Just thought I'd add to this thread to explain how I fixed this with the aid of my Father-in-law (or should I say with his encouragement as I wouldn't have gone to the same lengths without him there). Before going any further I'll just say that all I was interested in was bypassing the timer and not fixing the timer -like others I was just interested in getting the oven to work.
I should also say that my cooker is actually a New world image 1000/1100 however having gone through this today I'd expect most oven timers would work on the same principles...
We pulled the oven right out in order to get at the main wiring loom and on the back-plate we found a wiring diagram. A couple of photos on the Father in-laws ipad later we could zoom and see a nice and clear diagram and it was relatively easy to work out how to bypass the timer. Bit of continuity testing and choc-blocks later we'd worked out which wires to joint out and the oven fired up without a hitch. The only thing we had to concede was that we had to lose the oven light function (or leave it permanently on...) so no great shakes.
Net result 2 ovens back in full working order just in time for cooking xmas dinner for 12...
Just to re-iterate the below is a timer unit on the above mentioned model.
If your timer is similar to mine then the following might help & as said worth looking for a wiring diagram on the back-plate if you feel comfortable enough in simply tracing out cables on that diagram.
Note that always be mindful of electricity and switch the cooker/ignition feed off unless you're testing with a multi meter to confirm which connection is the live feed (but always switch off again after you've proven that).
I would also add that you can probably do the repair below without removing the back plate on the oven, however it's something I did and you'll need to do if you want to do the continuity test to confirm which wire goes to the gas solenoid and which goes to the oven light.
1. Brown and blue wires connecting to the timer are the live and neutral in (you may have 2 browns on the spade connector but don't worry as that 2nd brown is likely to be looped straight into the ignition unit or the stat. Once you've tested with a meter & confirmed you have 240v AC between brown & blue then you should be OK to leave them wires where they are.
2. SWITCH OFF THE ELECTRIC TO THE OVEN AT THIS POINT.
3. The other wires I would expect you to see on the timer are a single red onto a connector and then 2 reds crimped together onto another single connector.
4. The single red wire should come from your oven temp. dial (the dial to set the gas mark with) and then into the timer.
5. As the timer engages (when it works) it then makes a connection from that single red to the connection with dual reds to form a cct connection.
6. The 2 reds leaving that timer are more than likely to go to 2 things, firstly one will go to the oven light (so that the light switches on only when the oven is in use) & the other red will go to the solenoid that opens the gas valve - add the ignition and hey presto the gas lights...
7. Cut the single red about 1/4 inch from the spade crimp (so you've enough cable to joint that spade crimp if you ever need to use it again) & connect into an electrical joint block or even better an insulated through crimp.
8. Cut one of the reds from the connector with 2 reds and strip back the insulation to make the connection into the other side of the block/crimp you've just prepared at point 7. If you're confident enough and understand a multi meter then prior to connecting to the single red wire it might be worth doing a continuity test between this cable you've just cut and the red connection in the oven light and also the red connection into the block leading to the gas solenoid. That continuity test will tell you which of those 2 things that wire belongs to.
9. Once you've determined which wire goes to the solenoid, this is the one that then needs connecting to the single red wire you prepared at point 7.
10. Making sure that joints are tight and you've insulated the blocks/crimps with electrical insulation tape you can then switch on the power and if you have connected the timer input to the gas solenoid you'll be sending out a little cheer when you then switch the oven on at the dial and it ignites and fires up...
11. If at the point you switch the power back and the oven light comes on then you've just connected to the wrong red (of the 2 reds that were originally crimped together). In which case (& taking care to switch off the power again) just connect the other red to the single red and the oven should ignite (& of course remember that the light will not work).
12. If you've not fallen asleep by this stage it might be obvious to some that you can do this without doing a continuity test and it's simply a 50/50 chance of connecting through to the light or the solenoid, however I find it sensible to do all you can to check and double check.
To re-iterate further this is NOT to fix the timer, this is simply to bypass the timer to get the oven to work and the only concession you're likely to make is that you lose use of your oven light (unless you feel the need to go a step further and fit a little switch for the light or indeed just connect the 2 red spade connectors together and have the light on for eternity (or until the pygmy lamp blows...).
When replacing the timer back in remember to take care and all the cables you've jointed & the single red that should be left hanging - make sure there is sufficient electrical insulation around these cables...
I should just say that if you're at all unsure (I'm an ex sparkie) then seek professional help but if you're a competent DIY'er and understand basic principles of how electrical connections are made through timers/switches etc. & you have the wiring diagram, then it's worth having a go yourself.
Best of luck & apologies for the long winded post, but hopefully it will save others a few bob in repair fees...
ChrisR
December 2012