Q Why will my gas hob not light?

During a recent trip in the motorhome (a 2004 Bessacarr E725), when we tried to switch on the gas hob, it wouldn’t light. The hob has a glass lid, which needs to be fully open before you are able to light any of the gas rings.

I sprayed some WD-40 on the glass lid hinges then we managed to get the rings to light, but still had intermittent problems when sometimes it would light and sometimes not.

I think there must be some sort of valve which allows gas to flow when the lid is open, but shuts off the gas supply when the lid is closed? I am guessing the valve might be sticking following 20 years of use.

Do you know if it is possible to clean or lubricate or even replace the valve?

Don Wright

A I believe that there is a small plunger-operated gas shut-off valve that is pressed in when the glass lid is closed to shut off the gas supply to the hob. It is not part of the hinges, but is situated close to one of them.

Many different hobs use the same lid-operated gas shut-off valve and this is the Rangemaster P024376. Or it could be the Thetford product. Without full details of your hob it is difficult to be sure as your motorhome model had several options of hob and hob/oven.

I would not tamper with this, but get a trained Gas Safe engineer to replace the valve for you and carry out the associated leak and safety tests.

The valve itself is not expensive, at around £13 if it is the Rangemaster P024376 or a fair bit more for other bespoke caravan equipment. Your Gas Safe engineer will be able to identify it.

The P024376 genuine lid gas shut-off valve is compatible with multiple (76) Flavel, Leisure and Rangemaster appliances and hopefully yours is one of these. There are many outlets selling this, such as

Cooker Spare Parts in south Wales

cookerspareparts.com

02920 452510

I would telephone the company first if you are ordering this part yourself.

Clive Mott