Vigilant Rebuild

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

azapple

New Member
Oct 14, 2007
13
Northern AZ
In over our heads? Perhaps...
We aquired an old VC Vigilant last year. The inside side panels say it was cast in '83...although the inside back says '70? Don't know that that matters. Anyway, issue is that we took apart the whole thing last year, and using the VC parts diagram and some help from a local dealer ordered the necessary replacement parts to rebuild her "like new"....problem is, the project got put on hold due to an unexpected move and we're just getting back to it now. We've got the fuzzy parts diagram, and the operation manual....but can't quite figure out how the heck to put it all back together. Seems we've got more parts than we see on the diagram. Anyone out there do this already and could maybe lend a helping hand? I could take pictures of the few mystery parts and see if anyone knows what they are? We're working on it now...hopeully as we go there will be far less mystery. :p
 
I took one apart in the Summer, production date 1980 (have original invoice), in order to replace the damper. Well the fireback was shot as it was the original one piece design.
Do you have the one or two piece fireback?
Post some pics and I'll see if I recognize them.

John
 
Our's is a two piece back... here are the few mystery parts...anyone??? We seem to see how it roughly all goes back together - but nothing seems to be fitting quite right...I can hear you all chuckling right now. But, you know - we see where there are matching curves, etc. so it seems that most parts only have one place they can live...but can't quite figure it out....
Here's the running commentary:

I was hoping the images would download with their titles but they don't. All below photos are of M.P. #1. I will put M.P. #2 and #3 in their own "replies" concurrently.

Mystery Part #1 (herein referred to as MP #1) seems like it's shape and curve should sit on the bottom of the inside of the stove between the back wall and the bottom half of the fire back. But the fire back does not seem to want to sead to it. I uploaded a few photos of this going on.

M.P. #2 seems like maybe it rests between the upper part of the fire back and the back wall?? A couple of photos of it and where we THINK it may go.

M.P. #3 must affix to the front panel inside somehow - it's the only curve of the same radius...but not seeing that.

I'm going to have to post the photos in 2-3 subsquent posts.

Thanks for taking the time. Here are the first few:
 

Attachments

  • M.P. #1 where we think it goes.jpg
    M.P. #1 where we think it goes.jpg
    48.6 KB · Views: 495
  • M.P. #1.jpg
    M.P. #1.jpg
    46.2 KB · Views: 504
  • Like this - M.P. 1.jpg
    Like this - M.P. 1.jpg
    47.1 KB · Views: 490
  • Side view of M.P.#1 right.jpg
    Side view of M.P.#1 right.jpg
    34.1 KB · Views: 517
Here is Mystery Part #2. Like I said. We think it goes up top behind top part of fire back and back wall. Trying to download photo of that...but it's not working all of a sudden, so just going to send this photo for now. Let me know if I should send more. One more post with M.P. #3 to follow.
 

Attachments

  • M.P.#2.jpg
    M.P.#2.jpg
    41.5 KB · Views: 466
  • Where we think M.P. #2 goes.jpg
    Where we think M.P. #2 goes.jpg
    39.9 KB · Views: 468
NJAppleinAZ said:
Looks like my second photo of M.P. #2 did load...ok. here's #3:
Click to expand...

That is the thing the adirons bolt to and it slips just inside the front of the stove when the doors are open. The andirons that bolt to that keep/protect the wood from hitting the doors r glass if it has glass doors.
 
NJAppleinAZ said:
Here is Mystery Part #2. Like I said. We think it goes up top behind top part of fire back and back wall. Trying to download photo of that...but it's not working all of a sudden, so just going to send this photo for now. Let me know if I should send more. One more post with M.P. #3 to follow.
Click to expand...

This is the upper shelf as it was on mine and as I recall it just sat in their and I was able to remove mine after I removed the dampner.
 
NJAppleinAZ said:
Our's is a two piece back... here are the few mystery parts...anyone??? We seem to see how it roughly all goes back together - but nothing seems to be fitting quite right...I can hear you all chuckling right now. But, you know - we see where there are matching curves, etc. so it seems that most parts only have one place they can live...but can't quite figure it out....
Here's the running commentary:

I was hoping the images would download with their titles but they don't. All below photos are of M.P. #1. I will put M.P. #2 and #3 in their own "replies" concurrently.

Mystery Part #1 (herein referred to as MP #1) seems like it's shape and curve should sit on the bottom of the inside of the stove between the back wall and the bottom half of the fire back. But the fire back does not seem to want to sead to it. I uploaded a few photos of this going on.

M.P. #2 seems like maybe it rests between the upper part of the fire back and the back wall?? A couple of photos of it and where we THINK it may go.

M.P. #3 must affix to the front panel inside somehow - it's the only curve of the same radius...but not seeing that.

I'm going to have to post the photos in 2-3 subsquent posts.

Thanks for taking the time. Here are the first few:
Click to expand...

On this picture I know that part does fit into that grove as I refactoried cemented it in place. I was thinking there was a type of shelve or something else though that connected to it as it kind of ties into the side panel as the air intake is in that corner and this is part of the airpassage that snakes through the back panel when the top dampner is closed . It jsut seems there is more to it than what you show. There was an air tube of sorts on the left panel that interconnected to the back somehow.

I completely rebuilt one like yours last year but keep in mind I have slept since then so some of the process was lost. After the rebuild my Vigilant worked so well it exposed probles in my chimney and I had to give the stove a new home as I had to change my chimney set to an EPA stove with new liner.

The stove was awesome after the rebuild.
 
Struggle I was going to PM you to help get this poster pointed in the right direction but you found it first. How's it been going?
 
You might also check w/ Seaken, as he has the overhaul manuals for some of the other VC stoves - these give much more detail on how stuff goes together.

Gooserider
 
Sorry for being Naive - but how do I contact "Seaken"?
Thank you all for all your help. I think we've gotten it all back together - but I'd love to be able to double check it.
 
As for MP#!, you have it 180 degrees out of orientation.. I have rebuilt several of these stoves... take your hand, as you hold MP#!, and rotate the part 180 degrees, it actually fits in the groove both ways.
 
NJAppleinAZ said:
Sorry for being Naive - but how do I contact "Seaken"?
Thank you all for all your help. I think we've gotten it all back together - but I'd love to be able to double check it.
Click to expand...

Go to the Private messages area, and select sending a new message. When the message entry screen comes up, click on the little magnifying glass Icon in the "TO" window which will open a search window, enter the name (0r part of it) that you are looking for, and it will bring up a list of all matching user names. Click on the name you want, then close the search window. Enter your content in the message box, then hit send.

Gooserider
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
Advice Needed Vermont Casting Vigilant 1980 - Replace or Adapt
Replies
8
Views
2K
Vermont Castings & CDW Dutchwest older Models
Dbredell
D
S
Vermont Castings Radiance help
Replies
6
Views
568
It's a Gas!
Jmoney
J
M
Inside or outside chimney flue? Please help me make a decision.
Replies
29
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Wildflush
W
jaredledvina
Seeking advice on two fireplace wood insert upgrades
Replies
6
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
JonH
J
A
Is getting an old Vigilant a bad idea?
Replies
18
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
mysticcoffeeroaster
M
Top Bottom
Back