Vanette Gas Hob issue

[junior]

Afternoon...

 

I had my BSS done yesterday and it picked up that one of the rings on my Vanette 4000/2 hob is not working. I had no idea as I only ever use the front left ring. It's the back right, and despite having 3 others that are working fine and I can easily cope with a 3 ring hob, apparently it's not acceptable.

 

Every so often I notice a little pool of water on the hob which I suspect comes in the mushroom vent directly above in heavy rain, and mop it up with kitchen roll. I suspect this water has pooled in the bottom of the ring and caused corrosion and ultimately blocked it up.

 

Is there anything I can do myself to repair? Can the visible metal but with 2 screws be removed to clean it up? I've tried looking for second hand ones for sale and they seem few and far between. In fact I can only find one at the moment and that's in Gloucester and is collection only. 

 

If I need to replace the whole hob, what do I need to consider?

[Alan de Enfield]

 

If you really do not need it, would removing it completely and PROPERLY capping off the supply to that ring be sufficient to pass the BSS?

[Tony Brooks]

As you do not explain what "not working" actually means, my first action would be to remove the jet/injector from the base of the "pot" and ensure the tin hole is clear. It is the hexagon brass thing in the centre of the pot. Although I don't see any danger from checking the jet myself, I can not advise that you do it unless you are competent for gas work (holiday boat) or GSRI registered for a live-aboard.

 

I would only try to remove any loose dust/corrosion.

[David Mack]

Most likely the jet is blocked as a result of the accumulation of dirt/crud/corrosion (assuming that the control valve is working OK but no gas comes out of the jet).

Jets can be cleaned (carefully) but don't use anything metal as that will damage the jet hole. If you can get the thing apart it may be possible to unscrew the jet completely which will make it easier to clean or replace entirely. A replacement jet is a fairly standard part and should not be difficult to source. The manual (probably online if you don't have a copy) will say what size jet is needed for each burner for lpg.

Tinker at your own risk if you are not registered as 'competent' for gas.

[Tonka]

My father in law used to clean them with Ammonia 

[Tony Brooks]

51 minutes ago, David Mack said:

 

Tinker at your own risk if you are not registered as 'competent' for gas.

 

 

Actually, for a holiday boat you only need to be competent, not registered in any way at all. It is the proving of that competence that might prove difficult in the event of a horrible accident, but many years of safely doing gas maintenance might go a long way towards that.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, David Mack said:

Most likely the jet is blocked

 

 

It IS blocked. I can see it is in the photo! 

 

 

[junior]

31 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

 

It IS blocked. I can see it is in the photo! 

 

 

So the jet is the small brass looking circle in the middle? 

How can you tell it is blocked? Should you see a hole in the middle?

 

I wonder if I used a toothbrush followed by softer bristle brush to agitate whilst having the hoover sucking, it might clean it out?

 

Or do you think it's more likely to need dismantling?

[magnetman]

 

A pin or needle or a can of pressurised air can help. 

 

 

 Be careful the pin or needle is not too large and don't force it (as the actress said to the bishop). 

 

 

[philjw]

If you have no luck getting the jet unblocked, I have a couple of incomplete vanette hobs which I kept for spares. I could give you a burner if you are happy to dismantle your existing hob. There is not much to it if you can get out the screws which hold down the hob and those holding down the burner.

PM me if you need one.

Phil

Edited January 31 by philjw

[Tony Brooks]

51 minutes ago, magnetman said:

 

A pin or needle or a can of pressurised air can help. 

 

 

 Be careful the pin or needle is not too large and don't force it (as the actress said to the bishop). 

 

 

 

It might be safer, jet size wise, if you try (say) a single paint brush hair or one from  soft fllor bush.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, junior said:

So the jet is the small brass looking circle in the middle? 

How can you tell it is blocked? Should you see a hole in the middle?

 

I wonder if I used a toothbrush followed by softer bristle brush to agitate whilst having the hoover sucking, it might clean it out?

 

Or do you think it's more likely to need dismantling?

 

Basically yes, the hole in the middle is about the size of a pin and clearly blocked in the photo. Unscrew the jet using a 7mm box spanner then boil in white vinegar for five minutes on one of the working rings. DON'T turn the gas tap on on the ring you're working on. In fact pull the control knob off before you start.

 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

5 minutes ago, MtB said:

white vinegar

 

 

Wonderful stuff - we had a problem with the 'quick-disconnect' on the oxygen system hoses as they appeared to be totally siezed up with lime scale, I took them off the regulator and put them in a tub of white vinegar for about 45 minutes, they came up like new, and the vinegar was all cloudy and full of muck.

 

After soaking, the collars slid up and down and the 'locking balls' retracted and locked the hose into place.

The 'brass' connectors were almost grey/white when I started.

 

 

[David Mack]

8 hours ago, MtB said:

DON'T turn the gas tap on on the ring you're working on. In fact pull the control knob off before you start.

Better to turn the gas off at the bottle until you have the whole thing reassembled.

[MtB]

4 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Better to turn the gas off at the bottle until you have the whole thing reassembled.

 

Tricky to "boil it in white vinegar" as I suggested if you do that....  

[junior]

Just thought I'd provide an update as I like to if possible. When I've got an issue with the boat I always look for previous threads on here to help me, so maybe this could be of help to someone in the future.

 

I took the top bits off the affected gas ring and hoovered out the cup around the jet. I then agitated the top of the jet, first of all with the fine kids size paint brush you see in the picture. That didn't really do much.

 

I then rubbed the small children's toothbrush you can see around the sides and top of the brass jet. Then I turned on the gas and pushed the knob down to see if I could hear any gas coming out. Nothing....

 

.... HOWEVER...

 

When I let go of the knob I was amazed to see a squirt, and then steady trickle of water come up and out of the jet. I dried this out with tissue and then pushed the knob down again...this time I heard gas coming through. 

 

I cleaned it all up, replaced the top bits of the gas ring, and hey presto it all works fine.

 

5 mins work....and to think I nearly drove to Gloucester to purchase a second hand hob 😂

[Tony Brooks]

The moral of which is don't let things boil over and fill the burner up - or don't buy one where a previous owner has allowed that to happen.

[Rob-M]

I hope you're going to buy a new toothbrush.

[Tonka]

2 minutes ago, Rob-M said:

I hope you're going to buy a new toothbrush.

If the child hasn't seen this thread they will not know 

[Cheshire cat]

There are plenty of youtube videos showing how to clean a jet. Some are better than others............