Polit light will not stay lit after letting up the red lever on a Maytag DG606

[fanofjesus]

I love the forum. I am a newbie so if I am missing something feel free to tell me.
Working on a Maytag dryer DG606 from 1983
I can light the pilot light very good when holding the red lever down. I hold it down for a minute or two then let it up. The pilot light will not stay lit. I cleaned the themocouple and the pilot hole is clear. I am thinking it is the thermocouple or the gas valve. Where can a person buy these parts new or used?

 

[rp2813]

Themocouples are readily available at hardware stores or home improvement centers.   They're usually found on hanging cards in the plumbing/heating department. 

 

It sounds like the thermocouple is the culprit.  Bring the old one with you to compare with what the store carries.

 

[fanofjesus]

thermocouple

Here is what the thermocouple looks like. I don't know if the ones in the hardware store will work?

 

[rp2813]

OK, we'll need to wait for the SMEs to check in.  Thermocouples I'm familiar with have a lead with two spade connectors.  The arrangement on that valve is something I've never seen or dealt with before.  If it's some sort of proprietary Maytag thing, you may have trouble locating a replacement, but let's wait for others to reply here.

 

[maytag85]

I have the a Maytag DG606 that was converted to a Maytag DG306 timed drying dryer and it’s been in daily use since June of 2019. Thankfully everything works on the burner and haven’t had any issues with the pilot staying lit on mine.

Here’s the pilot light instructions on the small access panel

 

[maytag85]

Even have a video showing the burner turning on, on my Maytag DG306

 

[fanofjesus]

It is a bad thermocouple. Here is a picture of it. Now the job is finding it. That is where you guys come in.

 

[repairguy]

What’s the serial number for this dryer? Pretty sure it was built before 1975.

 

[fanofjesus]

574369 WF

I thought I saw a date of 1983 could that be true?

 

[repairguy]

Your dryer was manufactured in March 1975, so it was one of the last of this style built. They were called halo of heat dryers. The ones made after this had a completely different design and were called stream of heat dryers.

 

[repairguy]

Here is the part you are looking for. If you are not familiar with the workings of a gas appliance, I would recommend you having someone who is install this part. Even a tiny gas leak could cause a fire, explosion, or worse. On a lighter note I hope this info helps and you are able to get your 45 year old Maytag back into service.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[fanofjesus]

Thank You I will give that part a try.

 

[combo52]

Bad Dryer pilot Safety

This part is not a thermocouple, you can not find them at hardware stores or plumbing supply houses.

 

It is instead a pilot safety, it has Mercury in it, the pilots heat makes the mercury expand and apply pressure on the round bellow end and this holds the gas valve open as long as the pilot stays lit, if the pilot goes out this safety will close the gas valve within 15 seconds.

 

The one pictured on Ebay is not exactly the same, but you can probably drill out the rivets and use it on your dryer.

 

These are fairly easy to install and you are unlikely to cause any gas leaks etc doing so, just check your work with a soap bubble solution if you have any concerns.

 

Also follow the instructions for adjusting the new safety, after you get it all working be sure to test the adjustment by blowing out the pilot and gas flow to the pilot and main burner should stop in 15 seconds or so.

 

John L.

 

[fanofjesus]

Thank You combo52

 

[fanofjesus]

Thanks Repairguy for the link to the part got it on now and it works. Is the pilot light the right size? It is about 1/4 inch higher than the box it sits in and goes out to the end of the pilot safety. One new question is the deal on the right side of the gas line the pilot adjuster? It looks like it takes a six sided tool?

 

[combo52]

pilot size?

The Steel plug screwed into the valve body is a test point to test the gas pressure in the valve after the pressure regulator, I have never used one.

The pilot flame size is not adjustable, the tiny pilot orifice regulates the pilot gas flow, if the pilot is too large you might have to replace this part, are you operating this dryer on Natural or propane gas ?

John L.

 

[fanofjesus]

Natural Gas

 

[fanofjesus]

I think it looks good here is some video

 

[combo52]

Pilot Size

That does look about right, A pilot on a gas dryer like will burn $3-6 dollars of gas a month and about twice that dollar amount if you have propane.

 

If you only do laundry once a week or so you are wise to turn off the gas between laundry days, both to save money and to save the damage to many dryer components that the moisture and other combustion products that the constant burning pilot causes.

 

John L.