Bypass tubes in Lopi Revere

[lopisided]

Hi,

I'm a noob (to this forum, not wood heat) with a question about the bypass tubes in my Lopi Revere insert. My stove is about 14 years old and has seen quite a bit of use (wood is my backup heat, but I still use the stove quite a bit). The tubes have sagged due to heat over the years and I have replaced a couple of them. The problem is with the new "pins" that hold the tubes onto the collar on the roof of the stove. The darn things just do not fit. I have tried hammering and squeezing and cussing and nothing works - I just cannot get the pins (rolled steel collars) to fit into the holes that hold the tubes in place. I have had to resort to cotter pins and screws and other metal objects, but they don't seem to stay in place. And, I have emailed Travis Industries but their response was to keep trying (thanks a lot!).

Does anyone else have this problem? Any solutions or hints? Or, have you tried anything else that works?

Thanks,
Ted

 

[begreen]

Stainless cotter pins seem to be the most permanent solution.

 

[jaychino415]

Ted,

You might be able to use roll pin punch to get those back in. Just my 0.02 for what it is worth.

 

[fespo]

I have the same problem, I buy them a little longer, then take one end to the bench grinder and grind them to a small end. Them line them up and a couple hits with the hammer and you should be set.

 

[lopisided]

Thanks for the replies, all.

Glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem. I'm not a machinist, but I do know my way around tools and have found no way to get these pins into the holes in the tubes and collars. What really worries me is that even if I were to be able to get these pins (which are really small slotted tubes) into the holes in the bypass tubes/collars, the heat would make them expand and I would never be able to get them out again if I needed to.

I'm a little surprised that Travis Industries can't come up with a better solution for an otherwise great wood stove. That, and the blower fan that makes a racket (but that's an issue for another thread).

I guess I will keep trying different things until I hit on something that reliably works. But at least I can look on the bright side - I got a gift certificate to Home Depot for Christmas. I can always go there and buy every size screw and cotter pin they sell and try them all until one fits. Yeehaaaa!