1 burner too high, 1 burner too low, Maytag gas range

[slantsixdan]

Suddenly and without external cause (no other repair work or disassembly, unit not moved, etc.) I'm experiencing a strange problem with improper gas/air distribution to the rear burners. The left rear is getting too much mixture (flame too high at "hi" setting, yellow-white tips reach far above burner grate), while the right rear isn't getting enough (flame far too low at "hi" setting, extinguishes when moved lower than med-hi). I've removed and inspected the burners themselves and found no obstructions or other irregularities in the burners or the supply orifice below the burner.

...?  :shock: Thanksgiving is coming up in days (Canada) and I gotta have this stove working 100%!

Thanks in advance.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

If the other burners are working properly, then the problem is either in the sealed burner head or the shutoff valves for the affected burners. Start by swapping out the burner heads with a good burner and see if the problem moves to the other burner.

[slantsixdan]

Good call, there. I removed the flame-too-low burner, inspected it more carefully with brighter light, and found a spider's egg sac blocking off most of the throat. I removed what I could by mechanical means (dental pick) then flushed all four burners vigourously with denatured alcohol. Found a fair amount of crud in the bottom of the flushing can when I was done. I adjusted the slide clamp on the too-high burner so as to admit more air, dug up four spare gaskets and reinstalled the burners, all of which are now working properly.