Help to determine the problem/Oven question

[oldhouseman]

A good friend of mine bought an old house (circa 1805) and the former owners left the appliances (YEA!!). Nothing fancy mind you. A late '60's Kenmore fridge (working fine) that was well cared for and a Roper double oven from ? late '60's, early 70's.

Here is the question she asked me to post: When the oven is turned on (either one) it will only work when the temperature control is set and the setting knob put to "preheat". If the second control knob is turned to "bake" or "broil" only the bottom heating element will turn on. When the setting control knob is left on "preheat" both top and bottom elements will work.

Any suggestions as to how to get the oven controls working again? There is not a local appliance repair shop. We are talking rural Georgia and not likely a repair man would go the distance. Any suggestions for fixing this would be welcome.

Greg in Sparta, Georgia

 

[appnut]

The ovens are working properly. Preheat was simply for that, a faster preheat. When baking, the bottom element is essentially the only one used. And the top one only when broil used.

 

[oldhouseman]

understand that but.....

The heating element will not turn on AT ALL if the control setting is on "bake" or "broil" no matter what the temp. setting is (2 different knobs). The top or bottom element will only turn on when the control knob is set on preheat.

 

[toggleswitch]

Is there a timer for "timed-bake" that is kicking in and should not be, or is not expected to be?

 

[DADoES]

^ What he said. If both elements work on Preheat, then they're both obviously OK per se. There may not be a separate Timed Bake position on the selector, in which case the clock/timer mechanism is in-play at all times on the Bake position. (Although one would wonder why it doesn't affect preheat.) Typically one of the timer-set knobs is turned to a manual position or pressed in for manual operation.

Note that you did say:<blockquote>If the second control knob is turned to "bake" or "broil" only the bottom heating element will turn on.</blockquote>Is that a reference to the 2nd oven cavity of the double oven unit? My parents had a 1972 Roper electric double wall oven, the smaller lower oven was bake-only, no broil element IIRC.

 

[oldhouseman]

Here's what happening.....

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. I called Ms. Rosalie and asked her some details;

When either oven is turned on the "bake" or broil setting (knob 1) and the temp.(knob #2) is set at any point 150 plus...nothing turns on.

When the control setting (knob 1) is set on preheat both units work fine.

The bottom oven is a baking oven only the top one has a broiler. The bottom oven has a top and bottom element so I take it both should come on for even baking.

Maybe I should run this past the Roper folks? Some corporations have an Archives but most don't (sad to know that, keeping past files, manuals and literature is very important and a valuable asset to the company).

Along with collecting appliances I hope everybody on this site is collecting information such as manuals and literature. As an Archivist I cannot express enough how important this is.

My pal Rosalie would not be in this bind if we had the specs on this unit.

 

[petek]

My understanding is that for preheating both top and bottom elements come on simultaneously. For baking the top element should turn off after the preheat and only the bottom element continue to cycle on/off. For broiling the bottom element should never come on and the oven door is to be left ajar during broiling unless it is an oven with a convection broil feature which hers wouldn't have anyways. So if there is no way she can get the "broil" feature to work without the bottom bake element coming on there's obviously a problem.

 

[oldhouseman]

Thank you

Petek, you got it. I was not very good at properly explaining the problem I see. The broiler cannot be used without the bottom element coming on also. I say upgrade and let this one go because it has to many issues that may involve safety.

 

[rp2813]

Did the previous owners maybe have work done on it and wiring related to the control knobs was messed with? I agree that preheat will activate upper and lower elements but you're describing some strange behavior that doesn't sound right at all. It sounds downright backwards almost. Best option may be to just get rid of the thing and replace with something known to be in proper working order.

 

[oldhouseman]

It did work....

when Ms. Rosalie moved in the house, this is a recent problem. I am all for an upgrade. This sounds like a safety hazzard at this point if it can't be repaired. That's the problem with living in a historic house in the middle of no-where. Oh well, now convincing her to let go of the thing will be an interesting conversation. Thanks guys, I appreciate your feedback.

 

[goatfarmer]

I'm with the Toggle-switch! Make sure there isn't a time bake feature on this.

 

[oldhouseman]

The timer...

Yes there is a timer on the ovens. And Ms. Rose. told me she was trying to figure out how to work the timer when the problem started.

Toggleswitch is right again.

We are trying to figure out the timer dial. The directions are not really clear. The timer knob was kept really clean by kitchen maid of the former owner of the house. It appears a good Brillo or SOS pad was taken to the unit to keep it clean.

Thanks to you all.

oldhouseman,....Greg

 

[toggleswitch]

Just rotate the clock forward 12 hours (or twice that) and the delay "start" and delay "stop" should clear themselves.

Somtimes the 60 minute timer ("minute-minder") uses the same shaft as the clock setting dial. Push to set clock turn gently to asjust or set the minute-minder. If this is the case just set the clock by pushing in somewhat hard. Once the e clock is set, then gently coax the minute-minder back to "Off". Fear not, if it buzzes just before the "off" position, it is supposed to.