Encore 2550 Rebuild: first boo-boo?

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cmcramer

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Feb 19, 2007
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www.cramersoftware.com
Disassembly went OK....only one broken bolt....

The new upper fireback did not come with the gasket for the damper door to press against when closed, so I looked over my collection and selected gasketing material that fit nicely into the channel. Only after cementing it into place....did I look hard at the original gasket. The original is much broader....maybe 5/8 wide after being smushed by a year's use, while my new one is more like 3/8. It seems to fill the channel and the damper door contacts it when closed....but it doesn't look like the damper door will 'smush' it flat......so I'm wondering if I should change it.

A little lesson on gasket sizes would be very helpful....are there standard sizes....like 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, and so forth?

Thanks!
 
I just picked up a used 2550. Took some of it apart (no broken bolts yet). In order to remove lower fireback I had to remove the inner side cast plates (is this normal?). The cat is completely finished, the refactory box is very flaky & the drywall screws are pretty much gone. The plan is to replace it all box & cat, re gasket the everything. I did the light test & did not see anything abnormal from the outside. However, I can see a lot of cement on most of the seams from outside.
 
Diabel said:
I just picked up a used 2550. Took some of it apart (no broken bolts yet). In order to remove lower fireback I had to remove the inner side cast plates (is this normal?). The cat is completely finished, the refactory box is very flaky & the drywall screws are pretty much gone. The plan is to replace it all box & cat, re gasket the everything. I did the light test & did not see anything abnormal from the outside. However, I can see a lot of cement on most of the seams from outside.
Click to expand...

I also found it easier to remove side panels first, then the lower fireback.
 
The lower fireback on mine is toast. What is the purpose of the throat hood?
 
Diabel said:
I just picked up a used 2550. Took some of it apart (no broken bolts yet). In order to remove lower fireback I had to remove the inner side cast plates (is this normal?). The cat is completely finished, the refactory box is very flaky & the drywall screws are pretty much gone. The plan is to replace it all box & cat, re gasket the everything. I did the light test & did not see anything abnormal from the outside. However, I can see a lot of cement on most of the seams from outside.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't have to remove the wear plates to pull the lower fireback, the upper fireback does require the wear plates to be removed.

No broken bolts? Obviously the previous owner of your encore wasn't SolarandWood. I'm in the process of restoring one of his retired encores and it seems like I've broken more bolts than have come out cleanly. When he says he used to push those encores hard he wasn't kidding! On the plus side I'm getting very efficient at removing snapped bolts :)
 
Diabel said:
The lower fireback on mine is toast. What is the purpose of the throat hood?
Click to expand...

I'm just guessing here, but the throat hood sure seems to prevent pieces of wood from striking the cat. I did run my stove for a week or so without a throat hood - and operation seemed normal. If there is some thermodynamic reason for it - don't know.

And do you have a bolt through the base of the upper fireback that seems to do nothing but fill a hole? It's bottom center....sort of between the two bolts/tabs that secure the damper rod to the base of the upper fireback. What the heck does it do, if anything?
 
redhat said:
No broken bolts? Obviously the previous owner of your encore wasn't SolarandWood. I'm in the process of restoring one of his retired encores and it seems like I've broken more bolts than have come out cleanly. When he says he used to push those encores hard he wasn't kidding!
Click to expand...

Merry Christmas redhat. That rear heat shield is still on top of my woodpile if you still want it.
 
The instructions I have from VC do not specify that I need to add stove cement to the upper fireback before I re-place it in the stove ... but there are grooves behind the upper lip, and behind the two side flanges that bolt holes go through - and they sure look like they are made to hold cement. Do I lay a bead of cement in these grooves, as if it were caulking, then press / bolt the thing in place? Should I add any cement to the anywhere else on this upper fireback after it is bolted into place?

Thanks!
 
SolarAndWood said:
Merry Christmas redhat. That rear heat shield is still on top of my woodpile if you still want it.
Click to expand...


Merry Christmas Solar! I'm still planning on getting that shield from you, hope to make it out your way before to long.
 
cmcramer said:
The instructions I have from VC do not specify that I need to add stove cement to the upper fireback before I re-place it in the stove ... but there are grooves behind the upper lip, and behind the two side flanges that bolt holes go through - and they sure look like they are made to hold cement. Do I lay a bead of cement in these grooves, as if it were caulking, then press / bolt the thing in place? Should I add any cement to the anywhere else on this upper fireback after it is bolted into place?

Thanks!
Click to expand...


The 2550 fireback kit instructions mention cleaning out old cement from where the upper fireback attaches, but makes no mention of applying new cement during reassembly. The 0028 encore I rebuilt and the 2140 I'm in the process of rebuilding definitely had cement applied to the top of the upper fireback.

If it were me I would apply the cement, it really won't hurt anything if you do.
 
What is the best way to replace the bypass gasket on a 2550?
Thanks
 
Diabel said:
What is the best way to replace the bypass gasket on a 2550?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Probably the easiest way would be to remove the flue collar and access it through the opening, or you could remove the upper fireback.
 
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