Top Load Lid "Warped" FAILED Dollar Bill Test (Lopi Leyden)

In my on going effort to get this stove to burn right, as suggested, I have performed the dollar bill test. Basically, it failed the "stack of dollar bills" test.

The top load lid has never sat right, but I never gave it much thought. It sort of rocks from front left corner to right rear corner. I took it off and set it on the floor and it looks, well the best way to describe it is like a warped piece of plywood.

I did the lit candle test, and air is being sucked in under the front left and right rear corners.

Could the lid have just been cast poorly?

Anyone have any experience dealing with the manufacturer Lopi in getting replacement parts? Would I go through the dealer or manufacturer?

The thing is only a few months old. Thanks in advance.

I didn't register it with the manufacturer. Does this matter for the warranty?

It never really sat right from the beginning, but will they believe that?

And I'm obviously inexperienced and worried that I may have over fired it, BUT:

I have never burned the stove when we weren't sitting in the room watching it, and the fire has never raged for more than a few minutes, and the stove has never glowed red, and I'm burning poor quality wood with an enviblock thrown in to the mix.

Would it really warp in that short a period of time?

And if 2 minutes is all it takes to cause that kind of damage, what kind of quality are we talking about here?

Not totally sure, but like I said above, I don't think I've created an over fire situation.

Just how long would it have to over fire to warp a cast iron lid? More than a few minutes?

Ok, thanks everyone.
I'm going to start with the dealer first chance I get.

I'll try it tonight. With all the air rushing under the lid, it's burning fast anyway.

Was it the stove itself that glowed in the back, or the steel box that houses the combustion?

I know there are people on here who like their leydens, but it's been a frustrating year for me. I'm going to give it till the end of next year with good seasoned wood before I pass judgement, but I'm worried I made an expensive mistake.

I just came back from the dealer. Took the lid off the floor model and it was flat as a pancake. Set mine down next to it, and it was rocking like the warped piece of ... that it is.

They gave me a new gasket for around the lid that is one size bigger than is supposed to be there and proposed this as a solution. It still does not pass the dollar bill test, but the seal is much better. I am burning a very small fire right now that is under much better control than ever before, but it's not a long term solution, obviously.

He wants me to leave the lid with him for the week to have the manufacturers rep come in to look at it. The dealer told me "That's a new stove, and they are well built, they shouldn't warp under those conditions, lets see if we can get it covered under the warranty."

I would love for it to be a flaw in the body itself. I think I would like to get the cape cod. I no longer fear the CAT after reading this site.

Also, too many doors and gaskets, more chances for something to go wrong. I think I can live without the top load door.

July 2011

thanks evilgriff but I would rather replace than fix.

webby, by door hinges, did you mean the top loading lid hinges?

What year did the revisions go into place.