My amazing 1964 GE Americana P7 stove
 

Well, one of the large 8" burners, a sensi-temp burner, just went out and I went on line to see about a replacement element. Looks like it dates to 1964. Was here when we moved in 33 years ago and has been in use ever since.

I cannot find a model number but from reading a blog from 2010 I think it may be J797D2.

We have cooked many a Thanksgiving Day-Christmas Day turkey and I have made about a zillion pancakes on the griddle which fits over the sensi-temp burner.

Hope I can find a replacement.

They certainly do not make them like this any more. Like my '81 300SD for dependability.

Our kitchen gas stove dates from the 1920's. Still working fine. The latch on the broiler failed recently though. Held in place by a magnet currently. Not sure I can find a replacement spring latch.

Wow.

I've always had luck sourcing parts for appliances from these guys:

Appliance Parts and Accessories, and Repair Appliance Parts - FoxMacon.com Since 1948 - Find & Order Parts

Eng - could not find anything about my model J797D2 there.

What is exactly wrong with the sensitemp burner? Did it throw a spark? No heat, or getting too hot?

Sorry, Lorainfurniture; did not see your question until now. The old burner just stopped heating at any speed.

The burner arrived and I replaced it. However it is lacking the spring loaded center cap (like an upside down thimble) which was connected to a set of yellow wires inside a metal rod and disappearing into the stove. These wires were broken off the ceramic mechanism inside the center cap and may have been the only thing wrong with the burner. But it looks integral to the burner and not separately replaceable now that I think of it.

On the new burner I just have a fixed round cap with says Genuine Calrod. The 4", 6", 8" features still work but I do not think it will sense the temp setting with this new burner.

So I am not sure what to do. Called the supplier and they said this 1964 range was so old that they had neither pictures or parts numbers to see if there was a burner with the spring loaded center cap. (I am also not sure that J797D2 is the model number; cannot find it on the range and I found a 2010 blog where a lady seemed to have an avocado P7 with this model number - I figured it was close enough. Mine is white.)
Anyone out there have a suggestion?

Maybe a GE service outlet? Many of the new stoves do not meet the wives approval for baking. The older stoves in general seemed better overall.

The only improvement I liked was the replacement of the analog clock timer assembly with the digital units.

Tyl604:

That button in the middle is the "sensi" in the sensi-temp burner. You can try and pop that cap off of your new one and see if the transponder will fit through.

So at this point is your burner working?

Lorainfurniture - Yes, it is working fine but has no sensi-feature.

The spring loaded button that you mention is a ceramic gizmo with two wires coming out the bottom; the wires are protected by an 8" metal rod and then disappear into the stove. The wires are attached to the underneath surface of the button in what looks like a ceramic puddle but the wires are broken off and I see no way to reattach them to the ceramic puddle.

4-6-8" feature works fine but the dial with temperature settings just seems to give a low, medium, and high heat and I do not believe it any longer knows how hot the pan is getting nor does it turn itself down or modulate the temp.

I kept the old burner and may go out and fool with it. However the way it is made it does not look like it was ever separate from the burner element. I actually think I got a close, but not exact, replacement burner. Probably did not have the exact part number; in fact I guessed at the model number because I never was able to find it on the range.

The way to test is with a pot of water. Im not super familiar with those units, but every one I worked on I noticed the transponder was a separate part.

If the wire is broken under the sensor then it is likely it won't regulate. Look on eBay for "ge burner transponder", or sensitemp, or ge vintage burner sensor.... etc. If you can find one, don't be shy, they sell for a good buck.

Thanks. Will try that.

Last night before I fell asleep I think I may have figured it out. The burner itself is still OK. If I could just repair the wire that goes to that sensi-temp pop-up, it would probably work. As I remember the burner would not get hot until you put a pan on it and pushed down the pop-up. I surmise that the pop-up completes the circuit. So I think that broken wire represents a circuit break and there is nothing else wrong with the burner.

Not sure that does me much good but I enjoy the noodling to figure out what went wrong.

Called GE - sensor part number is WB21X154. No longer available. Sold separate from burner as you thought.

Correction. Part # is WB21X5207 and I cannot find one anyplace. One sold a year ago for $50 but I do not see another.

Removed it and took it to a elec repair shop. He said it could not be repaired.

Ideas anyone?

Well, I found one in London, KY. $160 shipped to Atlanta. Wow. Hope it works. For a silly thermostat. The guy did say that he always recommended that folks keep their old stoves if possible because the new product is not nearly as well made.

Put it perspective. $160 and your stove will be fixed. Cheapest piece of junk new stove will set you back $500.

I've sold some of those in the past for right around that price.

Actually $300 including the new burner (which I may not have needed) at $140. But it has been a fun experience. I am a firm believer in fixing something if possible.

Not fixed yet; but I am optimistic.

But, boy, does this new burner get hot. Much hotter than the original.

And just for grins I may grind the ceramic puddle off the bottom of the bad sensor and take a shot at fixing it myself. I really think the guy at the elec repair shop just did not want to go to the trouble of seeing if he could fix it.