Gas valve/pilot combo for Whirlpool LTG787 ca. 1968

Hi Brain this was a frequent problem on dryers with this system as they aged [ Maytag HOH dryers all had this problem eventually ]

The part that fails is the pilot assembly, it get weak or develops a leak, it has mercury in it and they quit making them a long time ago, I think this part is the Pt. # that you posted, if you can find a new one great or as suggested by Sean the entire burner assembly could be changed from another WP-KM dryer that has electric ignition and you get rid of the gas wasting pilot.

The good news is only a limited number of WP-KM dryers even back in the 60s and 70s had constant burning pilots so often finding a complete burner assembly is possible.

WP built these special models with constant burning pilots because gas companies around the country would only sell and promote gas dryers to their customer's if they used as much gas as possible that way once they got a new gas dryer in the home even if the customer still hung much of the laundry outside they were guaranteed a certain amount of gas being used every year.

With better pictures of the complete gas burner I can see if we have the part or complete burner assembly needed.

John L.


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 1111605 3/15/2021 at 22:57 (1,136 days old) by btb001 (INDIANAPOLIS)
Checkrate/Likes Can anyone suggest where to find a gas valve/pilot combo (part number 338895) for the Whirlpool gas dryer model LTG787 (~1968). Thank you for your help! View Full Size

Post# 1111630 , Reply# 1 3/16/2021 at 06:58 (1,135 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *Fixing A Gas Burner On A 1968 WP Gas Dryer* With a constant burning pilot. Hi Brain, the gas burner assembles on these dryers are normally repaired by replacing individual parts, what part do you need, I may have it, Also what problem are you having with the burner assembly, I differently know how to fix it. John L.

Post# 1111742 , Reply# 2 3/17/2021 at 00:12 (1,135 days old) by btb001 (INDIANAPOLIS)
Checkrate/Likes Hi John, Thank you very much for the reply. My niece who has the dryer said that a serviceman indicated that that the pilot light cannot be kept lit. My understanding, which could be incorrect, is that we need the gas valve/pilot combo part, which I believe is part number 338895, no longer works. That being said you probably know far more that I do about what the problem may be and I would defer to your expertise. I have a photograph of a wiring diagram but it's too blurry and I'll need to have my niece take another photo if that could be of use to you. Brian

Post# 1111747 , Reply# 3 3/17/2021 at 00:35 (1,135 days old) by Maytag85 (Sean A806)
Checkrate/Likes It more than likely is possible to convert it to electronic ignition and you won�t have to deal with a constant burning pilot light corroding the insides of the dryer out and I essentially had to go through all the wiring on a Maytag Gas HOH dryer I acquired 2 years ago since the wiring in it was quite corroded from the years of constant burning pilot light. I only light the pilot when I want to dry something in it then turn off the pilot as soon as I am done drying a load of laundry in it.

Post# 1111783 , Reply# 4 3/17/2021 at 07:39 (1,134 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Constant pilot WP Gas Dryer, Pilot Won't Stay Lit* Hi Brain this was a frequent problem on dryers with this system as they aged [ Maytag HOH dryers all had this problem eventually ] The part that fails is the pilot assembly, it get weak or develops a leak, it has mercury in it and they quit making them a long time ago, I think this part is the Pt. # that you posted, if you can find a new one great or as suggested by Sean the entire burner assembly could be changed from another WP-KM dryer that has electric ignition and you get rid of the gas wasting pilot. The good news is only a limited number of WP-KM dryers even back in the 60s and 70s had constant burning pilots so often finding a complete burner assembly is possible. WP built these special models with constant burning pilots because gas companies around the country would only sell and promote gas dryers to their customer's if they used as much gas as possible that way once they got a new gas dryer in the home even if the customer still hung much of the laundry outside they were guaranteed a certain amount of gas being used every year. With better pictures of the complete gas burner I can see if we have the part or complete burner assembly needed. John L.