.... now to the next issue...when I turn the stove on... the burner only partially lights up...its like there is not enough propane being pushed into the burner.... any ideas? I am using a propane tank with a regulator... same line I use for my propable heater, which works fine... are there different regulators? I am a cabinet maker and work with wood...do not know much about stoves etc so thanks for your help

 

[DAKSY]

Does your Whitfield unit work better when the other heater isn't running?

 

[normhar]

I only run one heater at a time.... I run the line to the Whitfield unit and nothing else

 

[DAKSY]

How long is the gas line what diameter is it?

 

[normhar]

The OD is 3/4" it runs this other heater just fine...

 

[DAKSY]

Refresh my memory. Have you pulled the burner & cleaned it out?
If you do that, also pull the burner orifice & clean behind it.
Did you ever take a reading on the thermopile?

 

[normhar]

I have decided to not use this stove and get a new pellet stove.... thanks for all your help! Have a great weeks