How do I connect my stove to the stainless liner?

I have a 24 foot (thimble to cap), 12x8 O.D. (approximately) clay lined interior chimney that has developed a good sized crack in the 3rd tile from the top after burning my 30NC for 4 years. Because of the crack and not because of poor draft or creosote buildup, I am considering putting in a 6" liner.

The problem I can't seem to figure out is, since my stove pipe goes through a 6.5 inch I.D. clay thimble, how in the heck will I connect whatever goes through the clay thimble to whatever is at the bottom of the liner? Do these things snap together or something? Will I have to rip out the clay thimble and make a hole big enough to get my hands through in order fasten things together, and then seal it all off again? Am I screwed because I have a clay thimble entombed in concrete block 6 feet above the cleanout door on the other side of the flu?

I really don't wan't to tear up all of that brick work and masonry, but this one issue is keeping me from doing a DIY liner install. I really want to do this myself, but there is no way I can pay to have this done until maybe next year. I can bone up the money for the materials if I can convince myself it is doable. Can anyone offer any advice, reassurance, pictures, anything at all to convince me I can do this myself?

Thanks,
Don

Ahhh, so you can connect it all together from the inside of the pipe by reaching your arm into the end of the pipe sticking out of the thimble? That would make it easy. And yes, I do care about such things as code, but sometimes I will do things slightly differently if I am confident that they are safe. In this case, I would prefer to insulate, but in order to do so I might have to downsize the pipe to 5.5" to make room for the insulation and an offset in the flu where it goes around the upstairs fireplace. Now that i think of it, I will have to figure out how to get that tee through the offset. For those who put flexible or ovalized liners through an offset, how do you get the tee all the way down? I don't think I can fit it up through the clean out door

BrotherBart said:

I never could get the tee down to my basement thimble. Ended up taking it off the liner and gently turning the liner into the thimble. With a 5.5" liner. Draws like crazy at 30'.

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Now that sounds even easier! What size was your clay liner? My thimble enters through the long side of a 12x8 OD flue, so I would not have much room to make the 90 degree bend. How do you clean your setup? From the top or bottom? How about that 90 degree bend in the liner as it goes into the thimble, how do you clean that?

Thanks BB, I really appreciate your help. I finally see a plan coming together that I think will work. BTW, does your thimble go into the long edge of your flu like mine? Also, what brand/type of liner did you use and did you insulate?