Settled on a new range!

[vrusp1]

I bought a new range for my kitchen refresh and I'm pleased with the purchase. It's a Kenmore from 1974 and it was never installed, so it's brand new (for the most part). It's a drop-in gas range in stainless steel with a black glass door - very sophisticated looking. I drove it down from Boston last month and dropped it off with my tech, who is going over it. She's found an issue with the oven thermostat. It won't turn, it's frozen. So she ordered a new one, but that one is also frozen. The model number of the stove is 155.3567590. Is there a known issue with thermostats freezing up for some reason? She's going to disassemble it and see if she can solve the problem, but I thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone had any input. Attached are a picture of the range and the original catalog listing from 1974.

 

[combo52]

Seized or stuck thermostat

I would try soaking the thermostat head in penetrating oil, etc. it will probably free up. I would do that before taking it apart although if you have a spare, there’s probably not much to lose.

Not sure who made these ranges. It might’ve been a Vesta or something beware of the brushed chrome top it will rust easily. Don’t use it as a spoon rest. It’s not real stainless steel.

Otherwise, the range should work pretty well. I don’t think I’d wanna live with four pilot lights burning all the time in my kitchen, however.

Keep in mind that this is a continuous cleaning oven. Don’t ever use oven cleaner in it. You’ll never get it all rinsed out it will look terrible the continuous cleaning oven actually worked pretty well as long as you didn’t spray oven cleaner in it, lol.

John L

 

[littlegreeny]

Hopefully you figure it out

We had a harvest gold Kenmore gas range with a continuous cleaning oven growing up. That oven was amazing! It always cleaned itself and just required an occasional wipe. It had spark ignition so no pilot lights.

 

[vrusp1]

I'm glad to hear about the continuous cleaning oven! I agree about the pilots. I wish it was electronic ignition. The one I have now has 4 pilots, so I'm used to it. I'll take the advice about the stovetop to heart and make sure I have spoon rests and wipe it down.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The other thing you could do is lift the oven thermostat knob and put an electric range under it.

 

[vrusp1]

Alas, my kitchen doesn't have 220 power, it's an old building and my contractor doubts they have the power available to equip the apartment with 220 without blowing a circuit breaker in the basement and it would require tearing up more of the kitchen and apartment to run the wiring, so electric isn't an option.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Looks like a nice range, and it's too bad not new ones aren't made as this one, that well, anymore...

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

[tomturbomatic]

You're working with what you have and there's a lot to be said for that. Best of success. If you have any 20 AMP circuits, you might want to acquire an induction cooking unit for when you need some power.

 

[thatwasherguy]

Congrats on your new stove!

According to the manufacturer code (the first three digits of the model number), your stove was made by Preway. I don’t think I’ve seen a drop-in gas stove before (outside of the micro-sized ones in RV’s, that is). Lots of luck with it!
Thatwasherguy.