Pitco 14rs pilot won't stay lit. 2 years ago we tried replacing the thermopile, no luck thermopile is still there. I tried to get the burners off for better access to pilot and valves, but cannot can burners off after they are unbolted. Trying to single down what component can be bad, and how to take apart fryer to replace.

If you are referring to a gas fireplace:

• Make sure the pilot knob is turned from "pilot" to "ON" or it will never run.
• If the pilot knob is "ON", and the pilot is lit, but the burner won't light, it could be a bad Thermopile. The thermopile is the other safety mechanism in the pilot assembly that controls the burner.

Hi there.
Try cleaning the thermopile, it must be free of soot or any form of dirt. Ensure that the gas pressure is sufficient, all wiring connections are tight and the hi limit is good.
If all of these are okay and the pilot still wont stay lit, try replacing the thermopile.
For Owner's manual download that will help you in minor fryer troubleshooting and reference, visit http://www.pitco.com
Regards.

Check the gas pressure, it must meet the standard gas pressure written on the nameplate. Check also the quality of pilot flame, poor pilot flame quality will not properly heat up the thermopile which in turn will result in poor fryer operation.

Check if the the gas pressure is sufficient (as stated on unit's nameplate). Check if the hi limit device is good. Check also if the thermopile (cylindrical metal with two wires standing behind the pilot hood) is receiving enough heat from the pilot flame. The voltage generated by thermopile should be 500millivolts in order to open pilot and main valve. If there is 500millivolt on gas valve thermopile and the pilot flame does not stay lit, you have to replace the gas valve. If the thermopile is glowing red and the voltage generated does not reach 500 millivots, you have to replace the thermopile.

You have to check the following:
1. Does the pilot flame has the ability to heat up the thermopile? Themopile must be properly heated in order to generate voltage to open the pilot valve as well as main valve.
2. When the thermolpile is heated, does it generates 500 millivolts? If not, your thermopile needs replacement. If it does and still the pilot flame wont stay lit, your gas valve needs replacement.
3. Does the hi limit device has continuity on its terminals? If there is no continuity on hi limit terminals, you have to replace it. One of the thermopile wire passes on this hi limit terminal to cut the voltage supply on pilot valve in case the oil temperature reaches 450F.
4. Check and tighten all wiring connections, millivolts generated by thermopile will not pass on loosely terminated wiring.

http://www.pitco.com/PDFs/manuals/Economy/L20-257.pdf

Check if your pilot flame sufficiently heats thermopile during operation and make sure also that it is free of soot or any form of dirt, thermopile generates small amount of electricity to energize pilot and main valve of the gas valve for pilot and main burner operation. This electricity passes through hi limit mechanical contacts. Hi limit on fryers act as safety device which will shut down pilot and burner flame when oil temperature reaches 450F.
If your fryer is set at 350F and over shoots up to 450F (which will trip hi limit and shut down pilot and burner flame), the thermostat is not good, but, if hi limit trips on temperature much lower than 450F, hi limit is bad.

Check the thermopile, it must be free of dirt or soot so that it can absorb enough heat from pilot flame and in turn can generate the right amount of voltage to energize pilot and burner coils.
Check also the gas pressure, it should be of standard as required on the unit's nameplate.

Assuming that the pilot is lit, when you turn the thermostat from off to the operating temperature, you should hear a click at some point. If you do not, the thermostat is defective. You can also double check this by detaching one of the two wires going to the thermostat and measuring for continuity between the two terminals. At off it should show no continuity. At 200F or above it should show continuity. This is the most common problem.

If the pilot will not stay lit or if it goes out when you increase the thermostat setting, it is usually a defective or weak thermopile (or thermocouple), or a defective gas valve. If replacing the gas valve, I recommend replacing the thermocouple or thermopile at the same time.

Restate your problem if the pilot won't stay lit or if it goes out when you turn the thermostat up.

if you changed the thermopile and still have the same problem make sure that the sensing bulb is directly over the flame. If it is and the thermopile is installed correctly the next thing would be the gas valve.

Hope this helps