Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: bbeane on January 04, 2019, 09:20:26 pm

Title: Gas water heater
Post by: bbeane on January 04, 2019, 09:20:26 pm
Been messing with the Atwood water heater for the last 2 mos. it will light and run 2-5 min the shut off then do it all over. Other times it will when cold it will start and run fine. It has a dinosaur board, the jet is clean, the grounds have been cleaned, the terminal on the board has been cleaned, T stat and eco sw are new. I'm leaning towards a flame sensor or gas valve. What say the jury?
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: kenhat on January 04, 2019, 09:35:55 pm
One more thing to check is propane pressure. You might also pull the propane line at the water heater turn propane on and listen at the line. If you hear gurgling you probably have  oil in the line back at the propane tank.

see ya
ken
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: stump on January 04, 2019, 10:25:38 pm
One more thing to check is propane pressure. You might also pull the propane line at the water heater turn propane on and listen at the line. If you hear gurgling you probably have  oil in the line back at the propane tank.

see ya
ken
Safer turn shutoff valve on LP Tank off disconnect hose and drain it. I got about 4 TBS out of mine 3 years ago Coach is a 91.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: stump on January 04, 2019, 10:27:59 pm
Barry you could have  a touchy switch on your kitchen cabinet if the contact is getting weak it could be playing with you also. Not necessarily the heater itself.
 
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: bbeane on January 05, 2019, 10:34:39 am
I will check the gas line. I going to assume the regulator is good as all other gas appliances work fine.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 05, 2019, 10:39:50 am
I will check the gas line. I going to assume the regulator is good as all other gas appliances work fine.
Do you use a water softener, Brucie?
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: bbeane on January 05, 2019, 10:54:52 am
I do Mike, and flush the tank out a couple times a year.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 05, 2019, 12:11:34 pm
I'd forgotten: last year the hwh was 'cycling' on & off: sometimes it would work and then........a smart tech found the problem: a fuse/breaker. Replaced........hot water on demand!  ^.^d
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: John Haygarth on January 05, 2019, 12:20:41 pm
Mike that is not a fuse in the normal sense, it is a resister that acts like one and acts to sense any back flame from burner tube. The way to check if it is faulty is disconnect that wire and hook it up to bypass the themostat wire etc and if the water heater runs good then you have faulty parts that are easy to replace and find available. I think I explained it correctly?
JohnH
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: bbeane on January 06, 2019, 10:30:43 pm
Well now, water heater is working fine. The gremlins must have left don't know. We'll see.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: gracerace on January 06, 2019, 11:00:06 pm
Well now, water heater is working fine. The gremlins must have left don't know. We'll see.
Time for a new Moho to go along with that cool Jeep dude.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: bbeane on January 07, 2019, 12:10:13 am
Time for a new Moho to go along with that cool Jeep dude.
Haven't hit the lottery yet 🌵😎👍🍺. Thought about coming your way to talk about fuel lines later this summer, as you are a man with extensive knowledge of those things.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 07, 2019, 10:12:16 am
Yup, Iearned it was not a fuse, in the true sense, and my guy said it's common problem and a lot of people replace the board without results. Cost a big $18.00!  ^.^d [
add on: found the invoice, my tech called it a "Atwood Cut-off'.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: Tom Lang on January 07, 2019, 12:01:25 pm
That fuse is a thermal fuse. It blows when it reaches its rated temperature. I carry a bag of replacements after suffering multiple failures. The cause was the air adjustment for the flame was out of whack. All fixed now.

Bypassing the fuse is an easy temporary fix.
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: fkjohns6083 on January 07, 2019, 06:35:34 pm
My hot water heater was doing strange and UN-predictable things due to a faulty switch.  I replaced that sw and all is fine so far.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Title: Re: Gas water heater
Post by: bbeane on January 10, 2019, 12:33:28 am
Replaced the ignition/sense assembly, all seams to be good.