Flavel Vanessa won't Light

jobbie

jobbie

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Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

Hi All,

Bought a Cobra 1050 late last year and its fitted with a Flavel Vanessa oven which for some reason refuses to light. The cooker is in as new condition. Everything else lights ok except the oven. There is a thermocouple device on the burner could this be the problem? or is there a knack to lighting them?
Appreciate any help.
Kim
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

The oven should light if the red button is pressed in to light and then held in for maybe 30 secs. This overrides the thermocouple gas cut-off. Should it cut-off when the button is released, then the thermocouple is either not working, or not correctly positioned in the flame.
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

I can't say I've noticed a red button. I just held the gas knob in and turned it partially on and then tried to light without success. I'm on the boat tomorrow will check it out.
Many Thanks.
Kim
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

You have to turn the cooker knob fully on,open the oven door & you will see at the bottom a red knob.Press the knob in for a few seconds,holding knob in & light grid at bottom back of cooker.When lit continue to hold red knob in for about 15 seconds,release red knob & oven flame should stay on.If it doesn't repeat process but hold knob in for longer after lit.In this weather you may have to shake the bottle to get butane to light.When I bought my boat & used oven for first time I had not read the manual ,result-cold pasties.
By the way the oven has no thermostat & will cremate things on the high setting-I know.
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

Thanks all, don't know how I missed the red button...think a trip to Specsavers might be on the cards.

Kim
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

Vanessas were excellent cookers in their day but I don't think any have flame-failure devices on the hobs and represent a significant risk without. You may even have trouble with insurance and should be thinking of replacing it.
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

[ QUOTE ]
Vanessas were excellent cookers in their day but I don't think any have flame-failure devices on the hobs and represent a significant risk without. You may even have trouble with insurance and should be thinking of replacing it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I had one of these for over twenty years and thought them darned good cookers for the price. There are definitely no flame failure devices on the burners, but we managed to get over that by making sure we never left the cooker unattended and turning the gas off at the bottle after use. Simple, and eliminated any 'significant risk'!! In any case we have a gas alarm aboard.

Certainly never experienced any problems (or even a mention) from my insurers Bishop Skinner who were well aware of the make on board, and have not yet heard of anyone who has.

I replaced the Vanessa a couple of years ago as part of a major refit after ten years full time cruising, and sold it to another boat. I believe it's still in regular use and giving good service.

If there is a problem with them, it's in getting spares, which was getting harder and harder!!
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

I entirely agree that it is possible to use these safely, as we did for 15 years, but that is not the same as recommending their use, and attitudes to such things are changing.
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

The cooker is really in as new condition so it seems a shame to replace it. Didn't have any problems with the survey prior to purchase or the insurers who are GJW, but I take on board your comments. Thanks.

Kim
 
Re: Flavel Vanessa won\'t Light

Check under the hob burner mountings as these rust through with age irrespective of the amount of use. Once this happens you get stray flames and leaks in use. That is what condemned ours in the end.
 
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