OMG, fellow newbies, clean yer secondaries/cat more often...
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Well....the sweeps came and cleared the chimney/cat. It's too hot to do a test burn, but they tell me it was simply a clogged cat. I brush it often, but apparently not enough. There were many places where it was clogged. I learned how to access and remove the cat myself as well.
They told me the lack of a flame shield was a non-issue (I suspect they're full of BS).
They did suggest brushing or vacuuming the cat after every burn cycle. Seems a bit much, but I will at least give it a brush every time.
Once the temps drop, I'll fire it up and report back.
They told me the lack of a flame shield was a non-issue (I suspect they're full of BS).
They did suggest brushing or vacuuming the cat after every burn cycle. Seems a bit much, but I will at least give it a brush every time.
Once the temps drop, I'll fire it up and report back.
Really!!?? That's a new one on me. What if one is burning 24/7 and the cat is always hot? Can't use a nylon or natural bristle brush and I would not use a metal brush, so what does one use?
My thoughts exactly. We tend to burn 24/7, I suppose prior to restoking in the morn, I might (might) be able to brush it quickly.
I would check it monthly or perhaps when dumping ash. Be sure the bypass is open when cleaning out ash.
Dmitri, it is easy to get at and replace/straighten out. I'm told the baffle is often warped and almost expected to warp some. The only real detriment from this is it pinches the air intake tubes making removal difficult. I was told it maybe replaced every five years or so, and hammering it into 'true' was a bad idea (hard to do well, and stresses the ss steel too much).
There's 3 screws in the upper right of the firebox. Remove and remove the 3 air intake tubes, the baffle falls into yer hands. Set aside, pull out cat and vacuum. I will let you know if I'm back in business the next time we need a fire.
Because of the difficult angle to see the cat, it appeared clean, but a lot of the spaces that were plugged, were unseeable until it was fully removed.
I know we've got same aged, same stoves. I'll do my best to keep you posted.
LOL - sounds like a perfectly reasonable way to deal with a non-issue.
No kidding! That's ridiculous! Most stoves have almost no debris after a full season of burning.
My warped baffle caused the smoke to bypass the front tube completely. It is an issue for sure!
Lopi has their little minions out there telling people that there are no issues. Just hammer it back into shape.. That's Hardly a solution. They make revisions to all their other stoves on a regular basis, I have no idea why they don't address this issue. The Leyden had 6 or 7 revisions! It's time to revise the Cape Cod.
How did they clean the cat? Just brushed it with regular brush , or did something special that you did not do before ?
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I forgot about that. I'm a little surprised to see an FPX baffle warp. It's the same baffle pretty much, with a 3/16" steel plate laying on top of it. It was their way fix the problem, guess it didn't work. I do however expect cat problems just like the other hybrid models from Lopi.
As it turns out, the cat was indeed plugged/too dirty to operate. I had a great fire last nite. It lit up like a light. Sorry, photo is upside down.
I believe that I just didn't do a good enough job cleaning it or cleaning it often enough.
Their advice of brushing/vacuuming it every burn cycle however is assine.
I'm still very happy with the unit and glad the cat lives to see another season.
I guess time will tell if it will if the perceived design flaw that many of you point out (no flame shield) will kill it or if it has nine lives.
I believe that I just didn't do a good enough job cleaning it or cleaning it often enough.
Their advice of brushing/vacuuming it every burn cycle however is assine.
I'm still very happy with the unit and glad the cat lives to see another season.
I guess time will tell if it will if the perceived design flaw that many of you point out (no flame shield) will kill it or if it has nine lives.
This insert is on my short list to replace an old smoker, but it sounds like this is a fairly obvious design flaw. Have you been burning this past few weeks? Have you had to stick to their daily cleaning regimen to keep it burning well, or have you found a more convenient sweet spot?
I have exactly the same insert . I had couple fires this year. I never brushed my cat last year as I didnt see the need for it . I've burned 2,5 ton of bio bricks last year due to lack if dry wood. The cat was getting bright orange and stove was getting hot , but cat did OK. You gonna get some flames in a cat if fire is really big and hot , I think at this point you gonna cut the air supply anyway . time will tell, but so far it's the most attractive designe I ever seen.
I have the same design large flush hybrid.All the same problems. I've had it for 4 yrs im on my 3rd cat all coverd under warranty. Every time I go to stove shop I tell them about the issue of flames hitting the cat they say I'm burning to hot . There's no way to not have the flames hit the cat. Then they told me to leave it out. When the warranty runs out this will be an expensive stove to run. Otherwise I like the stove throws some great heat.
How many years are covered for the cat by warranty ? You're making me nervous .
I think I'm gonna add flame shield by myself if I'll run into problems after warranty expiration . It's just steel plate with holes after all. It can be screwed to the baffle. Thinking more and more about it .
I think I'm gonna add flame shield by myself if I'll run into problems after warranty expiration . It's just steel plate with holes after all. It can be screwed to the baffle. Thinking more and more about it .
Atmarx -
I really like this insert. I shouldn't have posted when I did, the cat just needed cleaning. I have had several fires in the last few weeks, and all is well. Like Dmitry, I think it looks great and performs very well. Gorgeous views of the fire, rolling secondaries. We heated the house strictly on wood last winter here in Kalamazoo, Michigan. - it was always tropical in here, with massive snow drifts outdoors. Pi$$ed off the propane man pretty good come spring - no, we don't need any!!
As for KBart's experience, I am hoping that isn't the norm. I fed the insert at least 6 cord last winter, and it was only fly ash that had comprimised my cat, a quick cleaning and all was well. I am very strict however about not burning ANYTHING but dry cord wood and a firestarter. As per the manual, the cat will fail if you are burning plastics and other BS.
I do not agree with the need to clean it after every burn (I can't, in the winter it goes nearly 24/7).
I think it is a great insert, if I could do it all over again, I 'd prefer a freestander stove, but my wife won out. If you want to explore this insert further, see the thread "cat vs. non cat".
Good Luck!
I really like this insert. I shouldn't have posted when I did, the cat just needed cleaning. I have had several fires in the last few weeks, and all is well. Like Dmitry, I think it looks great and performs very well. Gorgeous views of the fire, rolling secondaries. We heated the house strictly on wood last winter here in Kalamazoo, Michigan. - it was always tropical in here, with massive snow drifts outdoors. Pi$$ed off the propane man pretty good come spring - no, we don't need any!!
As for KBart's experience, I am hoping that isn't the norm. I fed the insert at least 6 cord last winter, and it was only fly ash that had comprimised my cat, a quick cleaning and all was well. I am very strict however about not burning ANYTHING but dry cord wood and a firestarter. As per the manual, the cat will fail if you are burning plastics and other BS.
I do not agree with the need to clean it after every burn (I can't, in the winter it goes nearly 24/7).
I think it is a great insert, if I could do it all over again, I 'd prefer a freestander stove, but my wife won out. If you want to explore this insert further, see the thread "cat vs. non cat".
Good Luck!
How did the service people clean your cat? Did they take it out ? Did they vacuume ? Can you give some details,Please.
Dimitry,
Once the air intake tubes (3) are removed, the baffle is removed. The cat is a ceramic rectangle sitting on a shelf. It is removed and shop vac'ed. Nothing special really. If you see your owners manual it lays it out pretty straightforward. If you had a small enough shop vac (at the tube end) and could flex it nearly 90deg, you could vacuum it in place w/o removing baffle and tubes.
Once the air intake tubes (3) are removed, the baffle is removed. The cat is a ceramic rectangle sitting on a shelf. It is removed and shop vac'ed. Nothing special really. If you see your owners manual it lays it out pretty straightforward. If you had a small enough shop vac (at the tube end) and could flex it nearly 90deg, you could vacuum it in place w/o removing baffle and tubes.
I clean the cat on my Cape Cod 3-4 times a season. It makes a huge difference in performance. I use a soft bristle paint brush to manually brush the cat in place. Then I use a shop vac with a slim attachment that fits far enough back to clean out the ash. Works like a charm. Very happy with the Cape Cod.
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