Chinook 30: Bypass plate scraping?

[Tron]

During another bird rescue this morning I noticed that the bypass plate, which normally clicks nicely into place when closing, seems to scrape on something on the last inch of closing. Can that shift a bit in there or what could be causing this?
We're currently not using the stove and I will check this out when we do our annual cleaning in the fall when I take off the pipe, but I'm just wondering if I need anything to fix this.

A bit of a high-temperature grease probably can't hurt, any recommendations? Something graphite-based perhaps?

Thanks!

 

[stoveliker]

I would think that it depends on what part is scraping where.
Maybe it's simply the rod in the (asymmetric) oval thing that doesn't slide smoothly?
I use dry graphite powder indeed where surfaces slide anywhere on the bypass mechanism.

 

[Tron]

I use dry graphite powder

Yes, that's what I was thinking. I may even have some that came with our oven a few years back...

 

[Murray01]

9. Apply high temp anti-seize lubricant to the under side of the bypass hook (Fig. 16) and then reinstall the bypass door by following the previous steps in reverse order.

The above quote is from my Princess owner’s manual

 

[Highbeam]

I lube stuff up there with antiseize as murray describes. It burns off or dries into a powder probably not much different than dry graphite. The plate can shift a bit side to side but not much. Maybe a chunk of debris fell down from above. You should get your answers when you clean it.

 

[Tron]

You should get your answers when you clean it.

I suppose. It feels like the plate has shifted and is now scraping against something. But as you said, I'll likely have to wait until the fall to find out. But as I'm not going to use the stove until then, I can live with that.

 

[Highbeam]

I suppose. It feels like the plate has shifted and is now scraping against something. But as you said, I'll likely have to wait until the fall to find out. But as I'm not going to use the stove until then, I can live with that.

Maybe, this year, do that maintenance sooner just in case the scraping is caused by something that needs repairs.

I try to sweep early summer to prevent the corrosive stuff from hanging out in the system getting all moist and corrosive all summer. Plus it’s ready to go.

 

[Tron]

I try to sweep early summer to prevent the corrosive stuff from hanging out in the system

That's one option. I usually sweep right before heating season to make sure nothing is blocking the flue.

 

[stoveliker]

I agree with @Highbeam; if something is awry, you don't want to have to delay your burning because you're waiting on a part.
Though in Jackson MS that may no be that big of a deal?

I sweep in spring, take my stove pipe off and cap the stove and the flue, so it's easy to run the soot eater up the pipe before I burn to avoid critter-fabricated blockages.

 

[Tron]

I sweep in spring, take my stove pipe off and cap the stove and the flue, so it's easy to run the soot eater up the pipe before I burn to avoid critter-fabricated blockages.

So you're sweeping in spring and then again in the fall?
And why do you take the stovepipe off for the summer? Any particular reason?

 

[stoveliker]

So you're sweeping in spring and then again in the fall?
And why do you take the stovepipe off for the summer? Any particular reason?

I don't really sweep in the fall, merely stick the soot eater up there to ensure nothing is blocking the path.

It's a basement stove, so the stove pipe gone doesn't look odd in the living room.
I do this because it's a basement stove and it can get humid there (despite dehumidifiers). So I cap the outlet of the stove, and the air inlet of the stove, and add a pot of damprid in the stove to keep its innards from rusting. Yeah, yeah, only surface rust etc. But I don't like it.
Second, I do have sometimes sinking air in my flue, and even if it's relatively clean, it can stink. The stove is not air tight enough and sometimes the basement then smells a bit.
With the flue (horizontal thimble) capped properly, there is no smell.

 

[Tron]

That makes sense, thanks!

 

[moresnow]

If you had a bird come down/occupy your pipe you may be surprised at how much debris, they can bring down. Plenty to foul your bypass operation.
Actually rather good pipe cleaners

 

[Tron]

If you had a bird come down/occupy your pipe you may be surprised at how much debris, they can bring down. Plenty to foul your bypass operation.
Actually rather good pipe cleaners

yes, I'm currently hoping that the scraping is caused by excess debris that came down, or maybe a bird skeleton or such ;-)