Enviro Mini Lazy Flame - Chk ash pan latch. Where is the Latch? Can you say Titanium Step Drill Bit?

Don2222 · Jul 23, 2014

Hello

Where is the latch? LOL

Anyone have this problem?

Why do some Enviro Mini's work very well and others have unhappy owners? There maybe a few good reasons.
The newer Mini-A stoves have a few upgrades to address some issues so I am trying the cheapest first! LOL

However for the old Enviro Mini, just upgrading the control panel is not the catch all fix all
See > https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...mods-in-and-the-bugs-out.123269/#post-1652399

So what about the ash pan?
Dollar bill test will never pass! The ash pan is hooked in on the bottom left and right corners so it shuts using gravity. However the ash pan gasket does not compress enough to make a tight seal!

Where is the ash pan latch? Only the Mini-A has one but the latch itself can be purchases for about $45.00 and it is a good heavy solid one.

The only other thing you need is a big hole! Since the hole required is approx 13/16" and most metal drill bit sets go up to 1/2" that can be a problem!

However the new Titanium Step Drill bits can easily solve the problem! I got some from Harbor freight!

See pics. Now the ash pan is latched up tight!.

Just find the center of the pan and measure approx 1-1/2" down fromm the top.

Pic 1 - Where's the latch?
Pic 2 - Titanium step drill bits
Pic 3 - New Ash Pan Gasket but not tight without a latch!
Pic 4 - Drill a hole with a regular titanium bit to start
Pic 5 - Now for some stepping up to the big one
Pic 6 - New latch
Pic 7 - There is the latch! LOL

Don2222 · Jul 23, 2014

Hello

The latch made a difference but not enough. So I went with the upgraded GA exhaust blower with 1.75 amps of shear power for LOW draft performance. Then I added the Big Blades to keep the ash from building up under the blades! Does that make a difference, you bet your sweet bippy! The big blades keep the performance and draft up when the stove gets dirty and the higher current blower keeps the burn pot clean on Heat levels 1,2 and 3 during low draft! What a surprise!

No more overflowing pellets in the burn pot from caked ash building up in the bottom! Also no more black ash on back of the firebox! what a difference! ! !

Here it is now running on heat level 2 with old control board and old burn pot! ! !

Also since the old burn pot stays clean extreemly few pellets bounce out!

Pic 1 - Overflowing pellets in the burn pot from caked ash building up in the bottom! Also black ash on back of the firebox!
Pic 2-4 - New upgraded exhaust blower with large fan blades and new white lytherm gasket
Pic 5 - Lazy flame is gone and no more durning birty, Burning Dirty! ! ! LOL

Mt Bob · Jul 24, 2014

Good upgrade on cover latch.Was going to rant here,but will say you made old style stove burn cleaner without consideration of overall stove performance.If you run that old design that way you will use much more pellets,as heat is going up chimney,and heat exchanger was not set up that way.One reason harman air wash and bottom feed is so popular,waste factor is pretty good.I have adjusted stoves so glass stays clean 3-5 days,but pellet usage was bad.None were harman,as seems their airwash system is the best.However if you have a customer that wants low maint. they like this.Anyway,just thoughts.If I ever get back there we will go have a beer.The company I work for just brought in No-Li products,ever heard of them?Any good?Have not tried one.By the way,you are looking for more nylatron/nylon6 bushings,go to ebay and lok at all the atv and harley bushing suppliers,make a few phone calls,you might get some already properly sized.Bob

Don2222 · Jul 24, 2014

Thanks for your comments. Just to clarify here, the more lively the flame the better the heat transfer. Harman pellet stoves have one of the most intense flames and they really crank out the heat! I also have been upgrading Magnum Baby Countryside stoves in this area for a couple years. They sold a boat load through Home Depot about 6 years ago in this area. All the stoves came setup to burn corn not wood pellets which of course every one burns here. So one of many changes I make is to install the upgraded large petal exhaust blower that makes the sparks fly. So from my experience installing the high current blower with the large petal blades is a logical upgrade and wow, no more black smoke on the back fire box wall, no more caked ash in the burn pot and no more pellet pile up in the burnpot until it overflows and very few pellets bounce out without being burned! As far as heat goes, I had my work shop up to 97 Degs F on heat level 2 so it really cranks NOW!

I thought they stopped using Lye in products years ago! I did see Granny on the Beverly Hill Billies make Lye soap but my mom never did. LOL
Is that what you mean > > http://www.supplementwarehouse.com/brand.asp?brand=1978

If you come by, I have a beer fridge in my workshop so we can sit outside and have a cold one.

Thanks, I will check ebay and harley on the bushings, I sure would like to find a 5/8" I.D. for some stove upgrades!

Mt Bob · Jul 31, 2014

Don2222 said:
Thanks for your comments. Just to clarify here, the more lively the flame the better the heat transfer. Harman pellet stoves have one of the most intense flames and they really crank out the heat! I also have been upgrading Magnum Baby Countryside stoves in this area for a couple years. They sold a boat load through Home Depot about 6 years ago in this area. All the stoves came setup to burn corn not wood pellets which of course every one burns here. So one of many changes I make is to install the upgraded large petal exhaust blower that makes the sparks fly. So from my experience installing the high current blower with the large petal blades is a logical upgrade and wow, no more black smoke on the back fire box wall, no more caked ash in the burn pot and no more pellet pile up in the burnpot until it overflows and very few pellets bounce out without being burned! As far as heat goes, I had my work shop up to 97 Degs F on heat level 2 so it really cranks NOW!

I thought they stopped using Lye in products years ago! I did see Granny on the Beverly Hill Billies make Lye soap but my mom never did. LOL
Is that what you mean > > http://www.supplementwarehouse.com/brand.asp?brand=1978

If you come by, I have a beer fridge in my workshop so we can sit outside and have a cold one.

Thanks, I will check ebay and harley on the bushings, I sure would like to find a 5/8" I.D. for some stove upgrades!

I meant No-Li beer!

8ball · Jul 31, 2014

Don2222 said:
Hello

The latch made a difference but not enough. So I went with the upgraded GA exhaust blower with 1.75 amps of shear power for LOW draft performance. Then I added the Big Blades to keep the ash from building up under the blades! Does that make a difference, you bet your sweet bippy! The big blades keep the performance and draft up when the stove gets dirty and the higher current blower keeps the burn pot clean on Heat levels 1,2 and 3 during low draft! What a surprise!

No more overflowing pellets in the burn pot from caked ash building up in the bottom! Also no more black ash on back of the firebox! what a difference! ! !

Here it is now running on heat level 2 with old control board and old burn pot! ! !

Also since the old burn pot stays clean extreemly few pellets bounce out!

Pic 1 - Overflowing pellets in the burn pot from caked ash building up in the bottom! Also black ash on back of the firebox!
Pic 2-4 - New upgraded exhaust blower with large fan blades and new white lytherm gasket
Pic 5 - Lazy flame is gone and no more durning birty, Burning Dirty! ! ! LOL

Congrats
The topic is over my head but the quality of this post is outstanding. Well done

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Enviro Mini Lazy Flame - Chk ash pan latch. Where is the Latch? Can you say Titanium Step Drill Bit?

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