New Jotul Olso F500 Front door hard to close

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pcs2011

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Apr 11, 2011
29
SC
I just had a new Oslo F500 installed. Looks great! Anxiously waiting to do the break-in burns, but just a tad warm here in South Carolina right now!!!

I did the dollar bill check and all OK,

The f4ront door seems hard to close. I push the door hard to the gasket, push down on the handle and it goes maybe 3/4 the way to full down. In order to fully close the door, I have to put almost all my weight on the handle.

Based on your experience should it be this hard to close? I'm thinking maybe because it is new it is hard and after I have had it burning for a month or so, I might loosen up a bit...

Pete
 
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Some manufacturers include a couple of washers that can be added to the inside latching mechanism if the fit is too tight. Not sure about the Jotuls, however.
 
Dont worry...as you use the stove, that door gasket will flatten out a bit, and your door will be closing just fine soon. i have the opposite problem - my door closed nice and tight, and now, after many opening and closings, the handle latches TOO smoothly. No leaks, still tight with the cash $$ test, but not as snug as Id like.
 
wood-fan-atic said:
Dont worry...as you use the stove, that door gasket will flatten out a bit, and your door will be closing just fine soon. i have the opposite problem - my door closed nice and tight, and now, after many opening and closings, the handle latches TOO smoothly. No leaks, still tight with the cash $$ test, but not as snug as Id like.
Click to expand...

Thanks Master. I'll see what happens after I have used it a while.
Pete
 
If I remember correctly, the F500 has a left side loading door along with the front doors. You may want to load from the side for a while while the stove breaks in even more. The front door handles on the Jotuls are a bit touchy and awkward, but eventually I think things will fall into place.

This suggested method is how I plan on breaking in my F600.....I think the only difference is size and a right vs. left side door.

Good luck!
 
I have the same new stove. The front door is also hard to close on mine. From what I hear, most people dont use the front door that ofter. The only negative thing I have ever heard about the oslo was complaints about ash spilage out the front door. I have read posts on hearth.com that some people almost never use the front door to avoid ash spilage. I have also read the side door is one of the largest made (another reason not to use the front door).
I'm sure you will be fine as long as you have a good seal.
good luck
 
I plan on side loading here, for ash, and ease of it. At least i think.

Jotuls have a spring mechanism in the handle, i find it strange and difficult to close myself. Try to push in during the final turn. No idea how your to do that when its cranking out btu's though.
 
Blue Vomit said:
I have the same new stove. The front door is also hard to close on mine. From what I hear, most people dont use the front door that ofter. The only negative thing I have ever heard about the oslo was complaints about ash spilage out the front door. I have read posts on hearth.com that some people almost never use the front door to avoid ash spilage. I have also read the side door is one of the largest made (another reason not to use the front door).
I'm sure you will be fine as long as you have a good seal.
good luck
Click to expand...

I have had my jotul Oslo for a few years now and before the stove was broken in I had the same problem with the front door latch. In time through normal use the front door latch became easier to use, mostly due to the gasket 'seating' itself to the door opening.
I also agree with vomit, the front door is a magnet for ash and when I'm in 24/7 mode I will rarely use it. The side door is plenty big enough for general use. I'll open the front door for cleaning days and an occasional open door fire. For some reason my two boxers are more attracted to the stove when they can see/feel the actual fire without the glass.
 
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If you spray graphite on the the latch assembly you will be able to close it with one finger!
 
Kenn said:
If you spray graphite on the the latch assembly you will be able to close it with one finger!
Click to expand...

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!

Sprayed a little BLASTER graphite dry lube on the latch and works like a charm!! Closes easy as pie....

Thanks!!
Pete
 
One thing we do with the Oslo doors is use the palm of one hand and push in the center of the handle to compress the spring, then turn the handle with the other hand. It will take the wear off the latch. And yes you will not use the front door much.

Tom
 
wood-fan-atic said:
Dont worry...as you use the stove, that door gasket will flatten out a bit, and your door will be closing just fine soon. i have the opposite problem - my door closed nice and tight, and now, after many opening and closings, the handle latches TOO smoothly. No leaks, still tight with the cash $$ test, but not as snug as Id like.
Click to expand...


+1... many new stoves of every make and model can be like that untill you open and close the door a couple dozen times while its hot. gasket needs to flatten out a little.
 
About ash spilling: first open the side door to eliminate the vacuum that causes the ash to spill out the front.
 
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Pete...Jeff here...just got a Oslo a month ago and My situation was a little similar on the front door only. Put some silicone on the latch and she was good to go. I don't think things are right if you have to put 3/4 of your weight on it.
 
remkel said:
If I remember correctly, the F500 has a left side loading door along with the front doors. You may want to load from the side for a while while the stove breaks in even more. The front door handles on the Jotuls are a bit touchy and awkward, but eventually I think things will fall into place.

This suggested method is how I plan on breaking in my F600.....I think the only difference is size and a right vs. left side door.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Remkel...I don't know how your 600 is but...but the latching is different between the front & side.
 
Blue Vomit said:
I have the same new stove. The front door is also hard to close on mine. From what I hear, most people dont use the front door that ofter. The only negative thing I have ever heard about the oslo was complaints about ash spilage out the front door. I have read posts on hearth.com that some people almost never use the front door to avoid ash spilage. I have also read the side door is one of the largest made (another reason not to use the front door).
I'm sure you will be fine as long as you have a good seal.
good luck
Click to expand...

Some of us have corner installs so...technically your not supposed to use the side door.
 
My Oslo heats my home said:
I have had my jotul Oslo for a few years now and before the stove was broken in I had the same problem with the front door latch. In time through normal use the front door latch became easier to use, mostly due to the gasket 'seating' itself to the door opening.
I also agree with vomit, the front door is a magnet for ash and when I'm in 24/7 mode I will rarely use it. The side door is plenty big enough for general use. I'll open the front door for cleaning days and an occasional open door fire. For some reason my two boxers are more attracted to the stove when they can see/feel the actual fire without the glass.
Click to expand...

How do you like it with a screen?
 
The door should be snug, not tight or difficult. Is this an issue of just gasket compression, or is there some metal-metal interference, such that you're flexing the doors to latch? Maybe the assembler was just a little over zealous in his anticipation of future gasket settling. In either case, I'd be adjusting the washers for a more comfortable closure, counting on the chance I might need to tighten it back up down the road. No need to squash the hell out of new gaskets to get a seal off the bat, unless there's some uneven gap they're trying to hide on an out of plumb door.
 
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As I recall I had some issues with my front door when I first had my Oslo . . . too loose or too tight . . . I forget which . . . I made an adjustment with the latch using an Allen wrench . . . later checked it and made another adjustment . . . since then I have had no further adjustments.
 
neumsky said:
Remkel...I don't know how your 600 is but...but the latching is different between the front & side.
Click to expand...
side door has a handle attached, front door has a handle like an Allen wrench.
 
remkel said:
side door has a handle attached, front door has a handle like an Allen wrench.
Click to expand...

The latching mechanism is different. Theres a 1"x3/8" plate allen screwed into the front and the side latching mechanism is formed into the stove casting...I wonder why it's different?
 
neumsky, I just saw your signature and saw the 'non cat wife'..LOL
 
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pcs2011 said:
I just had a new Oslo F500 installed. Looks great! Anxiously waiting to do the break-in burns, but just a tad warm here in South Carolina right now!!!

I did the dollar bill check and all OK,

The f4ront door seems hard to close. I push the door hard to the gasket, push down on the handle and it goes maybe 3/4 the way to full down. In order to fully close the door, I have to put almost all my weight on the handle.

Based on your experience should it be this hard to close? I'm thinking maybe because it is new it is hard and after I have had it burning for a month or so, I might loosen up a bit...

Pete
Click to expand...

Same issue with my Oslo. Had only 3 months of burning last season since we installed in January, but the latch is still very tight. I'm inclined to leave it alone because I don't want to adjust it only to find it is too loose, and I can't get it snug again. Rather it be tight than loose...

I enjoy loading from the front more than the side because I find I can load more wood in that way. Is it strange that I'm craving a cold night so I can fire it up again?! :)
 
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