Airtemp furnace

[maypo52]

I have an old Airtemp furnace that has a problem. When I turned it on the first time this season the burners would not light. The pilot light ignites and then I hear a click (assume gas valve should open) to supply gas to burners but no joy. The pilot then goes out for a couple of seconds then it comes back on and it retries again. I'm thinking a thermocouple problem, maybe.  Anyone have any experience with furnaces? Any ideas? I took a video of the symtom an tried to upload it but I got an error(not a valid picture format). The video is about 6.7 mb. it was the lowest quality setting on my camera.

This is an Airtemp model 45083F 1421

[Pegi]

I have no clue, if my central did not work I would be calling someone myself... lol...we will wait for one of the others in here to log on and see your question...

[maypo52]

I posted the video on youtube appliance group so you can see the and hear the symptom.

Here's the link:

[yt=425,350]euLDpRYn-OI[/yt]

[accapp]

Can you post a pic of the ignition control module? From what I can see, this system does not utilize a thermocouple, the piece of metal the pilot flame washes over is called the flame sensor. First thing to try is to clean the flame sensor with a piece of fine steel wool.

[maypo52]

I took the pilot light section apart and cleaned it up. It was fairly gunked up. I also vacuumed all the junk from the burners and from under the burners. I should have taken a photo to show how much (I dont know what to call it) stuff was laying in and around the burners.

This is a picture of the thermocouple, I think.

And now I have fire

Thanks for the help

[rickgburton]

I think you just had air in the line.

[maypo52]

That's a possibility I suppose. But I'm glad I took it apart and cleaned it out. It really needed it.

[AJ]

Glad to hear you got it working again. 

[accapp]

The thing you call a thermocouple is actually a mercury flame switch. When a call for heat comes from the thermostat, the pilot valve circuit on the gas valve is energized along with a spark module to ignite the gas. Once the flame switch closes due to heat the main valve of the gas valve opens up and the big fire comes. They don't make them like this anymore and there is probably a reason. You can still get parts if you need them.

[JWWebster]

Now that's what I am talking about.