Catalyst handle seems broken, Green Mountain 40

[Argyle2234]

I got a Green Mountain 40 in 2024 and love it. I'm in Tennessee so don't use it constantly so it's only gotten moderate use. I've had fires two times this season, everything worked fine, but the handle to activate the catalyst has been really "sticky " and it felt like I had to push hard to engage it. This happened last season too. This morning I started a fire and when I tried to engage the catalyst it moved really easy and felt wrong, like nothing happened. Went out to look at the chimney and thick smoke was still coming out. Moved it back and forth a couple times and it's not engaging. Has anyone had just the handle stop working? I just had the stove cleaned a month ago so don't think anything is wrong with the actual catalyst. Also does not engaging it have any effect on how well the stove heats up? It didn't seem to get as hot this morning but maybe that was just a coincidence. I'm hoping this is under warranty.

 

[wetwood4life]

On my stove, the bypass door will stick and not want to close when ash or creosote flakes have fallen into its gasket. The only way to really clean it is taking the stovepipe off and cleaning into the top of the stove.

Check if your bypass handle has a set screw (like a faucet knob has). If that wiggled loose you could fix it easily by tightening the screw.

 

[Argyle2234]

On my stove, the bypass door will stick and not want to close when ash or creosote flakes have fallen into its gasket. The only way to really clean it is taking the stovepipe off and cleaning into the top of the stove.

Check if your bypass handle has a set screw (like a faucet knob has). If that wiggled loose you could fix it easily by tightening the screw.

Thank you! The guy who cleaned the chimney and stove didn't take that off, I bet that's the problem. I'll check the handle when it cools off.