Upgrading Encore 2N1 for a Blaze King?

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I have a very low opinion of VC and their products. Stories like this allow me (us) to think that maybe they are trying to turn that around.

Good for them.
 
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I have a very low opinion of VC and their products. Stories like this allow me (us) to think that maybe they are trying to turn that around.

Good for them.
They've warrantied their product for me 4 previous times (parts only). Never had a problem there! I just can't operate the stove without it being 650degrees all night.
 
Very happy to hear. When you get it back, if it still has the same problem I would turn around and sell it and follow up with your original plan. At least then you can sell it without a crack and fully refurbished.

On a side note I my cat cracked last winter and they had a new one out to me in about 2 weeks no questions. I still ran the stove with the cracked cat because VC didn't even need it returned.
 
They've warrantied their product for me 4 previous times (parts only). Never had a problem there! I just can't operate the stove without it being 650degrees all night.

So this is amusing to me. You are happy about needing 4 previous warranty claims? Sure, they replaced what failed but it shouldn't have failed in the first place no?

You aren't allowing a rebuild but selecting a new current production stove right? Good move. The reason your current stove failed is due to the design and a rebuild to the same specs is going to give you the same performance.
 
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Oh wow I missed where they were offering a brand new one. That is superb. I would definitely want to know if a new but same model would perform better with the same setup. Would add more evidence that maybe you got a defective stove.
 
Very happy to hear. When you get it back, if it still has the same problem I would turn around and sell it and follow up with your original plan. At least then you can sell it without a crack and fully refurbished.

On a side note I my cat cracked last winter and they had a new one out to me in about 2 weeks no questions. I still ran the stove with the cracked cat because VC didn't even need it returned.
Oh really? That was one of the 4 parts I had warrantied as well because it was falling apart an I had to leave mine with the dealer I presume to send back...
 
So this is amusing to me. You are happy about needing 4 previous warranty claims? Sure, they replaced what failed but it shouldn't have failed in the first place no?

You aren't allowing a rebuild but selecting a new current production stove right? Good move. The reason your current stove failed is due to the design and a rebuild to the same specs is going to give you the same performance.
This whole scene has amused me quite a bit too. No, I'm obviously not happy about "needing" warranty claims. I'm happy they've complied and satisfied them promptly. With other products I've owned and needed warranty service, I haven't received such prompt service.

I agree, I'd prefer that they just work in the first place. Yet, the remaining 3 other warranty claims were for the same part: the dreaded access cover. It is a piece of fire brick that gets very hot and if butted up against by a piece of wood in the wrong way, breaks half in two.

I also tend to agree with you regarding the design. I know a lot of people don't have problems (my brother with the 2012 model included) and I also know my experience. I'm just happy they warranty their products because otherwise I'd really be up chit's creek...
 
This will be my last update here. Ill repost eventually, with my new install. As most of you know, VC is warrantying my stove in full and sending me a brand new one. My dealer is working with me and getting me a Blaze King Ashford 30. He's really going out on a limb here for me and I appreciate what he's doing knowing that the VC is too much heat for me.

All in all, it was a pretty good stove minus the breakable access panel to fireback and the uncontrollable temps. Maybe mine was cracked all along and that was the cause of the consistently high temps...who knows. I'm just thinking 65000 BTUs was too much for 1200 sq. Ft. in a mild climate anyhow.

Hopefully the Ashford 30 will fit the space nicely and not run me out. Starting to get a little worried I'm not going to be able to operate it as low as I want from other posts but I need to be grateful for this upgrade. Seems like the best stove for me. I'm hoping to be able to slip it right in the single wall pipe I currently have. Since clearances are smaller with the BK, I measure it fitting nicely. My only concern is the BK being too tall; I may need to take a little of the pipe off. What does everyone think?

How does the BK attach to the pipe? 3 Screws? Anyone know how deep firebox is? I never used front load with my VC and I'm a little scared of sparks shooting out on reload.

Does anyone know if the new BK Ashfords shipping now have the thermostat control adjusted? New label? I had read there were some issues with that needing an adjustment...
 
The BK will cruise nicely at lower temps. Note that BK recommends connecting this stove with double-wall stove pipe.
 
The BK will cruise nicely at lower temps. Note that BK recommends connecting this stove with double-wall stove pipe.
I've read that quite a bit. I've also read that it's ok to use single wall pipe so I figured I'd give it a shot. If I got rid of the single wall, I'd need to have someone come in and install the double wall for me anyhow. Question: I have a slight kink in my pipe to clear a rafter. Are there connectors that pivot/turn that are double wall if I were to switch over?
 
I had a similar experience. I grew up around the old VC company, with the picnics, etc. We burned one of the first Encores in our showroom. This is 20+ years ago. I loved it. Then VC went the way of VC and moved away from the line. A few years ago, we had a customer looking for a "Pretty" top load stove. I had access to the 2 in 1 Encore thru a distributor. Was not happy since day 1. She couldn't get it to burn. I suspected the wood. Straight up 18' class A chimney, and heck, it as an Encore. Start a fire, get it to 500 degrees, shut the damper, set thermostat and come back in 8 hours. So I went over with our "Perfect" wood from the showroom. Stove wont get hot using all the tricks. Air inlet flap that is connected to the bimetallic is stove cemented shut. Fixed that, and still could not get it to burn properly. She suffered thru a season and ended up with a few interior parts cracked. We swapped it out for an easy to use Mansfield and she has been in love ever since.
 
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