removable flue damper??

[jgcable]

Are most fireplace flue dampers removable without cutting them out? I have a 1932 home with a beautiful fireplace and the damper splits my flue in 2 sections that are only 3-1/4" wide so I can't fit my 4" flexpipe liner through either of the sections. My fireplace has a brass knob on the front of it that controls opening and closing the damper. There is no way to bend it out of the way so I will have to remove it. It is very heavy duty. Some people have told me it might be able to be removed if it has cotter pins holding it together. I hate to chop it out.
If you were laying on your back in my fireplace looking up at the damper it would look like a choke on a car carburetor.

 

[smwilliamson]

usually a cotter pin holding the adjustment rod to the flue, tak it out and the damper should lift up and come out.

 

[Xena]

Get under there with some good lighting so you can see
the deal. As mentioned, most are held in with cotter pins
or some other hinged affair that allows the damper to open/close easily.