Ugh...Woodstove problems....Anyone know what this is??

Hey everyone!

My woodstove has been giving me so much trouble I haven't had time to even log onto hearth.com. The pipe fell off the back of my woodstove on Monday night....the pipe was not even screwed on or anything...It just fell off when I was shaking it to put coal in....A friend did come over and put screws on both the pipe that attaches to the woodstove and where the pipe goes into the wall(brick) but it doesn't seem to be drafting well. Keep having problems with smoke and have a heck of a time getting a good fire going. When he put the pipe back in I know he tipped the stove forward quite a bit in order to get the pipe back in and this morning while I was sweeping behind the woodstove I found this metal piece, which I'm sure must belong in the woodstove....I'm including a picture of it. Anyone know what it is?? Is it important??

Thanks,
Tracy

What stove do you have?
John

It doesn't look like part of a stove to me. Looks more like a piece of an old poker or something.

Has it been warmer weather lately? If so, that might be part of your drafting problem. Better take a look up your chimney just to be sure that it isn't getting a lot of creosote built up.

I have an early 80's sears stove that is a wood/coal stove. It seems to be very simlar to the brand Russo from what posters have said here.

that part looks like a rotary damper drive shaft. Behind your wood stove is there a tee type nob that turns? Usually located in the brick facing. Re post pictures of your setup again. I am wondering when the pipe fell down, if it just ended beyond your damper, that the original damper closed or particially closed. This would explain why now your stove is having a hard time working or drafting. Remember your stove is 25 years old and installations made then would not pass the mustard today. It is possible that your stove is only vented to the damper and that the damper has to be fully open held in place by that shaft?

Elk,

Here is the picture of my woodstove....as always yours & everyone here on hearthnet's help is greatly appreaciated!!

Tracy

any way to get a picture of wha is under that overhang and what is that tin foil look above the vent pipe?