I have an old Fisher, probably Papa Bear, Fisher on left, 2 doors. It is missing some piece on the back whick locks the damper down when not in use. No dampers photos on a couple of manuals I have viewed. Need to figure it out before house heat goes up the chimney. Thanks. Declan
Damper Lock Down
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First, a Papa Bear has only one door. So that is not what you have.
Is this a freestanding stove or Fireplace Insert?
You're going to have to post a picture since it has Fisher on the left door. The only models I know of being marked Fisher on the left door is "Fisher" in a circle on a Honey Bear solid door which is also the same doors used on a Polar Bear Insert. Or the rare "Fisher" on the left and "Stoves" on the right of a flat top door on freestanding Grandma or Grandpa. They would use a damper in the pipe with nothing to hold it open.
Fireplace Inserts have a damper built into the top of the appliance. The first style was chain controlled and later models were lever controlled. The damper rod across the top is the same. None had any lock or control on the back. They are controlled from the right side.
There is nothing to lock a damper down when not in use. That would be in a fireplace to prevent heat from going up the chimney. Fisher Stoves are air-tight, so closing the intake air dampers prevents any flow through the stove when not in use.
Is this a freestanding stove or Fireplace Insert?
You're going to have to post a picture since it has Fisher on the left door. The only models I know of being marked Fisher on the left door is "Fisher" in a circle on a Honey Bear solid door which is also the same doors used on a Polar Bear Insert. Or the rare "Fisher" on the left and "Stoves" on the right of a flat top door on freestanding Grandma or Grandpa. They would use a damper in the pipe with nothing to hold it open.
Fireplace Inserts have a damper built into the top of the appliance. The first style was chain controlled and later models were lever controlled. The damper rod across the top is the same. None had any lock or control on the back. They are controlled from the right side.
There is nothing to lock a damper down when not in use. That would be in a fireplace to prevent heat from going up the chimney. Fisher Stoves are air-tight, so closing the intake air dampers prevents any flow through the stove when not in use.
![[Hearth.com] Damper Lock Down](/talk/data/attachments/187/187304-8291bbcc725ba9ffdf7c29b1fefc5c19.jpg?hash=4-psTgRtQu)
![[Hearth.com] Damper Lock Down](/talk/data/attachments/187/187305-bd90bdbe92e638fc88e431b12e96537f.jpg?hash=OgoAN_0MCE)
That is a Grandma III with barometric damper. Remove damper and cap the inlet pipe on back for wood use. Install a manual damper in the first section of connector pipe. Use the Grandma and Grandpa Fireplace Series III Manual.
The damper you have is a great control and required for coal use on coal stoves. It accurately controls chimney draft through a coal fire. With wood, in the event of chimney fire, the flapper opens allowing indoor air up the chimney feeding the chimney fire. Coal creates no creosote to become a hazard.
The principal is the adjustable weight opens the flapper which allows cooler air up the chimney when flue temperature is excessive and adjusts for weather conditions, and indoor air pressures. This cooler air cools the inside of chimney flue slowing the draft. So when the flap is open, the damper is "closed". When the flap is closed it allows all the heat from stove up chimney creating a stronger draft like a manual damper would when "open". You want to see it open slightly when stove is in use, but draft should be set with a draft gauge calibrated in inches of water column. Similar to taking blood pressure with inches of mercury. It is very minute pressures. Nothing is required to keep it shut when not in use. It maintains the proper draft for stove by setting the adjustable weight for an accurate amount of air through fire. The heat loss up the stack is more than made up for by stove efficiency.
The left door is on the left looking at the stove. Many doors are marked inside for GM L (Grandma left) and GM R respectively.
The damper you have is a great control and required for coal use on coal stoves. It accurately controls chimney draft through a coal fire. With wood, in the event of chimney fire, the flapper opens allowing indoor air up the chimney feeding the chimney fire. Coal creates no creosote to become a hazard.
The principal is the adjustable weight opens the flapper which allows cooler air up the chimney when flue temperature is excessive and adjusts for weather conditions, and indoor air pressures. This cooler air cools the inside of chimney flue slowing the draft. So when the flap is open, the damper is "closed". When the flap is closed it allows all the heat from stove up chimney creating a stronger draft like a manual damper would when "open". You want to see it open slightly when stove is in use, but draft should be set with a draft gauge calibrated in inches of water column. Similar to taking blood pressure with inches of mercury. It is very minute pressures. Nothing is required to keep it shut when not in use. It maintains the proper draft for stove by setting the adjustable weight for an accurate amount of air through fire. The heat loss up the stack is more than made up for by stove efficiency.
The left door is on the left looking at the stove. Many doors are marked inside for GM L (Grandma left) and GM R respectively.
What is missing? It needs to be locked and closed down when not in use or else a high wind sucks the flap open and inside heat goes straight up the chimney. Magnets work for now but those are not original. Thank you!
Nothing missing. You have Type RC as shown on manufacture site here.;
http://www.fieldcontrols.com/draft-control-1?page_id=95
The wind actually makes a low pressure area in the chimney and the damper is responding by opening flap abruptly which slows the draft to prevent over firing. It maintains a constant flow through the firebox. If they had a lock on them, someone could fire a coal stove and locked shut would be in the wide open draft position allowing overheating, overdraft, and melt down of grates or worse. There is no need to control your draft with that precision and burning wood creates a hazard using it. Use a pipe cap to close the rear inlet in place of damper.
http://www.fieldcontrols.com/draft-control-1?page_id=95
The wind actually makes a low pressure area in the chimney and the damper is responding by opening flap abruptly which slows the draft to prevent over firing. It maintains a constant flow through the firebox. If they had a lock on them, someone could fire a coal stove and locked shut would be in the wide open draft position allowing overheating, overdraft, and melt down of grates or worse. There is no need to control your draft with that precision and burning wood creates a hazard using it. Use a pipe cap to close the rear inlet in place of damper.
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