Sticky LP gas valve?

[EVOLVO]

I have an Empire LP heater in my wife's studio. She hasn't been out there much this winter but yesterday she went out and set the thermostat to 64* and came back in the house till it warmed up. After an hour she went out and the heater had not lit. I figured the pilot was out so I prepared to relight it. Went out and as I shook the unit as I was removing the front panel I heard the unit light. Same thing today, didn't light, I actually gave it a fist bump and the unit lit.
Any idea why it's sticking? Is there a way to fix a sticky gas valve?

 

[SALIV8]

What voltage are you getting at the gas valve?

 

[nbpt100]

If the voltage is correct it Might be more reliable to replace it.

 

[The Cobbler]

friend had similarissue with gas fireplace, ended up a bad tstat connection on the gas valve

 

[EVOLVO]

What voltage are you getting at the gas valve?

370 milli volts. I think that should be plenty. I can hear the pilot running when I'm at the heater. I almost spent $$ on replacing the valve last year till I figured out the pilot wasn't turned up enough to produce the required volts.

After I just checked the voltage I set the temp to 80* and it came right on. Shut down as soon as I set it back down to 40*. Could it just have been "sticky" from not being used for months?

 

[Strouty]

I am no help, but I thought it would be good to have more Swedish support. Of course I have my sympathy avatar up now, someday this post will make sense.

 

[Dagny]

With milivolt systems all electrical connections have to be perfect. I would clean all of them.

 

[Adk Mike]

Very rarely is the gas value itself.

 

[Brian_WK]

Yep jumper straight on the valve bypassing the thermostat. If it starts up its the stat is it doesn't start it's the valve possibly the thermopile. I have had stats have lousy connections.

Brian