J796B4 General Electric Range - Instructions

This model has a top oven and a bottom. The repair was to the top oven. I shut off the electricity to the oven at the circuit breaker box.I removed the grates and unscrewed the two screws holding the burner in place. I gently pulled the burner free along with its two attached wires. I removed the two screws that retained the connections to the burner. I installed the new burner in the reverse order. Turn on the circuit. Good to go.

I am left handed which sometime presents things in a aweward way. My greatest task was finding the right position and being able to hold the leads while trying to connect them. So I got a pillow and positioned myself and got into the oven and was able to do the job from there. After doing so, it took about 10 minutes to do the replacement.

We unscrewed the element easily enough, but had a hard time disconnecting the prongs. Once we did, we had to use a thin screwdriver to open the clamps to fit the new prongs into them. After all was accomplished and we switched on the breaker the broiler still didn't work. Either we did something wrong or the element wasn't the problem. We haven't decided our next move yet; whether to get a repairman in or buy a new oven. It's a pretty old oven/range.

Asked a local repairman to fix it. I saved money(saved $20.00) by ordering the broiler element from GE part select via customer service agent. The agent was informative and helpful. The part arrived the next day even with regular shipping cost. Impressed with the GE part select. Will use the company again.

Replaced the old with the new following directions (mostly).

I called the local GE appliance & sales place, informed them that a friend of mine had found the part on Partselect.com, after they told me the part was no longer made, could not be found. My friend that found Partselect was going to install it for me himself but then I decided it might be best to have the dealer do it, in case something went wrong. I can not buy another stove because they no longer make the upper/lower stove like this model, I would have to rip out my cabinets! plus I do not have the money they are asking for a new stove.. Besides the fact that I LIKE this setup! 27 yrs. old, top oven was always 50 degrees off, but I know it, so not a big deal..

Even though my sons offered to do the repair, I opted to hire an appliance technician to do it and it took him at least 45 mins. with his experience and tools. apparently the inside wall wires were shorter and more difficult to access and grip and I'm glad I did. It should last another 20 years and I'll be dead!

Broiler element failed catastrophically (with light flashes) while in use (1986 GE self-clean oven/four burner stovetop). Part number embossed on element plate - very difficult to see - took digital photo while still in oven and magnified. Easy to search for part. Good price, prompt delivery. Removal of old and install new awkward because of access angle and my decreasing nimbleness, as well as oven control thermocouple and support bracket in way. But no technical difficulties. Hex head metal screws holding in element; Notched phillips metal screws holding bracing bracket (easier to put element in by removing one side of bracket). Screws difficult to remove as in much used oven 26 years, and thermocouple partially blocking socket ratchet wrench. Would have been easier with 1/4" short extension. Before detaching element, I used twist ties around the leads tied to a large plastic clip so as not to lose them into oven back. PartSelect part was made by GE, not secondary source. Perfect replacement for this old part - still available.