Jotul Lillehammer GF 200 DV - pilot yellow, how to adjust?

[lisahorn]

Hi - I have an older Jotul Lillehammer GF 200 DV that has been converted to LP. I've been having trouble with the pilot light not reaching out far enough to the thermocouple and can't figure out where to adjust the pilot. I found the brass screw which is supposed to make it bigger or smaller, but it's very yellow and it seems like I should be adjusting the air shutter, but I can't figure out where to do that? There's not any lever or wingnut anywhere.

I only found in the manual that you can adjust it on the burner tube, but does that adjust for the pilot too? I'm so confused!

Thanks for any help!

 

[DAKSY]

The air shutter setting will not affect the pilot flame. It’s located at the origin of the burner tube near the orifice to allow for proper ATF mixing. The pilot is adjusted by the brass screw on the face of the valve. Have you verified the incoming gas pressure? Did the pilot orifice also get changed out? Is the gas line shutoff fully open?

 

[lisahorn]

The air shutter setting will not affect the pilot flame. It’s located at the origin of the burner tube near the orifice to allow for proper ATF mixing. The pilot is adjusted by the brass screw on the face of the valve. Have you verified the incoming gas pressure? Did the pilot orifice also get changed out? Is the gas line shutoff fully open?

Thanks, Bob. I haven't checked the incoming gas pressure - not sure how to do that? When I adjust the pilot using the brass screw, it doesn't seem to change much, if at all. I did a cursory clean up of the cleaned up the thermocouple and thermopile with a fine grit sandpaper and that helped get the burner going, but whenever the stove turns off and cools down a little, we can't get the burner going and sometimes the pilot goes out as well. In looking at the pilot, it just seems like it isn't going far enough out. It's yellow. I tried to clean the orifice a bit as well, but haven't gone full-on taking it out, etc. I feel like that might be beyond my abilities. I find that if we just keep the stove going/hot, it works fine. Is there any other way to adjust the pilot? I'm trying to do the easiest trouble-shooting before I call a tech. If I adjust the gas pressure - I saw there are two tiny screws labeled in and out - can I just try to adjust one of those or is that dangerous?

 

[DAKSY]

The in & out screws are the gas valve pressure ports. That’s where you can check the gas pressure coming IN from the tank & flowing OUT to the burner. You will need a manometer, & the hose will attach to those ports. Can you post a pic of the pilot flame?

 

[lisahorn]

The in & out screws are the gas valve pressure ports. That’s where you can check the gas pressure coming IN from the tank & flowing OUT to the burner. You will need a manometer, & the hose will attach to those ports. Can you post a pic of the pilot flame?

These are the best I can get. You can see the pilot flame doesn't quite make it to the thermocouple - it does better on the other side to the thermopile (I think I have that right?). When I keep the thermostat set high, the stove stays hot enough that the burner comes on fine, but if I turn it down and the stove cools down, the burner won't come on and often, the pilot goes out.

Also, thanks for your help and being kind about me not knowing anything.

I doubt that I'll go so far as to get a manometer, etc. unless I am pretty convinced I'll be able to adjust the gas pressure myself. How would I do that and is it safe for someone who is just figuring stuff out/non-expert to do? I think I get the basic gist of how all of this works, but the manual is not super informative on the gas pressure bit.

 

[Lennox65]

These are the best I can get. You can see the pilot flame doesn't quite make it to the thermocouple - it does better on the other side to the thermopile (I think I have that right?). When I keep the thermostat set high, the stove stays hot enough that the burner comes on fine, but if I turn it down and the stove cools down, the burner won't come on and often, the pilot goes out.

Also, thanks for your help and being kind about me not knowing anything.

I doubt that I'll go so far as to get a manometer, etc. unless I am pretty convinced I'll be able to adjust the gas pressure myself. How would I do that and is it safe for someone who is just figuring stuff out/non-expert to do? I think I get the basic gist of how all of this works, but the manual is not super informative on the gas pressure bit.

I would try cleaning the pilot orifice. That flame looks dirty and lazy.

 

[DAKSY]

If you shut the unit down, remove the glass front & then the log set, you can get us a better pic of the pilot flame . If it’s turning up (candling) before it gets to the thermocouple, the tech may have not changed the pilot orifice…

 

[Millbilly]

That's a dirty pilot assembly. Not "miss adjusted". Pull the hood of and remove orifice with an Allen wrench. Clean everything with pipe cleaner and an air puffer

 

[lisahorn]

Thanks, all. Is cleaning the orifice something that a moderately handy person can do? The main thing I'm concerned about is getting it back together without any kind of gas leak. I've not worked on anything with gas and it's a bit scary.

Based on the manual, it looks like the top part (hood?) pulls off after removing a spring clip, then a hex key to pull out the orifice.

I'm willing to try this, but wondering if there are any dangers, things to watch out for, key bits of advice to make it happen smoothly/safely? Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[all night moe]

No worries of a gas leak when cleaning an orifice.

 

[Millbilly]

Really depends how handy you are. Best case hood pops right off. Worst case it's rusted to the pilot assembly and you need to replace that.