GE Gas dryer 9 years old

[jumptrout51]

Did a "won't start" call on a 9 year old GE gas dryer.
Busted knob. Easy fix.
After replacing the knob started the dryer. It fires. Then it starts popping, backfiring etc. Flame will die, or blow out. It does re-light, then pop, backfire etc.
Removed door cleaned all lint from machine, left vent off back. Same problem.

LP gas supply. Plenty of gas.

My thinking is weak valve coils.
What are your thoughts?

[Repair-man]

My thinking is weak valve coils.

I am in agreement, as long as you place your voltmeter leads across the valve coils to verify that something else is not modulating the voltage to them rapidly. If the voltage remains a steady 120 or so during the popping episode, then the  coils are highly suspicious.

If not, there is the radiant sensor to worry about, since it must  transfer power to those coils. If possible, please provide the model number so we can look at it too.

[JWWebster]

Sounds to me like they are shutting down the gas supply to the dryer untill they need to use it.

[jumptrout51]

Sounds to me like they are shutting down the gas supply to the dryer untill they need to use it.

I thought about air in the lines also, needing purging.
Not the case here.

[RegUS_PatOff]

and it has been working fine up till now ?

LP conversion was done ?
 
correctly ?

[jumptrout51]

According to the conversion sticker it was changed in 1999.
Yes, it has worked OK.

I did a "too long to dry " call on this machine 2 months ago. Connecting vent was totally stopped up with lint. When I did a airflow test on heat cycle it did not make the noise then. Heat was good.

She said drying fine, just would not start. The start knob was stripped inside.

This is a rental. The owner is out of town. I can't speak to him abou this until he returns.
Just trying to get my ducks in a row.

[Repair-man]

Do this quick test:

Unplug the dryer and remove the 2 wires from the radiant sensor. Join them together with a paper clip, clothespin or tape, then  plug in the dryer and start a cycle. When the ignitor glows red hot, separate the 2 wires and observe what happens. Be sure not to touch the wire ends to you or anything else, since they are hot. You might have someone unplug the dryer so you can safely reattach them to the sensor.

Let us know the outcome.


p.s. I carry a spare refrigerator light switch for just this purpose. I attach the sensor leads to the switch so I can safely cycle the  burner.