VC Defiant Encore 0028 - handles

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jdew1920

Member
Jan 29, 2008
52
Michigan
I'm cleaning up an old stove I just picked up and the handles on this one were all painted over. I cleaned up the door handle and top lihandle but I can't get the secondary or primary air handles off. I can loosen the set screw but they just don't want to come off easily. Any tips for getting these off?

Also - were the top lids on these originally painted? This one has been painted but it seems like in a lot of the pics I see they aren't.

Thanks
 
As far as the handles, did you try removing the setscrew completely?

The "top lid" as you call it, is officially known as the griddle. It is a cooking surface & should not be painted.
 
Actually, its the primary air and diverter/bypass handle. I can get the set screw for the handle for the bypass all the way out, but I can't get the handle itself to budge - and a little scared to force it too much. The set screw for the primary air handle is frozen and won't budge. I already have several screws I need to drill out so just trying not to create extra work for myself. I may just clean them up while on the stove, I'm planning on repainting at some point anyway.

Thanks for the info on the griddle.
 
Maybe you could try dribbling some PB Blaster into the damper handle where it meets the stove. Does the damper operate normally?

I don't know if this helps, but the primary air control lever has a spring on the other side of it in the stove which has some tension on it. I don't know if removing the handle from the outside will cause it to go slack, but it is a pain to get it back in place. If the primary air flap is operating normally, I wouldn't take it apart. Perhaps you can get some penetrating oil in that connection as well.
 
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