The pilot light on the above boiler would not stay lit and I have replaced the thermocouple with a HSS-001 Universal Thermocouple length 900mm. The existing one was 600mm. The pilot light still won't stay lit. I followed the instructions for re-lighting the boiler, i.e. everything switched OFF, electric supply, thermostat controls & timers, but still the pilot light still won't stay lit. Am I missing something? I believe the thermocouple is the usual source of the problem when the pilot light won't stay lit.
I think that you are spot on with the reasoning about the thermocouple.
The only thing I can think is that thermocouples obviously work on resistance - as I am sure you know ! Therefore, if it wasn't a genuine like for like replacement perhaps the electronics in the boiler don't like the universal one.