Its a Miracle

  • 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.
jetmech

jetmech

Member
Hearth Supporter
Dec 8, 2007
228
Dillsburg PA
Well, maybe not a true miracle.. Heres the story. Im in the middle of rebuilding a VC Intrepid 2 circa 1988 and am replaceing all gaskets and sealing cracks. During the removal of the panel that covers the cat on the inside of the stoveone of the 1/4 inch bolt heads snapped off. I sprayed it with Kroil and let it sit for a week. Today i get all my tools drills easyouts & even was going to weld a nut on the end to try to remove the rest of the stud, much to my suprise after spraying again with Kroil i started to drill the end of the stud and noticed the Kroil bubbling ????. I stopped drilling and grabbed the stud and it spun out by hand. I ran through the house screaming yes, yes.... I foresaw a lot of work ahead and now i m a happy camper.....
 
I had that happen once with a small engine screw. The worst ones are broken Stainless Steel screws frozen in aluminum. It can be done but its a matter of plain dumb luck.
 
kroil is good stuff that is why it is $8 a can around here
 
Not that you look foward to rebuilding it at some later date, but are you going to Never-Seize the threads while reassembling the beast?
 
I've had all sorts of dumb luck with broken bolts. Often times tapping it out with a punch. Twisting the bolt head off can sometimes relief the pressure on the threads so then the stud can be knocked loose. I have been very thrilled with dabbing a small puddle of weld into a nut centered over the broken stud. The heat is more effective than anything but feeling the welded nut turn that stud is fantastic.
 
Yes, will definatly anti seize the new bolts going in... This has been a fu n project and would have been a lot harder without the help of this forum.... just being able to talk to someone whos done it before is huge.... Will keep you updated untill first light off..
 
One thing I learned in the salt mine is Stainless Steel is the best replacement for any plain iron screw or nut that is going to rust in place, that will need removing at a later date.
 
Rebuilding is a bit of work and learning, but it's also very satisfying learn how every part of the stove works and know that it's now all airtight, has good gaskets, etc.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

begreen
Tools Explained
Replies
12
Views
2K
The Inglenook
PaulOinMA
PaulOinMA
N
Lopi Pioneer Bay - Spring Hopper Lid Latch Fix?
Replies
0
Views
594
Travis Industries: Lopi, Avalon, FPX
notly1988
N
Don2222
Upgrading the the old sliding hopper lid hold up bracket on the Avalon Avanti wood pellet stove
Replies
0
Views
682
The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves
Don2222
Don2222
Don2222
Lopi Pioneer Bay - Spring Hopper Lid Latch Fix?
Replies
2
Views
2K
Travis Industries: Lopi, Avalon, FPX
Don2222
Don2222
HydroGeo
1988 Efel Harmony Carbon 086.65
Replies
0
Views
2K
Classic Wood Stove Forums (prior to approx. 1993)
HydroGeo
HydroGeo
Top Bottom
Back