Gas Components

Gas components are used in cooking equipment like Vulcan and Southbend to make sure the equipment such as a Pitco fryer or Blodgett oven function properly and safely.

Safety first. Safety is the key word. In general, follow these simple safety tips. Allow the equipment to cool. Keep water out of fryers, keep most equipment 6” away from the wall. Use gas hoses with quick disconnects and strain reliefs like Dormont and Jet Force. The equipment should be cleaned as much as possible before you start. Don’t cut corners to ‘get by’, do the job right, if you aren’t sure then don’t do it and hire someone that does. You’ll sleep a lot better. Disconnect equipment while working on it. Be aware of the location of the on-off power switch and shut off valve (make sure valve is not jammed). Check with a power meter to make sure it’s really off. Never work when a floor is wet. Don’t’ leave a control jumped for longer than a few seconds. If you smell gas turn equipment off and then turn back on after gas has dissipated and listen for leak and apply soapy water to identify the leak location (never use a flame). Cap all unused gas lines. When changing gas controls like Robertshaw or Baso make sure the control is designed for the proper gas application, LP or Natural gas. Always use a pilot lighter when lighting pilots.

Do not attempt to work on equipment if you don’t have these basic tools handy. You will need them. The most common tools to have are various screwdrivers (a real big one too to pound on and a tiny one to calibrate with), needle nose pliers, grip type pliers and a crescent wrench (non-metric). Multi-meter is essential to test volts and ohms (is the electricity flowing thru the switch? If not, then the switch is bad). A flashlight with extra bulb and batteries or charger. Allen wrenches, wire strippers with multiple hole sizes. A tape measurer, sharp knife, wrenches from ¼” to 9/16”. Jumper wires, 2 each, #14-gauge wire at least 2’ long with insulated alligator clips. An oven thermostat, metal, really made for use inside of an oven to test the temperature setting on a thermostat. (Don’t read the thermometer by opening the door). Get models for measuring grills and fryers too. We have a complete set of tools specially designed for kitchen repair.

Supplies, again should be readily handy. Nothing worse than having to run to the store for something. Silicone, food grade, zoom oiler with a flex spout, 20wt, pipe thread sealant, Teflon tape, electrical tape (the good stuff, 3M), high temperature glass cloth tape (wont melt). Several feet of wire; #14 THHN stranded wire and hi temperature nickel hinge wire. (You don’t think you’ll need it till you do). Hi temp gas valve grease, finger nail polish (keeps screws from moving like calibration screws if you apply it to the threads). An assortment of screws, connectors and various generic infinite control kits. Don’t forget your soap solution. There are many more tools you may need depending on the complexity of the job. This should be your starter kit.

The common parts for gas equipment such as in Imperial Range and Frymaster fryers are manual gas valves, gas regulators, orifices (natural or LP), air shutters, burners, Robertshaw or Baso combination gas safety valve, thermopiles, thermostats for ovens like Market Forge and fryers like Star-Holman, ignition modules (ignitors) like Fenwal for Middleby Marshall and Lincoln conveyor ovens, solenoid valves such as Asco and Parker, pilots and pilot tubes, basic round gas burners, radiant burners and direct fired burner units.