Pilot Fire & Rust, what to do if anything?

[g3bill]

This 50's/60's Kenmore has Rust above the pilot, wasn't bad 20 years ago but whats going on? Spot feels deep and almost through. I could use some of that Extend rust preventor but doubt it can hold up to the heat. I cant pull the top off any time soon or i'd braze it I think.. Any ideas short of finding another top. 2 pics to follow...

 

[g3bill]

[No message]

 

[g3bill]

PS....

Timers not working, To remove the timer must I have access from the back or will it pull out from front? Too much stuff to move to pull it out

 

[combo52]

Rusted Out Areas Above Pilot Lights

Best to turn off the pilots, remove the zip tubes and repaint the rusted areas and use a handheld spark lighter, or stick with vintage electric ranges, gas ranges have never held up as long as electric ranges, not then or now.

 

[travis]

Bill,

I would clean up the rust as best you can. I have followed your other thead about possibly buying another range. If you're desiring another, I would put all your efforts and money into buying and restoring that one stove.

I have one stove that I am about to start restoring to keep until I die. I have multiple fridges, but picked my favorite for the kitchen. Again, I spent and obsessed too much on that one.

Stoves get nasty and broken no matter if they're gas or electric. Gas stoves rust and electric stoves get their wires chewed or insulation crumbles. Both get greasy!

 

[g3bill]

John I think you're correct. I actually keep a lighter on the oven door cause many times wont light. The heat from the pilot doesn't seem alot so maybe its the natural gas eating the metal? I see its done the same on right side.

Travis the reason i'm fixing the Kenmore is if I get another stove or not need it working to cook on or sell, not wanting to junk anything and give it a good home even though its quality is less than most it does its job well.

Pilot off, LOL

 

[vintagekitchen]

if you eliminate the pilots...

Why not install an electronic lighter from a grill? I know 3 burner ones are available on Amazon, maybe 4 burner ones. Most of them use a battery. Turn the knob for the gas, push the button for the spark, done. No more looking for the lighter or matches.

Here is one I found, 3 burner from the looks. I would use a 2 burner version on each side of the stove, just drill a hole for the button near the knobs for each side. Then one igniter works the left burners, and one works the right burners

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007VAXQF8/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?qid=1422501422&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&dpPl=1&dpID=51gy-lBnPWL&ref=plSrch

 

[g3bill]

Good idea Kevin, thats why you're here That will work but I would try somthing else besides drilling holes though??? For now I'll use the lighter till I know if i'm keeping it.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Was the stove used in a humid environment? Maybe the heat from the pilot caused condensation formed on the metal inside causing the rust.

The sparker is a good idea! Never thought about that to convert older stoves to pilot-less.

 

[g3bill]

Cole its not very humid here in So. Cal. I'm about 10 miles from the ocean? I'm thinking maybe the original owners might have had the pilot up too high? I was thinking to make a heat shield to fit. You might be right though cause the edge of the top is likely a spot that has slight chips for the rust to get started..

 

[combo52]

Rust Over Pilot Lights

Is caused by the moisture from burning gas, also this is moisture is very corrosive to most metals and even glass.

 

I remember when I installed my first condensing gas furnace, and I did not get around to connecting the drain to the heat exchanger so I ran the drain tube into a beautiful old porcelain crisper drawer I had, and within one week the inch or so of water in the crisper had eaten through the porcelain and the pan was nothing but rust, it ate right through the glass finish.

 

The best hing that ever happened to gas stoves was getting rid of constant burning pilot lights, now if they could just get rid of the gas flame altogether, LOL, gas oven liners still get all corroded and nasty after a lot of use, and burner grates and your beautiful cookware are another matter.