Just got a 1986 VC Defiant Encore: Levers stuck?

Hello all! New to the forum and wood-burning. I was dissapointed my fireplace turned out to be only good for looks and not warming my house. I went out and got a V.C. Defiant Encore hoping it would actually put out some heat instead of just looking pretty.

I am getting ready to paint and clean it to get it ready for installation, and was wondering what the levers on the sides are. Both of them are stuck completely, so they aren't much good for now. From what I've read, they are the air-control and damper-control? If so, which is which?

I looked at a PDF owners manual but was instantly overwhelmed with parts diagrams and complicated pictures. Anyone had similar issues and know a fix or easy way to take apart what I need to see the problem? It is a model #0028 from what I've read.

Thanks in advance! I'm sure I'll be posting here alot in the near future! She is a biscuit color, all chipped up, so restoration will be a challenge, just in time for winter!

Oh god, what have I done? Are you saying I should just run it as is, or scrap the rebuild altogether? I'm already $500 into this.

BrowningBAR said:

If you do not plan on having a function catalitic combustor, then you should scrap this idea as the stove is not worth running without these parts.

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You mean it just isn't efficient enough to make it worth it? I was told the stove would run either with or without it, but if it doesn't put out any heat without it, I'll make sure I fix all that stuff too. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the point of a damper valve? I understand letting more air in or out with the air valve, but why would you want to close the damper?

Well, I don't think I'll be entrely sure what I'm in for until I remove some stuff after work today and see what's what inside. I thinking the levers are just frozen solid from sitting around unused and need a good scrubbing on the components with a wire brush.

OK! I got it disassembled, and when I say disassembled, I mean it! All of the sides, the top, front, back, fireback (top and bottom), damper, thermostat, damper linkage, cat, etc.

The cat looks intact and the "styrofoam" stuff housing it seems ok. It's broken a little on the back side underneath the damper, but other than that it's ok. The cat is ashy but not clogged or cracked. That's not to say that the catalyst material is any good, but I'll give it a shot anyway. The reason the handles are stuck were the handles themselves. They were rusted into the side of the stove. I'm gonna clean the hole up and sand the handle's down where they go through until they spin freely. The linkages were fine. The thermostat seemed fine. There was a TON of ash buildup behind the fireback and the "air panels," so it's good I took it apart to clean.

The only bad thing about the disassembly was the broken bolts. The bolt holding the clip holding down the damper rod broke, a couple fireback bolts broke, a flue bolt broke, yada yada yada. That's going to suck to fix.

Guess I'm buying some stove caulk and gasket rope!

I'll take a picture when I get home. I was actually suprised with how smoothly the dissasembly went. Aside from the broken bolts, it was fairly straightforward. I think you guys hyped me up for the worse so I was expecting Armageddon inside there, haha. I'm sure reassembly will be more complicated but we'll see. Im a little confused as to the thermostat/air handle and the cable that goes to the flap on the bottom rear of the stove. Should be interesting reassembling that. Not sure if the handle needs to be clocked correctly during installation or if there is a special adjustment for the cable I need to do?

That website you posted has a full gasket kit for $26, so thats good. Unfortunately everything is cemented together as well, so I need some tubes of that too. Thanks for the help, this forum has been great! Whodathunk there'd be a forum online for old woodstoves?

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The main body of the housing seems ok except for the seperate rectangular piece that is broken in three places. The cat seems intact, only one small crack. Like I said though, thats not to say the palladium or whatever is on it is any good.

Guess I need to use photobucket or something, attachments work for anyone else?

Woo-hoo! Made my night... time to order some parts and cement!

defiant3 said:

Did nyou get the thermostat thing working and the cable figured out? What waswrong there?

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The lever wouldnt move because it was seized into the stove body. The spring/cable moved if I pushed it and moved the lower flap. I just dont really know if it needs to be adjusted or installed a certain way.

Loooong overdue work done on the stove. Got the main body (the outer panels, back, and top) all bolted together and cemented in place. Gotta put the internals and the air wear plates in and figure out these air flaps. I vaguely remember how they worked before I took it apart. Shouldn't have procrastinated in putting it back together, but I'll admit I was a little scared! I've got the cable for the main air flap ran already, just need to hook it to the thermostat when it's time for that.