Lopi baffle tube life?

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GrantC

Member
Feb 2, 2008
65
Oregon
Our Lopi Endeavor is now 22 months old, and the center baffle tube has failed (big split in the middle, flaky metal, sagging.) The dealer is going to replace the part under warranty (actually, I'll be installing it - can't wait the 3 weeks they're backlogged!) The other tubes are fine, just the middle has failed.

I know that the tubes have a finite life, but less than 2 years? We've burnt mostly maple, with some fir and the very occasional piece of oak mixed in. We run stack temps at about 350-400 deg, and stove top temps (lower section) at about 450-550 deg. In a very few instances the baffle tubes have gotten hot enough to faintly glow, but we shut the air down to bring temps back in line when that happens.

Thoughts? Am I doing something wrong?

-=[ Grant ]=-
 
Other then probably an undersized stove for the square footage your trying to heat causing burning at or above the temps the tubes and baffles can tolerate... I have had to replace the tubes in my Endeavor every 2 yrs, finally got smart and replaced them with the SS tubes from a Liberty(next larger stove), cut them down to proper lenght,installed, end of problem...that was 4 or 5 seasons ago. Will have to replace the angle iron supports next year but the tubes are fine, ohyea, they spend many many hours in the dull red zone...ymmv
 
So I'm not the only one! (Based on the temps I gave, I don't think we're overfiring. We're heating 1150 sq ft, which is well within the Endeavor's capabilities.)

When I get the new tubes I'll do some careful measurements and fab some out of SS. Next time I'll be ready with replacements of higher quality.

-=[ Grant ]=-
 
Hunh. My endeavor's 10 years old with the original tubes. They look good, too. I lost the roll pins awhile ago and replaced them with ss cotter pins, but no problems with the tubes themselves. The middle tube is often glowing red at the peak of a load.
 
That Endeavor shoud have you running naked at an idle in 1100 sq. ft. I heating 2000 sq ft so mind oftens sees 700+ stove top temps. Manual says 7 to 800 is high burn territory.. I've been in the wilderness a couple times...
 
I dont have the Endeavor, but I do have the liberty. Have the stainless steel tubes, and run them red all the time. the roll pins fell out the first year of burning, so instead welded threaded bungs over holes on slip collers to take screw in set pins. We run this stove hard, 700 degree stove top temps are a norm, and 550 to 650 cruising temps. Best bet is prolly getting tubes from the liberty and cutting them to length.
 
I had no idea there was a difference in the liberty and endeavor tubes. If and when I need to replace mine, I'll be buying some ss tube and making them myself. Might even go up one size in wall thickness.
 
madrone said:
I had no idea there was a difference in the liberty and endeavor tubes. If and when I need to replace mine, I'll be buying some ss tube and making them myself. Might even go up one size in wall thickness.

===

No real need for that...did you take note of the stove top temps and red tubes that some of are running and having no problems with the SS Lopi tubes...but to each his own
 
So if they are not Stainless Steel - what are they?
The endeavor has the same interior features as the revere and republic inserts, right? 2.2 firebox, etc?
 
Given that mine are still going after a decade, I'm wondering now if they aren't stainless after all. I'll give them the magnet test next time the stove cools down.
 
tickbitty said:
So if they are not Stainless Steel - what are they?
The endeavor has the same interior features as the revere and republic inserts, right? 2.2 firebox, etc?

They'd be regular ol' mild steel, same as the rest of the stove. Stainless has better corrosion and distortion resistance for the hot spot up there under the baffle.
 
madrone said:
Given that mine are still going after a decade, I'm wondering now if they aren't stainless after all. I'll give them the magnet test next time the stove cools down.

=====

Given the considerably milder climate where you are Vs me, I doubt you would burn hot enought, long enough to fry the tube/baffle supports...The original and first couple replacements were steel, mild/cold rolled/hotrolled, I don't know but they were'nt SS
 
They're probably not ss, and I'm sure I don't run as hot or long as others, but if y'all are replacing in 2 years I'm surprised mine are in such good shape. I burned a lot of Oak last year and had red tubes on a regular basis, but no sag and not much corrosion even after all this time. Now that I've said that, I suppose I should go ahead and order some tube...
 
I would think the sag would come from maybe pinching against something when expanding. My Lopi Freedom is only really happy in the 500-600 range, doesn't like the cooler temps. Other than a couple of cracked bricks no complaints.
 
Although an older thread, I just noticed I have the same issue. i have a Fireplace extrodianire 33 (same as the lopi declatation, just a different face plate) and the middle tube in my firebox is starting to sag. The middle is definitely drooping a bit. I will keep burning with it there untin it fails or i get around to replacing it.

just another thing on the to-do list.
 
Wood Heat Stoves said:
travis burn tubes are mild steel
i've sold well over 100 avalons in the last 13yrs, and replaced 4 or 5 sets of burn tubes--pretty good batting ave i'd say

and they are cheap

The tubes in my stove are not magnetic. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think that means they're stainless.
 
jeffee said:
Wood Heat Stoves said:
travis burn tubes are mild steel
i've sold well over 100 avalons in the last 13yrs, and replaced 4 or 5 sets of burn tubes--pretty good batting ave i'd say

and they are cheap

The tubes in my stove are not magnetic. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think that means they're stainless.

never had to install a set in a 1750.
looks like steel to me
 

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Dave,
Is it easy to get the tubes out? Does the handy tool thing they include in that set help get the pin out? On one of my tubes the pin is darn near flush with the sleeve. Just thinking in advance in case I ever do need to replace it ..
 
Jeffe - The tubes aren't too bad to get out. The hardest part for me was bending that low and reaching into the stove at the same time. Maybe I need some yoga first? Just remember how the holes are aligned so you put them back in right. On my Revere the front tube has slightly larger holes and they are angled down about 45 degrees. The back two tubes have the holes aiming horizontally. I tapped the roll pins up and into the tubes with an appropriately sized punch, worked the collars a bit with a pair of water pump pliers, slid them onto the tube, wiggled the tube around a bit and then they came right out.
 
just a thought if the pins are hollow you could put some stainless wire through them and twist to keep them in place, i use inconel wire to safty bolts and pins on airplanes. our wire is 40 thousands and takes heat very well
 
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