BK spare parts

[SolarAndWood]

After looking at the parts diagram and learning how these stoves work, it seems that the only critical parts to keep on hand are a T-stat and a cat. Everything else short of welding type repairs seems that you could get by until parts arrive in the mail. This seem right? This is our only source of heat, so waiting for critical cant operate the stove without them parts in January is undesirable.

 

[Highbeam]

Stove glass? Gasket material? Do you live way way far away? I thought NY (the whole east) was a big city. Are you stuck in your home by some condition?

 

[SolarAndWood]

No, quite mobile and in Syracuse 4 miles from downtown on my side of the city is in the country. I would have to drive 3 hours or so to be in the DC to Boston sprawl.

My local dealer doesn't even keep a display model. So, I am not that interested in relying on him for critical parts unique to the stove. Loading NS, I doubt I will have a problem with the glass but should probably add it to the list anyway.

 

[Rich L]

When you can pickup a spare Cat and gasket with cement.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Do you have one to sell Rich? If you can PM me the details and what you would like for it, that would be great.

 

[Rich L]

Do you have one to sell Rich? If you can PM me the details and what you would like for it, that would be great.

No I don't have any spare parts.Your dealer can order parts for you.Since you mentioned it I should pick up a spare cat even though my dealer is three hours away.Having spare parts are always a good idea since we're so far out of the loop.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Having spare parts are always a good idea since we're so far out of the loop.

That is what I am thinking. Why treat this different than any other relied on piece of equipment. The tstat seems critical as well as it fails into the closed position from what I read. I couldn't find anything else that is both likely to fail and can't be sourced locally or lived without until it arrives in the mail.

 

[Wet1]

Although, the stove will still function w/o the cat. Yes you might be burning a less efficiently, but it would certainly get you by for a couple days until a new cat arrived in the mail. Your cat should last you for many years, and there could be advancements in the technology between now and then (such is the case with the SS cat of the last couple years). Why tie your money up or lock into today's technology when you most likely wont need a replacement for many years, and even then the stove will still function fine w/o the cat should yours fail? For that matter, you might not even have the same stove be the time your cat fails... you know what hanging around here can do for upgradeitous!

Regarding the coil, I haven't looked at mine, but I'm sure in the event it failed and I needed the stove for heat, I'm sure I could figure out a way to get the stove to function by propping open the butterfly. But since this is your primary source of heat, having a spare on hand isn't the worst idea in the world. With that said, your stove is fairly new and that coil should also last a long time before failure... If you order one, please let me know what the part costs. If it's cheap (and it should be), I might order one to have on hand myself.

 

[Lanningjw]

I was advised that this place to purchase a replacement cat............
http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/

 

[SolarAndWood]

For that matter, you might not even have the same stove be the time your cat fails... you know what hanging around here can do for upgradeitous!

I've got a feeling this stove, the splitter my father in law built 15 years ago and I are going to be hanging out together for a long time.

Good point on cat technology. Maybe if the stove wasn't our only source of heat, I wouldn't consider it a single point of critical failure.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Thanks for the link Lanning. That looks simple enough that maybe it isn't worth having a spare on hand.

 

[Lanningjw]

Thanks for the link Lanning. That looks simple enough that maybe it isn't worth having a spare on hand.

Check out this link.....
http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/blazeking.html

 

[SolarAndWood]

I checked that out earlier. I thought it would be harder to get one than that. Of course, who knows what is actually in stock when you go to place the order.

 

[Lanningjw]

I checked that out earlier. I thought it would be harder to get one than that. Of course, who knows what is actually in stock when you go to place the order.

They are kind of messed up on the site. they dont have the one for the PI1010A princess insert. They do have one for the princess stove, must be the same one..................$325..................better last for a long time. I was also told that they are going down in price. They are not making the SS model for the princess either.

$325 alot of money in my book.

 

[learnin to burn]

Check Ebay - Search for Blaze King and you get a bunch of Cat's to choose from at buy it now prices much better than $325

 

[SolarAndWood]

$325 alot of money in my book.

I heard ya...I guess it depends on how many years you get out of it.

 

[stockcarver]

I've owned 4 B-K's since 1990, and have never had any problem with the automatic damper, nor have I ever heard of one failing.
If your combustor were to go out (highly unlikely) you can still use the stove without a problem. You would burn a bit more wood, but it will function fine until you get a replacement. Figure on replacing it in 4 or 5 seasons, although it will work longer than that, just not as well.
If the glass were to break, yes, you would have a problem. The only reason it would break would be if you really went out of your way to break it. While not fragile, if you slammed the door shut on a piece of wood poking out of the fire box, or threw cold water on it while the stove is cooking along, yes, it might break, but it is going to need a lot of help.
Replacement parts are not difficult to come by, especially if you have an internet connection.
I replace the door gasket yearly, just because it is easy to do, but it is not a requirement.
There are thousands of these stoves in service, if they were fragile, unreliable or difficult to keep in order, you would definately hear about it on the net.
I just ordered a replacement combustor from Firecat, it arrived a week later. I could have gotten it sooner, but didn't care to pay for the express service. If I can get a part for a 19 year old stove that fast, you have nothing to worry about.
Congrats on picking a great stove, it will serve you well for many years. You could not have picked a better stove for sole source of heat.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Thanks Stock...I'm still recovering emotionally from another brand that parts and parts reliability were a little different.

BTW, what was the indicator that it was time to order a combustor?

 

[stockcarver]

BTW, what was the indicator that it was time to order a combustor?

It was taking longer to reach operating temp, and seemed to go out sooner. It was still functioning well during the fire, but I could tell it was getting tired. When I pulled it out to replace, I discovered it was partially loaded with fine ash, which may have explained why it was not up to snuff. I replaced it anyway and saved the old cat as a spare (should be OK with a careful cleaning) I definately could tell I was burning more wood for the amount of heat we needed. While it is not fun paying for a new cat, the amount of wood it saves us is well worth the investment. When I was younger I cut all my own wood and took pride in never having to pay someone for it. Now that is past, but it still bugs me to buy wood. We pay 150. per cord for pinon pine, delivered. I can heat our home through the winter on less than 3 cords. I KNOW it would take close to 5 cords with a conventional stove. I figure over a 5 year period I save no less than 7.5 cords, and that costs a heck of a lot more money than a combustor. Not to mention the work of stacking, hauling to the house, loading the stove and hauling ashes.
Yes, it is a real bargain, no matter how you slice it.

Most complaints you will hear about catalytic combustors come from stoves other than blaze kings. For whatever reason, some stove designs work better with cats than others, the BK is one of the good ones. You are in a interesting position now, coming from a stove you were not happy with. I am eagerly looking forward to your reaction when you get into the burning season and get your feedback on this stove.

I am always looking for a better stove, and if I find one, I will buy it.

 

[53flyer]

I checked that out earlier. I thought it would be harder to get one than that. Of course, who knows what is actually in stock when you go to place the order.

They are kind of messed up on the site. they dont have the one for the PI1010A princess insert. They do have one for the princess stove, must be the same one..................$325..................better last for a long time. I was also told that they are going down in price. They are not making the SS model for the princess either.

$325 alot of money in my book.

Isn't the one at the top of this pg (http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/blazeking.html) for the Princess insert? It says it's for "Princess Insert" even though it doesn't say PI1010A and it's $202. It also shows a SS upgrade link that says it's $265.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Thanks for the feeedback Stock. I've been burning for a month now 24/7 with only a few exceptions. I always fully load the stove and let the tstat do its thing. This thing rocks. I'll give you an update in January.

 

[Lanningjw]

I checked that out earlier. I thought it would be harder to get one than that. Of course, who knows what is actually in stock when you go to place the order.

They are kind of messed up on the site. they dont have the one for the PI1010A princess insert. They do have one for the princess stove, must be the same one..................$325..................better last for a long time. I was also told that they are going down in price. They are not making the SS model for the princess either.

$325 alot of money in my book.

Isn't the one at the top of this pg (http://www.woodstovecombustors.com/blazeking.html) for the Princess insert? It says it's for "Princess Insert" even though it doesn't say PI1010A and it's $202. It also shows a SS upgrade link that says it's $265.

The insert does not have a round cat, so I dont know what they are talking about!

 

[Rich L]

I've owned 4 B-K's since 1990, and have never had any problem with the automatic damper, nor have I ever heard of one failing.
If your combustor were to go out (highly unlikely) you can still use the stove without a problem. You would burn a bit more wood, but it will function fine until you get a replacement. Figure on replacing it in 4 or 5 seasons, although it will work longer than that, just not as well.
If the glass were to break, yes, you would have a problem. The only reason it would break would be if you really went out of your way to break it. While not fragile, if you slammed the door shut on a piece of wood poking out of the fire box, or threw cold water on it while the stove is cooking along, yes, it might break, but it is going to need a lot of help.
Replacement parts are not difficult to come by, especially if you have an internet connection.
I replace the door gasket yearly, just because it is easy to do, but it is not a requirement.
There are thousands of these stoves in service, if they were fragile, unreliable or difficult to keep in order, you would definately hear about it on the net.
I just ordered a replacement combustor from Firecat, it arrived a week later. I could have gotten it sooner, but didn't care to pay for the express service. If I can get a part for a 19 year old stove that fast, you have nothing to worry about.
Congrats on picking a great stove, it will serve you well for many years. You could not have picked a better stove for sole source of heat.

Yo Stockcarver,why are you only getting 5 years use per Blaze King stove.Man that's scary.A stove should last much longer.

 

[stockcarver]

Ha, yes good point...I bought our first King in 91 in Idaho, and it was our sole source of heat, that is what sold me on them. A few years later I found a near unused princess (pre-cat) and put it in my shop. I pretty much burned that one out trying to get it to heat the shop (uninsulated) I sold that one for more than I paid for it. I bought a second King (new) and put it in the house and took the original and put it in the shop. When we sold the property, the buyer insisted we leave both of the kings installed. Both were in great shape, the original King had 14 years of heating, and I only replaced the cat once. When we got to New Mexico, I was really lucky to find a 1990 Princess in great shape and put it in the house. There's 4 BK's I've owned since 91. If I could find a better heater, I'd buy it, but no luck so far. What is great about these is the low temp fires, they put out great heat and don't burn out the firebox in the process. The one I did burn out was a conventional non-cat princess.
I've not seen much BK activity down here in the southwest, most folks buy stoves that have eye appeal, heat is not a priority. Up north it is a different story, if I had to stake my survival on a woodstove, I would not consider anything else. I would also like to state that I have not had to get up at night to reload a stove since I've owned a BK, and can go all winter on one book of matches. I do not sell them, and I have no interest in the company, but I am a firm, experienced believer in this type stove, both King and Princess.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

After looking at the parts diagram and learning how these stoves work, it seems that the only critical parts to keep on hand are a T-stat and a cat. Everything else short of welding type repairs seems that you could get by until parts arrive in the mail. This seem right? This is our only source of heat, so waiting for critical cant operate the stove without them parts in January is undesirable.

You can get by without a cat.