Cleaning a BK CAT

I am contemplating going through the thorough cleaning method described in the BK manual. Has anyone done this? Was it worth your time? I have 2 cats, one that lasted one year and one that has made it 2, both were damaged by a major air leak prior to discovery. Anyhow, at 225$ + for a new cat I was thinking of trying this first. I have the better looking of the two cats out of the stove now, and can clean it and give it ample time to dry before I get back next weekend to swap it back out. What are your thoughts?

Jason

Fsappo said:

I was told by BK to use canned air to clean the cat

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Thanks, mine is technically clear of obstructions as well as flyash. My problem is that it wont maintain "active" without active flames in the firebox- NOT NORMAL. I put the old one back in today, and its working much better than the replacement has been. I have instructions in the back of my manual on a cleaning method using vinegar and water. Maybe @BKVP will have some opinion on it when he sees this. I guess I could send the cat back to firecat, but its technically into year 3 (purchased december 2012) so I would only get 30% off the new one, when you figure shipping both directions it would be nearly a loss!

Jason

NEVERMIND! Mute point. I called applied ceramic (firecat) for advice and their advice was to return the cat for a free replacement! How about that for a stand up company. I explained the whole situation to them and his feeling was that if I have not physically damaged the cat then there is NO WAY I could wear it out in this short of a time period. Anyhow, it will be sent back tomorrow and this whole mess can be put behind me. Hope the next one last for a decade!

Jason

Dieselhead said:

Just curious where your air leak was?

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The door hinges were welded on incorrectly. I could never properly seal the door after year one.


Jason

Highbeam said:

So what physical damage did this cause to the cat element? Or does it just not perform anymore?

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On the original cat (back in the stove for now) it caused a good bit of thermal shock damage as there was cold air seeping by and being pulled through the cat. This cat really showed no thermal shock damage it just would NOT remain in the active on its own, and generated no heat to the stove top. Not really sure if it was damaged by the door hinges or maybe it was just a bad cat. It wouldn't be the first but it would also be an incredible streak of bad luck. The original cat was changed before I found the door hinge problem because the stove was not controllable and was not performing well, BK suggested I had been burning less than optimal wood and I may have damaged the cat-- so I replaced it figuring that since this was my first cat stove they may be right. Regardless the orignal actually seems to work just fine now that the door is sealing so I may just have a spare when this one returns. I had no problems with keeping a spare on hand anyhow, cheap insurance!

Jason