My oven used to only light if I manually lit it, but now it lights but won't stay lit if I release the igniter. Unfortunately my oven maker is no longer in business. It's an Explorer model number 190.50 STFGPVTC. Any advice you can give me would be helpful especially if you could help me track down parts since repair men in my area won't work with my oven brand. Such a bad buy and I'm paying for it now. Thank you in advance for your help!!!
Kitchen Ranges - Explorer Appliances - BO613 Stainless Steel Gas Kitchen Range
Answers & Comments
Most ovens use a safety thermocouple so the gas flow stops if the flame should be blown out by a draught or if the supply is interrupted and that has probably failed.
The thermocouple is a valve that controls the flow of gas that is controlled by a small bulb connected to the valve by a copper capilliary tube. The bulb is positioned so the oven pilot light heats it so after a few seconds gas will flow to the burners. In order to light the flame the igniter bypasses the valve.
The thermocouple design and function is so similar between different brands they could almost be made in the same factory and be a universal product, like a lot of the older fridge and oven thermostats...
There are many sites on the internet providing spare parts for domestic appliances, including ebay and Amazon and often with pictures. If someone would remove the thermocouple from your oven for you, you will be able to compare it with those pictures and then ask a suitable vendor questions about inlet/outlet size and the length of the tube.
I hope this helps.