Intrepid ii gasket question

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

VRT_Corrado

Member
Jan 23, 2015
11
Warwick, NY
Hey everyone, long time no post. So, I have a VC Intrepid ii, model 1990. Had an issue with air leakage and burning too hot from a few bad gaskets. Just did a near full rebuild including all new upper (main damper) and lower fire back gaskets, refractory, cat and cast throat. Here's the issue - When I purchased the stove, the installer forgot to bring the whole outside air setup. They sent a kid a few days later to finish it up and he removed the primary air control on the top right side (although he realized after that he didn't need to [emoji58]). Apparently, when he reinstalled the air control, part of the small gasket that seals the opening where it meets the stove fell off.

I can't find the size of that small rope gasket for the life of me! Going off of the fire back gaskets being 5/16", I'm guessing this gasket is around 1/8 or 3/16"........anyone know for sure the size? I'll include a pic with me pointing at the spot I'm referring to 8a00f9c2a625167b0e6d7cfaa7d8c749.jpg
 
It's been a long time since I looked at the back of an Intrepid II and I could be mistaken, but I didn't know there was a gasket in that location. I thought there was just a housing to cover the thermostatic coil with the actual air intake chain-linked below? If so are there more than just a couple screws into the stove body here?
 
No such gasket on my stove, nor have I ever seen it referenced in a manual or discussions on these forums. The damper rod passes through this area. The rod penetration could potentially allow air into the area above the cat chamber, where smoke is exiting the stove into the smoke pipe. It is not a leakage point into the firebox, but likely similar effect to a typical unsealed smoke pipe joint.
The entire bottom of that cover is open anyway, to allow the air flapper chain free play. No point in sticking gasket between the coil cover and the flue collar area.
 
Last edited:
No such gasket on my stove, nor have I ever seen it referenced in a manual or discussions on these forums. The damper rod passes through this area. The rod penetration could potentially allow air into the area above the cat chamber, where smoke is exiting the stove into the smoke pipe. It is not a leakage point into the firebox, but likely similar effect to a typical unsealed smoke pipe joint.
The entire bottom of that cover is open anyway, to allow the air flapper chain free play. No point in sticking gasket between the coil cover and the flue collar area.

Agreed, since it is right above the combustor. On my stove I typically use that little space to view if the cat is glowing.
 
3/16 medium density is what you need there.

Agreed, 3/16" Medium Density. I didnt replace this gasket after a rebuild and there's been no visible difference in performance but as we all know each stove will perform differently due to conditions, installation, etc.

I have a screen shot of this from the rebuild manual but cant seem to upload a file with this fancy new format.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.