Replacing a canner gauge
 

I started canning some wax beans this morning and after 10 minutes of venting, I noticed the dial gauge was still on zero. Usually it's between 11 and 15 psi, so I figure that the gauge is shot.

I've been storing it with the lid upside down and maybe dust or moisture got in there and rust or something plugged it up. Anyway, it dosen't work, and I'm a little uneasy using it with just the weighted gauge.

It's an All American 930. Any problem with replacing this myself, or should I send the lid in to have it replaced?

Should I expect to replace a dial gauge around every 1 or 2 years? We do use this thing quite a bit, so I wouldn't mind to much if that was the case.

Anyone else ever have a similar problem?

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

1st off, I would not immediately assume the gauge to be awry.
Insure positive sealing at the lid (it only goes on one way) and that your spring valve or weight valve is not the culprit.

Both the gauge and the spring valves screw into the lid with the same threading. Just take your time and care with an open end wrench making sure not to cause cross-threading. Neither part requires any expertise to replace.

Edit: Don't store the lids upside down.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

Troubleshooting Guide for All American Canners:

http://www.foodforthought.net/assets...leshooting.pdf

Go all the way to the bottom.

Part No. 72 Steam Gauge Does Not Register
Do you have water or liquid in the unit? Your pressure cooker requires 1 �” of water or the
amount called for in the recipe or canning instructions in order to produce steam. It is critical
to understand the importance of having water in the cooker when in use. If there is not
enough water in the pressure cooker, it could boil dry and ruin the unit.
ALL-AMERICAN pressure cooker canners are weighted-gauge canners. The pressure gauge
is supplied as a reference only for when the unit is pressurized and timing for canning may
roughly begin, or when the pressure has dropped to zero and the lid may be safely removed.
The accuracy of your steam pressure gauge should be checked annually before the canning
season, or several times a year if unit is used often. Your county extension agent or home
economist may provide this service. You may need to replace your steam gauge.


Not to question your abilities but to ask if we overlooked the obvious, did you put the weight on?

Again the obvious, it won't build pressure untill it is restricted by the weight.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

Pressure gauges are pretty reliable and very simple. I would be suprised if the guage itself is bad.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

My presto is taking quite awhile to get to pressure. I was wondering about the guage but the regulator spits a lot of water when at pressure. I just bought a new presto today and it got to pressure in no time and very little moisture coming out near the regulator. Do regulators (weights) have to be replaced periodically? I'm planning to replace the rubber parts soon but was also wondering if my gauge or something else was not working as designed.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

yup, can't believe it but I did this today (and I have canned before), just got to talking and plum forgot to put the register on when steam built up. silly me:confused_ma:

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

I had to wonder the same thing.....from the OP description "after 10 minutes of venting, I noticed the dial gauge was still on zero."......which it would unless you put the weight on the vent port.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

You're right again, group.

I didn't even think to put the weight on to see if that allowed the pressure to build.

But in defence of my scatterbrainedness,

In all the times I've used the canner, the dial gauge has always registered between 5 and 10psi while exhausting the steam, even before placing the weight on the port, so I assumed that the dial gauge was messed up.

The lid was on correctly and had the correct amount of water. Haven't used
it since March, so maybe I'm forgetting something else.

Oh well, back to the owner's manual.

Thanks for the help all.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

There is a saying that mainly applyes
to the males of the species
but works for everyone..

When all else fails

Read the manual.

With us dudes I think it is a genetic
thing...


That also goes with asking for directions.


:15_1_70v:


:biggrin:

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

It definitely will not get up to any gauged pressure with the vent open from the start.
Look into replacing the vent with a spring-loaded one. They are much more versatile.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

I beg to differ SLV. Last night after work I filled the canner with 1 1/2 inches hot of water, tightened the lid down, and turned on the gas. No jars or racks inside, just water.

It started exhausting in around 5 minutes, and within another 5 minutes or so, the dial gauge was up to 8 psi already. I didn't put the weight on the port at all.

So I don't know if that's the way it's supposed to work, but since I've got this thing last fall, the dial has always registered a pressure before I put the weight on.

As for the gauge, maybe it was clogged, because when I lifted the lid & shook it, I could here the little bearing or whatever inside the gauge. I'm guessing that's what it was.

Seems to be working now, I just won't store the lid upside down anymore.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

I have had the AA921 for the last couple of years, and its never registered anything but zero w/o the weight on it. Ive been processing pints/qts of green beans and corn for the last 3 days. Maybe check to see that the vent pipe is clear? maybe partially blocked?..... just tossing Ideas out.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

May be possible to do that on a gas range.....you could put enough BTU into the canner that the open vent couldn't exhaust steam fast enough and you'd get a rise in the pressure gauge reading.

On an electric stove, I don't think it would happen.....the large eye on most electric stoves is 1500watts, which is a bit over 5,000 BTU.
But lot of gas stove/cooktops have 15,000 to 18,000 BTU "power" burner eyes.

That turkey cooker burner I often set my American on is about 50,000 BTU......but I've never paid any attention to the gauge.....I just let it vent a while and throw the weight on the vent, wait for it to start to rattle, and then I check the gauge, then adjust the heat to maintain pressure.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

I use both AA921's on gas stove eyes and there is no pressure head developed on the gauge at full rolling boil and the stopcock held open.

I'm agreeing with Shorty, the vent may be blocked and the gauge may be faulty. Personally, I'd recommend replacing both components.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

I use it on a turkey frying LP burner with the gas turned wide open to start. The vent port appears to be open, I check that every time.

I think I'll just go ahead & order 2 ports & 2 gauges to replace them and have 1 of each for spare parts.

Thanks for all the help everybody.

Re: Replacing a canner gauge
 

You may be generating enough BTU to get a head, then. 8psi sure does sound awfully high, though. I mean, when you open a stopcock at 8psi the release is sustained and pretty danged strong. If your gauge is reading 8psi with the vent open then you should have a pretty strong and wet airstream coming from the vent. I still have a hard time believing 8psi could be achieved with the vent open.

I've used a turkey fryer to heat an AA921 bottom half for pasteurization purposes but I've not used it to actually pressure cook.