cojoromo

Well,  I myself have to experiment on occasion.   Most of the time,  I find that tradition is correct.   About 5 percent of the time, I make a new discovery.   Some times learning what doesn't work can also be valuable.  I look at the label on your bucket, and it says "cement"  and its recommended use,  probably indicates a thin layer.  It's kind of like trying to make a mold of something and using Mortar.   Mortar is for gluing bricks together.  Used alone  in a mold or form, and you end up with something that is very weak.  Mortar used alone will crumble and has very little strength.   

^{I did find a thermocoupler at Lowes.   8.00    and it fit.   But that was not the problem.    Nothing came on when I turned the switch on.  So I jumped the switch, and the motor hummed and the solenoids clicked, but motor did not turn.   I opened the vent of the vane chamber and realized the motor was not free.  The motor has a grease tube.  I put some wd40 in it, and I also lubed it from the front shaft.   It began to loosen up slowly.  Once it appeared loose enough,   I applied power to it.  The blower came on, and after a minute it came up to full speed.   I lit the pilot, and the chamber fired up.  It coughed and  backfired when I would close the door.  It was a little scary, as I was worried it would backfire and burn me.  It even popped and made the door open.  So I closed the door partially.  and it didn't backfire as much.  After about five minutes,   The internal chamber heated up cherry red, and it quit backfiring.   Then I closed the door completely, and it didn't cough or backfire at all.  After running about 15 minutes, and it was smooth operating.    I suspect the unit may not have been run in 15 or 20 years,  so maybe that was part of the backfiring problem.    The only problem I have to fix,  is the switch.  It looks like a 1960's switch,  so I don't think I'll find one like it.    I paid 11.00 for it at the school board auction.   I think I made a good deal.}

I recently purchased an old Johnson gas forge.  It is a 90,000 btu shaped like a mailbox model number 120k.  I am not familiar with its operation.

The question I have,  is what controls the blower motor.   I light the pilot light, and hold the button,  but it will not stay on,  it goes out when I let the button go.  When I flick the blower switch,  nothing happens.  I suspect that the motor will not blow until another gas valve switch allows it to.   I think the thermocouple may not be working.  Is this a unit universal?  Is it something I can get from Lowes?   Thanks in advance.   Corey