Oslo F500 air control UPDATED WITH PICS

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Blue Vomit

Minister of Fire
Jul 12, 2011
662
eastern PA
This is my first year burning the Oslo. So far everything is good. I'm learning the stove in the shoulder season and have a question. Why is there so much, or any for that matter, "play" in the air coltrol lever? I'm trying to get a pattern down regarding slowly turning the air down in incraments after a full load. The "play" in the air control lever gets me frustrated. When I say "play" I mean you have to move it about an inch or so until it catches and actually starts to open or close the air door. This is a new stove so I'm guessing this is normal. Is there any way to tighten this up easily without voiding the warranty?
 
Blue Vomit said:
This is my first year burning the Oslo. So far everything is good. I'm learning the stove in the shoulder season and have a question. Why is there so much, or any for that matter, "play" in the air coltrol lever? I'm trying to get a pattern down regarding slowly turning the air down in incraments after a full load. The "play" in the air control lever gets me frustrated. When I say "play" I mean you have to move it about an inch or so until it catches and actually starts to open or close the air door. This is a new stove so I'm guessing this is normal. Is there any way to tighten this up easily without voiding the warranty?

There should not be any play in the lever as it is a direct connect. When the stove is cool, take it apart from the inside, spritz a little powered graphite on the insides, button it back up and you should be good to go.
 
Thanks Shari,
I have at least an inch in either direction before it "catches". I'll take it apart when it cools down.
 
I know what you mean about play in the air control. Mine seems to have that too. I have taken it apart but can't remember exactly how that worked in there. I've just learned to use it as it is. It slides well. I don't think mine has an inch play though.
 
It's normal. It's not meant to be precision. The lever is a bent rod that slides a shutter back and forth. It's not directly connected to that shutter, so there is play.
 
Thanks. Looking at it closer, I don't think it is quite as much as an inch, but the play is there, just wish it was more precise. Very happy otherwise.
 
Blue Vomit said:
Thanks. Looking at it closer, I don't think it is quite as much as an inch, but the play is there, just wish it was more precise. Very happy otherwise.

It's quite simple to check it out for yourself. Just remove the two bolts from the "doghouse" air intake shroud just above the lever IN the stove. No gasket to worry about. Once removed, you can easily see the mechanism. If the lever ever gets sticky, you'll want to lube that shutter with some graphite (powered or spray).
 
Peter SWNH said:
Blue Vomit said:
Thanks. Looking at it closer, I don't think it is quite as much as an inch, but the play is there, just wish it was more precise. Very happy otherwise.

It's quite simple to check it out for yourself. Just remove the two bolts from the "doghouse" air intake shroud just above the lever IN the stove. No gasket to worry about. Once removed, you can easily see the mechanism. If the lever ever gets sticky, you'll want to lube that shutter with some graphite (powered or spray).
Good advice. That's a very easy inspection, and the graphite lube is definitely worth doing. I just measured the play on my Oslo, and it's a touch more than 1/4", measured at the extreme end of the handle. This kind of thing always seems bigger than it is until you measure it, so the OP might want to get out a ruler to be sure. One thing to check if the play is really excessive is whether the bolt that holds the lever in place is loose. Otherwise, I can't see how there would be an inch of play unless the parts are made differently than on mine. The cast iron shutter isn't super-precision, but an inch of play sounds like something isn't quite right.
 
I know what you are reffering to, and I believe it to be normal, I have had 2 f-500s they were both the same fells like a little play , I never worried about it, I had no problem keeping house nice and warm.
 
When you take off the 2 10mm bolts, which hold the air inlet box and or doghouse. Youll see the cast iron shutter and air rod. Its just resting between tabs. Depending on how tight it is to the plate, you can tighten this by a bolt, i think 10mm still. Its located on the top front edge inside the ash pan. Hold rod and you can adjust the lever. Carefull too far down you may contact the ash lip, too high the front door. Can bend a little to fit.

Mines about 3/8 in play id say.

Good luck.
 
Finally got around to taking off the doghouse cover. For those who have never seen it, this is a good illustration of why there is play or slack on the air control lever. You can see the lever moves the half circle shaped piece between the small posts (about 1 inch) before it actually grabs the post and glides the door open and shut.
 

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Looks fine from the pics.
 
Interesting change in model years, mines an 06 and my rod is straight. Also the tabs appear to be slightly different. However basically the same set up.

I wonder if that curl is some sort of fix to the stickyness that can occur with ash build up.
 
Stump_Branch said:
Interesting change in model years, mines an 06 and my rod is straight. Also the tabs appear to be slightly different. However basically the same set up.

I wonder if that curl is some sort of fix to the stickyness that can occur with ash build up.

Now that you mention it, I remember either the salesman at the dealers or the Jotul rep there mentioned they corrected that problem. That was when I bought the stove in March.
In any event, the stove runs like a champ.
 
That is correct blue vomit. The old style air slide would bind from time to time. It wasnt an issue with all the stoves in the field just a small number of them. So the RnD team did a re-bend on the air slide to correct any issues moving forward.
 
jotulguy said:
That is correct blue vomit. The old style air slide would bind from time to time. It wasnt an issue with all the stoves in the field just a small number of them. So the RnD team did a re-bend on the air slide to correct any issues moving forward.

that makes sense... a simple solution to a small problem.
Thanks
 
Mine has never seemed to get sticky, but it does have the play in it you mention and I don't care for it either. I have gotten use to it. Mine is a 2009, installed last year.
 
Thanks for posting this picture...just stumbled on it..., finallly makes sense to me about the play between the two stoppers.
Finally got around to taking off the doghouse cover. For those who have never seen it, this is a good illustration of why there is play or slack on the air control lever. You can see the lever moves the half circle shaped piece between the small posts (about 1 inch) before it actually grabs the post and glides the door open and shut.
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