Changing Damper Gasket on VC Encore NC 1450 which cannot be accessed through flue collar

I have a VC Encore NC 1450, manufactured in 2009, which is installed in a fireplace. Because of the weight of the stove and its position in the fireplace it is not practical to replace the damper gasket through the flue collar opening as recommended by the manufacturor.

I wonder if anyone has ever changed the damper gasket by removing the Damper Housing through the inside of the stove?? From the diagram of the stove it appears there are four bolts holding the damper housing to the back of the stove and the gasket which needs to be replaced is on the back side of the damper housing.

Is this a feasible way to change the damper gasket or does the damper lever hold the housing in such a way that it can't be removed without removing the damper from the damper rod? Are there nuts on the end of the four bolts that will fall inside when they are remove or are the bolts going into tapped holes in the stove back? Is there gasket material between the damper housing and the stove back or is it cemented to the stove back?

Any other thoughts on how to change the gasket. Please see parts 10, 42, 11 & 12 for reference on page 32 at the link below.

http://www.thenaturalabode.com/house_appliances/downloads/wood_stoves/Encore_manual.pdf


Thanks in advance for your help.

I did a partial rebuild of an Encore this past summer. I removed the damper by removing the back casting that houses the refractory assembly and catalyst. It would also be possible to replace the gasket without removing the damper. You will just be a bit more cramped for space.

-Have the damper in the open position
-Open griddle and both doors for access and convenience
-Pull out the old gasket (should be easy to do)
-Get a wire brush and scrape out the remaining gasket material and cement
-Apply new cement
-Press in new gasket
-let sit for at least one hour

Minimal cursing should occur.

Thank you for the reply.
My stove is a non catalytic model so I am not sure if your method would help in the same way. I may be missunderstanding what you describe but it seems without removing the damper housing I would still have to work from behind the gasket channel (with it facing the back of the stove) which is very awkward.

I'm sorry, you seem to be correct. On the old 0028 Encore model, the gasket is placed on the damper itself. I noticed on the newer Defiant I have that the gasket is placed on the inside edge of the upper fireback, which I believe is how the more recent models of the Encore function as well. That would mean you will have to remove the upper fireback to replace it or remove the back casting to be able to reach it from the back of the stove.

Yes, my question though is can your get to it by removing the damper housing by taking the four bolts out and does this cause other issues when trying to reassemble. Does it work at all since the damper rod goes through the damper housing thus necessitating detatching the damper from the rod which perhaps can only be done from the back. I suppose one solution is to try to attach the gasket to the damper even though not designed for that and see if it will properly seal.

Bad design in my estimation; having to take a stove out to change the damper gasket.

You should be able to replace the gasket by removing the upper fireback and not have to pull out the stove. I can not tell you this for sure right now as my Encore is currently sitting at 700 degrees and I'm not about to open the door and stick my head in there!

By the upper fire back do you mean the damper housing on the parts diagram I referenced in my first posting on this matter? The part held in by the four bolts? My concern is if there are nuts on the other end of those bolts they may fall between the inner and outer firebacks and or the damper rod may prevent removal of the back unless the damper is removed and the rod taken out which I think can only be done through the flue collar opening. That would negate the benefit of doiing this work through the front of the stove.

In fact, after putting off the disassembly of my VC Encore NC, I almost completely took it apart to inspect the fountain assembly because of the inablity to control the stove at times. In the process of doing that and corresponding with VC and one of their suppliers, I was able to get the maintenace manual which showed the proper process. Once the back heat shield, top of the stove, the right hand refractory, the main damper control handle and upper fireback are removed (the entire damper assembly) can be lowered down and to the right and removed. This process reqires removal of 4 bolts, two on each side with nuts accessible on the back of the stove.
Once the damper assembly is out replacing the gasket is straight forward.

sgoldsch - Is that maintenance manual in a PDF format? I would love to have a copy.

Thx

KenR,

See attachment.

Cool - thanks

I need to replace the damper housing and damper so will I need to disassemble everything that you did?

K

It is surprisingly easy to move these stoves a few feet in or out by using a 5' length of 2x4 as a lever along with some more bits of 2x4 or larger for a fulcrum, and prying it up on one end, swinging it over a ways, then doing the same on the other side, repeating until you get it where you want. You can also do it from the front to move in sideways, the bottom is plenty strong.

How do I know? We had to do it twice a year to check and clean the cat on our Encore, which had the cat access on the back, so there was no way to do it without moving the stove!