Con Dutchwest gasket issues...

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dvto2

Member
Nov 14, 2011
79
Northern CT
I have a 1992 FA288 Consolidated Dutchwest. I got a gasket kit from Black Swan and used the biggest gasket for the top just over the cat. it fit the channel but I had to use longer bolts on the top because the top was too high. Now I am getting smoke out of the top. The manual I foundsays to use 3/8 on the top. Does anyone have experience with one of these kits? Should I regasket with 3/8?
 
Let me add I see the smoke when I have the stove damper open and the ash door open trying to get thing burning good. The smoke goes away when I close the damper and slow things down. Once it's burning properly, everything seems to draw OK.
 
It sounds like you still have a leak somewhere. Is it possible you mixed up two of the gaskets, or used a round gasket where flat was called for?
The correct gasket can be found at any stove shop. Try it again with the correct size. You may have also pinched part of the gasket allowing a leak to develop. Also, running the stove with the ash pan door open is not a good idea for several reasons. You can forget to close it and over fire the stove, and it creates a blow-torch effect and will eventually temper the ash grate and cause it to warp.
 
homebrewz, I got a slightly smaller gasket and will start over with the top. I also may have used too much cement the first time.

You are right! Opening the ash drawer for draft is dangerous and I have a "no take my eyes off it" rule when I do it. I also have a 12" square 25' ceramic chimney with a few turns and it takes a lot of heat and air flow to get the draft going.
 
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