I have a Hayward propane pool heater (60,000) BTU. The pilot will light fine and remain lit. I then turn the unit to the ''on'' position and the burner will kick on. The unit appears to work fine for about 5 mins, but will then shut off. The burner and the pilot light will go out. The heater has not been used in a few years....any suggestions?

there are a few things you can check. make sure you have a good fuel supply. make sure the pilot light is lit. (just because the pilot is on doesnt mean you have good fuel supply). the pilot may be out of adjustment from the burner rail. the igniting burner rail may be dirty or blocked

The lighting instructions are usually located inside the heater on the inside of the access panel or on the firewall near the gas valve.

Most millivolt heaters require you to turn the gas valve knob to the pilot light position and then depress the knob while lighting the pilot through the pilot hole. This varies depending on the exact model.

If your pilot light is lit, then you do have some gas flow, so it is probably the thermocoupler (the part heated by the pilot light) that is not telling the gas valve to open the main line. Sometimes it is just a case of residue on the thermocoupler that is not letting it get up to temperature and sometimes it has been knocked out of alignment and the pilot light is not putting direct heat on it.

A cleaning with steel wool (don't overdo it) would take care of the residue, and you can GENTLY move the thermocoupler back over the pilot flame. If neither of that helps then replace the thermocoupler.

GET A NEW PRESSURE SWITCH.. CALL AND ASK FOR A PRESSURE SWITCH FOR SAY A HAYWARD POOL HEATER .. LOOKS LIKE THIS ..EBAY Pressure Switch Hayward generic pool heaters also H100

clean or replace the flame sensor

this link is for the parts diagram
http://www.haywardnet.com/inground/products/replacement_parts.cfm
if this helps please vote

YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE TUBE FROM THE CONTROLLER TO THE PILOT TIP APART AND CLEAN OUT THE ORFICE AS THE SPIDERS MAKE NESTS IN THEM.

Check the thermocouple that the pilot light heats up. If it is not working then the gas to the pilot will not stay on.

hayward millivolt htrs are very difficult to light manually.i'm assuming your piezo ignitor is mal-functioning.use a grill lighter withn a goose neck and follow aluminu pilot tube to pilot hood

check millivolt output,if it is in normal range(400-600)check for continuity on pressure switch,flame rollout and high limits.