Map 1 – Just the gas system parts

I’ve tried to explain, in words, how my OKM gas system flows from the main supply pipe all the way thru the myriad of valves, components, pipes to where the gas burns. It’s a lot to explain. It’s even harder for someone else to take in, if they are new to vintage gas stoves. Visuals can much more fun. 🙂

Gas stove plumbing isn’t much different than water plumbing. It’s a system of pipes, fittings and burners. Just like water plumbing, gas plumbing must be leak proof. Usually, the flow progresses from big pipe to small. Like going from an interstate to a local highway, to a town street to a driveway.

When I looked under the hood of my OKM the first few times, I was like, “WTH! What is all of that? How am I supposed to figure that out?” I did learn quite a bit by slowly disassembling and reassembling OKMs over the years. Gradually, things started to make sense.

While gas stove models have undergone quite a few changes over time, newer features, newer safety parts, increased efficiency, etc., the core system is the same; gas flows into the plumbing, gets routed, gated by valves, then released to be burned at the appropriate time and place.