{"id":1554,"date":"2024-01-18T01:49:38","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T01:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desiredcreations.com\/blog\/?page_id=1554"},"modified":"2026-03-16T18:22:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:22:51","slug":"making-lucy-safer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/desiredcreations.com\/blog\/my-okeefe-merritt-stove-restoration-intro\/making-lucy-safer\/","title":{"rendered":"Making \u201cLucy\u201d Safer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After doing a bit of basic cleaning, I called the plumber to visit (Nov 10, 2013) to hook up the stove to the kitchen\u2019s gas line. He was the first one to show me the process of lighting all the pilots, the proper burner flame characteristics and setting the oven and broiler safety switches to light those burners. The broiler wouldn\u2019t light at that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I left the pilot lights going, left one kitchen window open, closed the kitchen doors and left the room. A couple hours later when I returned and opened the kitchen door I got slammed by a very strong gas odor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I shut off main gas supply and called PG&E. They were quite responsive. A technician arrived a few hours later and started checking the stove for leaks with a gas leak detector. Most prominent leak sources \u2013 oven pilot light area and the oven thermostat itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then he checked the stove\u2019s capabilities. He demonstrated how the burner flames should look, advised me to clear the burner holes of accumulated ash, especially since one of the burners took too long to light. He adjusted the venturis (shutters) and valve gas flow orifice caps to get the proper mixture of air and gas to the burners. He detected the broiler\u2019s thermocouple was too weak to function so it could not open the gas line once heated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK. What\u2019s a thermocouple? How does it get weak? How can I stop the oven pilot light from leaking? Am I in over my head?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NO! I will learn, no matter how long it takes. It\u2019s worthwhile and kinda fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PG&E told me something I found very interesting. He said they are trained on those old stoves to learn the basics of gas stove functions. It seemed like Lucy was a great chance for me, as a big DIYer) to learn as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved the idea of keeping one of these mighty tank-like appliances going. It was motivational to think a 60+ year old American appliance was still in good enough shape and could outlast anything I\u2019d buy today. There was no planned obvious self-destruct; no planned obsolescence coursing through this appliance\u2019s arteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This stove was designed to literally last for generations. How cool is that? Today, corporations are too greedy to give a consumer a break. We\u2019re lucky to get anything to last more than 1 year. Then we have to purchased extended warranties to hope for better protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next visitor was a local antique stove expert (Marc Stagi) I paid to do a diagnostic. He confirmed the weak thermocouple and sold me a new one. He even hooked it up and the broiler lit up like a champ. He said the cooktop burner controls felt stiff and should be lubed. He gave me a bit of valve grease and advised to be very stingy when applying it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I had already disassembled and reassembled one burner valve simply out of curiosity, I understood what needed lubing and the reason for the advice \u2013 excessive grease can clog the valve openings, preventing the gas from flowing properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the parade of experts, it was clear my major goal was to deal with all the gas leaks. I didn\u2019t know what was involved, other than to follow the PG&E technician\u2019s recommendation to replace the oven thermostat and investigate why the area around the oven pilot light leaked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I started considering all the other points where gas could leak. So I devised a basic gas management plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n