Flavel Vanessa Cooker - Oven not working

[sgr143]

The rings and the grill work fine, but there is no gas coming out of the oven burner when it is turned on. It worked fine when last used a couple of months ago.

Since the other bits work OK, I guess the problem is with the tap for the oven. Is fixing this a simple and safe DIY job, or should I get a gas engineer in?

Thanks, Steve

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'd start by checking the jet, other than that i'd call an engineer.

 

[johnalison]

I'd ditch the cooker and get one with flame-failure protection. It might save your life. (I had one for 14yrs, but that was long ago).

 

[VicS]

The rings and the grill work fine, but there is no gas coming out of the oven burner when it is turned on. It worked fine when last used a couple of months ago.

Since the other bits work OK, I guess the problem is with the tap for the oven. Is fixing this a simple and safe DIY job, or should I get a gas engineer in?

Thanks, Steve

IIRC the Flavel Vanessa has a flame failure device in the oven ( although not on the grill and hob burners) Possible therefore that is the cause of the trouble.

The Vanessa is obsolete and spares are probably NLA. A gas engineer will almost certainly condemn it.

 

[Sandyman]

A thermocouple will not stop the gas getting to the burner

 

[sgr143]

Ah! It may be that I forgot about the thermocouple, and failed to push the knob in when lighting to override it. Since the rings and grill (which are what I mostly use) aren't protected like that, just turning the knob for "on", I'm not in the habit of doing that. <slaps forehead, "doh!" >

 

[VicS]

A thermocouple will not stop the gas getting to the burner

Nobody suggested that the thermocouple was to blame .... If it failed it would not prevent the burner being lit but it would go out again as soon as the button was released.

Edit

Mention of the thermocouple and flame failure device seems to have cause a penny to drop with the OP !

 

[sgr143]

Ps... I turn the gas on at the bottle only when actually using the stove; it always gets switched off immediately after kettle boiling or cooking. I also have a gas alarm fitted just in case. So while a new cooker is definitely on the longer term shopping list, I think I'm reasonably safe for now.

 

[johnalison]

Ps... I turn the gas on at the bottle only when actually using the stove; it always gets switched off immediately after kettle boiling or cooking. I also have a gas alarm fitted just in case. So while a new cooker is definitely on the longer term shopping list, I think I'm reasonably safe for now.

I think it is perfectly possible to live safely with technically unsafe equipment but I don't think it can be justifiable for a third party to recommend doing so.

 

[LadyInBed]

I replaced my F V this year with a Starlight from Force 4 (catalog # 800335)
Great bit of kit, all stainless, comes with gimble and pan holders but no grill pan (keep F V one)
It slotted into the gap left by the F V without issue but did have to source a gas pipe adapter to connect cooker to flexible gas pipe
Got them to price match so paid £430

 

[VicS]

I think it is perfectly possible to live safely with technically unsafe equipment but I don't think it can be justifiable for a third party to recommend doing so.

If by "technically unsafe" you mean a cooker which does not have flame failure protection on all burners don't lose sight of the fact that an existing cooker is not required to have such such protection even by the Boat Safety Scheme. A replacement must have, but not an existing one.

 

[Topcat47]

I had a similar problem with my (even older) cooker. It turned out to be crud in the burner. The gas fitter in a caravan repair shop vacuumed it out, tested the whole cooker and returned it to me. He told me to keep it as long as possible as it was better made than any of the new ones he worked on and had nothing really that ever went wrong.