{"id":1607,"date":"2024-01-18T03:14:34","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T03:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desiredcreations.com\/blog\/?page_id=1607"},"modified":"2026-03-16T18:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:22:52","slug":"robertshaw-bj-oven-control","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/desiredcreations.com\/blog\/my-okeefe-merritt-stove-restoration-intro\/robertshaw-bj-oven-control\/","title":{"rendered":"RobertShaw BJ Oven Control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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If you determine that your oven thermostat won’t regulate the oven temperature and the heat just keeps increasing, typically you have to replace. Thermostat repair is not really a DIY project, unless you have very specialized equipment. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only useful DIY info I can share with you is sharing how I found  the proper replacement thermostat and how I installed it. Also it is possible to send in a non-functional thermostat and get it rebuilt. That could be a better option if you cannot find the proper update to your model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A critical component of my stove that didn\u2019t seem to work right since I got it was the oven thermostat. Because I didn\u2019t have any OKM stove documentation yet, it took me a while to realize that O\u2019Keefe & Merritt stoves didn\u2019t have O\u2019Keefe & Merritt oven thermostats \u2013 they had RobertShaw brand thermostats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing that really helped reduce my confusion when reviewing search results for how the things were supposed to work, how much new ones cost, how many different models there were. Ah, the famous Robert Shaw thermostats. Nice, purely mechanical oven temperature regulators \u2013 no electrical hookup needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So back to my problem. My stove came with a sad, half broken Robert Shaw BJ model oven valve and thermometer.  How did I know? It did allow gas to flow when turned on, and it could stop the flow when turned off. When lit, the burner flame was low. Basic testing by PG&E and myself indicated the thermostat itself leaked gas from the front stem and near the back of the unit. Possibly enough gas was leaking from the thermostat to impact the amount getting to the burner? It\u2019s biggest failure was the thermostat could not regulate the temperature. That meant the temp would continue to climb higher and higher, no matter what the dial was set to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing RS Thermostat Repair Options<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Surprisingly, these little mechanical stove jewels and their updated cousins are still available but at a \u2018sit up and notice\u2019 wide price span of $150 \u2013 $650! Well ain\u2019t that\u2019s just grand. Best prices currently are at Repco in Texas<\/a> Make sure to call them; ignore the website inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My other option \u2013 send it out to the same folks to rebuild. That was actually no cheaper! The thing was, getting my thermostat rebuilt meant I would get the right\/original thermostat for the oven. If I ordered one I\u2019d have to make sure to get the right model. RobertShaw has been updating and expanding their line of BJ thermostats since at least the 1940s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the oven gods had smiled upon me. A seller on ebay had a small collection of new RS oven thermostats for $85! Eighty five dollars and free shipping! I figured it had to be ones I couldn\u2019t use. So I searched for all possible online sources. Incredibly, I actually found similar replacement models ranging from $200 \u2013 $600. That made it even harder to forget the $85 dollar one. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only problem \u2013 assuring what was for sale would be a proper replacement. My stove\u2019s model was a \u201cBJ\u201d. The ebay models I found for sale at that time were BJWAZs; BJ replacement kits with VC4500-005, -006 units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Huh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t ask me. I didn\u2019t name the things. But know this\u2026 There are a lot of specifications to these thermostat controls including;<\/p>\n\n\n\n