Thank you! I’m here because we bought one used and the fire kept going out even after the 45 seconds…. I just plumed the tank right to the the burner and turn the tank off and on to regulate the flame. I will “fix” this tomorrow with this new information.
Finally, I’ve watched countless other videos on RU-vid to try and fix the problem that you’ve so eloquently explained. Unfortunately, I wasted a lot of time, I wish I would’ve found yours first. I did just what you explained, cut the spring out, and it works like a champ! Thank you thank you thank you😊
Oh my gosh, THANK YOU! I have been struggling to fix our firepit for months and was about to cave and buy a new one. I cut the spring out and works like a charm, you are the best. Also loved the drawing and mechanics walkthrough, very helpful.
You are the man!!!! Been trying to figure out, self diagnose, Google and had no luck. Finally stumbled upon your video and this was the exact fix!!! Seriously thank you so much! My family gets a lot of joy out of this and we are happy to have it back!!
Our table had the same problem. Would only stay lit suddenly today if you held the knob in. My wife rushed to start shopping for a new one while I hit the RU-vid search and thankfully came across your solution. Only took me a few minutes using some CA glue to hold the plunger back after removing the spring and it works great now, and saved me $800 in the process. Thanks! 👍🏼
Thanks! The thermocouple, was my issue, tried several things first and was about to give up or pay for a repair or replacement, Wifey found this video so she deserves some credit.
I was about to give away my fire pit. This video fixed my problem. Now that it’s getting cool I can enjoy my fire pit. Your diagram really made it click in my brain. Thank you so much!
I bought 4 small tabletop fire pits from Home Depot that were nearly being given away. I figured there may be something wrong with them or they weren’t in style, but I got them for $25 each and the thermocouples were the only issue. Thanks! Fixed and working perfectly!!
Echoing many other comments. This worked! Thanks very much! I actually just snipped the spring, but left most of it in, and then compressed it and glued it with super glue. I had seen another video that noted tightening the thermocouple was key, but that did not work. It was snug and had not loosened up even though the fire pit is 4 years old. I even went to home depot to see if they sell thermocouples, but they don't. Was in touch with Hampton Bay but had to wait for a more experienced tech to call back, but have not heard back. It does seem like a design flaw. I wonder how many people either buy a whole new thermocouple or a whole new fire pit!
We’ve had the exact firepit for a couple of months now and wasn’t able to figure out why it was turning on but I had to hold it down for it to stay lit, we were going to forget about and maybe throw it away. I was looking at many other videos and non of them worked until I saw yours, we cut little by little of the spring until it finally worked. We are so happy we finally got it to work, we are incredibly amazed and thank you so much it was a great help!!!
I concur with all the favorable comments. Thought mine was an altitude problem (Colorado), thought it was that loose copper tube so many “experts” suggested. Thought about throwing “the damn thing” away. Tonight, after kneeling and pressing that damn button for 8-minutes (‼️) I watched your video. I used my iPhone light and a metric wrench … removed the thermocouple … cut the spring out in the garage with a diagonal cutters … reinstalled … FIRED UP IMMEDIATELY AND PERMANENTLY. We are always in attendance when in the fire pit is in use, so we have no safety concerns with this modification. You made the last two hours of flame enjoyable … and I’ll never need to kneel for 8-minutes (‼️) AGAIN. Thanks!
Dude! You are a gentleman and a scholar! Our patio fire place finally after 100s… yes 100s of times we’ve had to light and relight and relight and relight - finally now lights once and stays lit!
OMG..... thanks a million for your video. I was just about ready to take my entire gas fire pit unit to the dump. Well, actually I was planning on selling it, and then when it was not staying lit, then I was going to take it to the dump. But, thank God, and You ... that I found your video. I removed the spring of that piece, and pushed it in and super glued it, and it is working perfectly. I just need to make sure to tell the buyer to ALWAYS turn the gas off on the tank. Thanks again for your video!
Great 2 videos. Like a ton of other people I have a Hampton Bay pit that shuts off at random times. Did all the customer service thermocouple swap-outs and adjustments. But after your videos I learned how it works and now I know I had it backwards. I thought the thermocouple was getting too hot and shutting the fire. It's actually not getting hot enough to keep the fire burning. That also explains why my test kept the pit burning when I used a high gas setting but would go out on a low gas setting. Thanks for the education. Off to adjust the thermocouple one more time before bypassing it.
Amazing- bought a new fire table from Walmart and couldn’t get it to light. I was ready to give up and return it. This fix worked immediately! I cut the spring and wrapped the thermocouple in in yellow gas line Teflon tape to keep the end from moving. Thanks for sharing this video!
It does work! Thank you. It is as clear and easy to follow as possible. Drawing really helped. The only thing I'd add is to have a really good nail clipper or something to Cut the spring. I also yanked it off using a needle nose pliers and just pulled the spring off and that used silicone caulking to hold it in place. JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE IT UNATTENDED FOR LONG IN CASE IT BLOWS OUT. IT IS UNLIKELY BUT POSSIBLE. Save money on parts, which I didn't do and spend too much time trying to replace those parts. Amazon instructions make it sound easy. it's not! All the other how-to's show new firepits that are easy to disassemble. It's not so easy with a used partially rusted one full of glass or lava stones. This worked and took 10 minutes.
Dude! Thx to this video, I just fixed my FREE "left on the side of the road as trash" fire pit! Still hv to light it with a lighter though. About to hv a cup of cocoa! Thank you!!! 😉
Nate u rule! Me&the Misses bought a used fire table online knowing it had running issues I bought a new valve replaced it same issues ugh I checked out you’re video now it runs and I’m the hero, thanks to you. Much respect!
Just finished... and it works GREAT! FINALLY I can ENJOY my fire pit. I DID ONE BETTER... I simply CUT the plunger off with my wire cutters. THANK YOU!!!
Holy Cow! The manufacturer (Sunbeam) had already sent us 2 replacement tables. The 3rd one a year ago and then all of the sudden same issue, wouldn't stay lit unless you held it in. 150 Articles and RU-vid Videos with no fix, here we are!
Thanks for the video; I learned something. But for accuracy, what you call the thermocouple is not the thermocouple, it is a solenoid valve. The thermocouple is the part at the end of the wire that gets heated in the fire. A thermocouple is 2 dissimilar metals connected together that create an electric current proportional to their temperature. The fire causes an electric current in the thermocouple that generates a magnetic field in the solenoid valve. The valve his held open by this magnetic force as long as the thermocouple is hot.
Unreal.....works better than new now without that damn spring. I was going to toss the whole firepit and get a new one. Best simple fix video yet, THANK YOU!!
Thanks. I see no need for a thermocouple on an outdoor device. There is no way for gas to build up outside if the fire goes out. Disabling it also makes a fire pit much easier to light.
Thanks man. Search few videos and finally you took time to explain it! Got free fire pit table but won’t stay lit. Hint free lol. I’m going to try your suggestion tomorrow and give it a go!
Nice, thanks. Not sure about the need to glue or tape the solenoid - should it slide out of position (unlikely), just push the button and your back in business.Other solutions (cleaning around the thermocouple, etc) will have to be repeated every so often - this is a permanent fix. As others have noted, safety is not a big concern for an outdoor table, and we don't ever leave it on without being near...
Which the small one closest to the copper wire or the larger cap? I suggest using two wrenches. Put one on the larger cap to hold it in place then another on the small nut to break it loose. Righty tighty lefty loosey.
The larger silver one where the solenoid resides. I’ll try your suggestion of two wrenches. -- except that I don’t know where to use the second wrench for the larger silver one. I already got the copper wire nut loose - it is just the larger silver one that is so stuck. Thank you so much for the ridiculously quick response! 😁
@@kphelps9583 the two wrenches was for removing the small copper wire nut. The silver cap should break loose fairly easily. You have a wrench on it and it won’t budge or are you afraid to push too hard? Push hard or hit the wrench with a hammer while it’s on the cap to try and break it loose. Or spray with Wd-40 to try and loosen it up a little. Only options I can think of.
@@nateice1 thank you. Unfortunately, I’ve tried both; still not moving. I am going to try it again today as I thought maybe the WD-40 could sink in a little bit better overnight and I’ll try it again. Or I may try to go find a socket to fit a torque wrench or something. It’s not budging. I’ve also read that I could heat it slightly with a blow torch and let it cool a bit, and that might help as well.
Do all the fire tables come with this little knob that I have to tighten up lol I bought a long rectangular one and I can’t seem to find it and I’m having issues with mine right out of the box. Thank you for your awesome video and I will subscribe. You deserve so many more subscribers. Very informative. Thank you. I appreciate all your help. Lots of love from Canada.
Unfortunately it’s hard to say. It should have some kind of similar safety valve but can’t say for certain. Is it not staying lit or having other problems?
Dude actually said safety first by turning off propane. The thermocouples job is to only let the fire run when theres fire. Gas leaks are bad. On a day with low temperature and no wind, it will pool and become explosive
@@nateice1 propane is heavier than air, and in no wind conditions it mixes with the air at ground level and expands outward. Do that in a fenced in area and you could blow off all the hair in your body if there is a source of ignition. The thermocouple is a safety device.
@@nateice1 well let's say that someone decided to turn off the propane to do an idiot mod, then turned it on without realizing they left the valve open when they turn the propane on, then they go to the bathroom, come back and poof.
Help please - I just did this, mine is older so it’s made differently. The spring was on the dial side so I had to take the whole thing apart. The only problem I have is that it only goes to the first level of heat. I can’t turn the dial any more. Should I do what some of the others have said and clip par of the spring vs. removing the whole thing? I’m so happy I found this video!!
Mine went out randomly and wouldn’t lite. It turned out to simply be that the battery in the button that produces the spark was old and going out. Replaced battery and good as new.
This is awesome. Life saver! Removed the spring and working like a charm! My question is - I just removed the spring but didn’t put anything there like a silicon or glue. Do you think it be okay? Or should I put something there? Pls advise.
@@calmrelaxationtosleep5725 to keep the plunger pushed in so it works properly. If the plunger slid back out it would cut off the gas flow and the fire pit would not work. It may stay pushed in, but the silicone or glue just make sure it won’t move in the future.
I tried this fix and couldn`t get the burner to fire up at all. Was able to get the burner going in the pilot setting before but had to hold the knob. Through some reading I see there is a millivolt charge created by the thermocouple- an extra safety feature the unit requires maybe? Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you
Sounds like the regulator on your gas supply line is bad. It’s the round metal thing near the propane tank connection. You would have to buy a new hose.
Great video, was about to shit can the fire pit which hasn't worked in months... and its working again! Does that part with the spring have a specific name? I would love to get a replacement. Thank you!
Help! absolutely cannot get that silver cap off. It won’t budge. Since my husband passed Ive fixed so many things by myself via wonderful RU-vid videos such as yours. And now I’m so close to getting this addressed but that valve simply won’t come off. I’m using crescent wrench from my husband’s tool chest
Not much you can do. Maybe try some wd-40 behind the cap on the threads to try to loosen it up. Or use an angled pipe wrench to hold the other side while you crank on the cap with a wrench. Last resort would be a torch or maybe even a lighter to heat up the cap to expand it and loosen it up. Good luck!
Thank you, I wrenched on it so hard that the rest of the firepit crumbled at the base and the casters came off. It was completely rusted out underneath. I’m ordering a new set and will remove the springs as soon as I unbox them. Appreciate the helpful tips.
