Co2 Generator Repair

I have a CAP Gen1 propane four burner unit.
Flawless operation for 6 years until this week.
Noticed pilot light was out. Normal procedure would not
allow the pilot to remain lit. Used a torch to heat thermocouple end and the burners lit up.
when they were done the pilot went out as the unit cooled.

thermocouple needs replacing?

chiqifella said:

I have a CAP Gen1 propane four burner unit.
Flawless operation for 6 years until this week.
Noticed pilot light was out. Normal procedure would not
allow the pilot to remain lit. Used a torch to heat thermocouple end and the burners lit up.
when they were done the pilot went out as the unit cooled.

thermocouple needs replacing?

Click to expand...

maybe try blowing some air into pilot might have little crud in there,not strong enough to heat thermocouple gas man here.

chiqifella said:

I have a CAP Gen1 propane four burner unit.
Flawless operation for 6 years until this week.
Noticed pilot light was out. Normal procedure would not
allow the pilot to remain lit. Used a torch to heat thermocouple end and the burners lit up.
when they were done the pilot went out as the unit cooled.

thermocouple needs replacing?

Click to expand...

Sure sounds like the thermocoupler.

Wunderwi said:

Sure sounds like the thermocoupler.

Click to expand...

yes it does to a unskilled ear,did u hear where it worked with more heat

I couldnt hear the switch but
the pilot only stays lit after I cherry red the thermocouple, then shuts back off when it cools down a bit.
the burners were hot enough to keep it open maybe. I ordered a thermocouple, be here monday. Thanks for
the help gas guys!

chiqifella said:

I couldnt hear the switch but
the pilot only stays lit after I cherry red the thermocouple, then shuts back off when it cools down a bit.
the burners were hot enough to keep it open maybe. I ordered a thermocouple, be here monday. Thanks for
the help gas guys!

Click to expand...

for the hell of it try blowing air into it,when I was servicing gas appl always had can of compressed air made me lot of billing hrs

You can also check the thermocoupler with a multi meter.

chiqifella said:

I couldnt hear the switch but
the pilot only stays lit after I cherry red the thermocouple, then shuts back off when it cools down a bit.
the burners were hot enough to keep it open maybe. I ordered a thermocouple, be here monday. Thanks for
the help gas guys!

Click to expand...

Wunderwi said:

You can also check the thermocoupler with a multi meter.

Click to expand...

yup most cases u can c it with your eyes tip be burned off if he got 6 yrs out of first one he is ahead of game,we always changed thermos when called out ,no mater what it looked like cheap safety

Wunderwi said:

You can also check the thermocoupler with a multi meter.

Click to expand...

thats awesome! I wouldnt have ever guessed this. when my new one comes I'll check it and the old one too.
how does the heat produce millivolts?

thumper60 said:

for the hell of it try blowing air into it,when I was servicing gas appl always had can of compressed air made me lot of billing hrs

Click to expand...

I did that....the pilot sure burns nicer, thanks! but the pilot still going out when I remove the torch.
pipe dope or yellow teflon tape sir?

chiqifella said:

I did that....the pilot sure burns nicer, thanks! but the pilot still going out when I remove the torch.
pipe dope or yellow teflon tape sir?

Click to expand...

only reason I though weak pilot was u hit it with torch an it lit, no tape or dope needed for thermo

thumper60 said:

only reason I though weak pilot was u hit it with torch an it lit, no tape or dope needed for thermo

Click to expand...

makes sense.
the pilot sparks up good when i press the over ride button while it heats the therm..... to speed up the re light I've used a little torch on the thermo, maybe the reason its fooked up now right maybe ha!
I see with a clean pilot burner now the flame is bigger/hotter/.. wont need to speed it up with a torch lol. fook me

chiqifella said:

I have a CAP Gen1 propane four burner unit.
Flawless operation for 6 years until this week.
Noticed pilot light was out. Normal procedure would not
allow the pilot to remain lit. Used a torch to heat thermocouple end and the burners lit up.
when they were done the pilot went out as the unit cooled.

thermocouple needs replacing?

Click to expand...

I would pick up a new one.
I had lots of gen1’s without issues, and just as many with. The worst of them was when the the fuckers wouldn’t shut down, due to bad solenoids. Some sketchy shit.

Them gen1’s only have a single solenoid. All newer co2 generators that i’m aware of have two. If one fucks up and get stuck open, the other will still shut the thing down.

I finally got rid of my last gen1 around a year ago. Allot less stress.

yes thermocouple needs changing. this is the cheap fix also.
what is the cost of the gas valve? to repair the unit, just incase

generic thermo= $8
spare thermo on shelf= $8
R&R =6 minutes
C02 =priceless

The pilot heated the thermo for seconds only- then the burners came on. works like new now.
thanks amigo's

good luck with everything for the future

I’ve aways just cleaned TC with sand paper.
Never needed to replace one.