Defiant Encore grate warping.

[Investment Camper]

I have a Defiant Encore and the trapezoidal grate that lets ash fall into the pan is starting to warp. My stove is on an unheated porch in Maryland. Thinking perhaps the heat to cold is doing the bowing, as I watch the stove thermometer pretty closely and don’t run it past normal. Anyhow, I see I can buy a replacement for 100 bucks. Figure I’ll finish out the season and just swap that out. Anyone else have a warped grate?

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

My parents have had 2 defiant encores and 2 encores. My observation is that they are hypersensitive to warping internal components, once they have warped even slightly they problem compounds and gets worse quickly.
You have to be extremely careful about gaskets being in good condition, the ash door gasket tends to want to fall out of place and it allows the fire to get too hot directly on the grate. Also the casting that the damper shuts against can warp which causes issues in that you cant seal against it and then you constantly have uncontrollable draft up the chimney.
Go through your gaskets thoroughly and make sure they are sealing tightly, check the damper to ensure it is closing properly.
Routine tear down and rebuild seems to be key with these.

 

[Investment Camper]

Gotcha! Thanks!

 

[Eman85]

37 years on my Encore and I haven't warped anything. I don't see how you could warp the lower grate as heat travels upward. Are you opening the ash pan door to promote burning? Or is the gasket bad on the ashpan door?

 

[Investment Camper]

No I checked the gasket it’s weird. No warping of the fireback. My stove is on an enclosed porch that is suspended off the ground. All I can think is that the heating/cooling is much more rapid than a stove that is inside a house. I could replace it for$100. Just watching it for now it’s kind of convex right now

 

[michael.foley4379]

I have been burning using the defiant encore bought used approx 8 yrs ago. Barely any warp noticed, just 1/8” +/-. Now after slowly warping upwards, it needs replacing. It’s up 2” or so. I think not having a square shape may have an effect on expansion at an uneven rate with heating and cooling cycles allowing for the metal to hold uneven rates resulting in differential setting without staying uniform. I’m not a materials expert but I do know shapes can allow unequal displacement causing movement in engines causing gasket failure. As far as grates are concerned, it may be an inferior quality casting possibly an imported casting back in the day when new VC co. Owners bought out VC and tried to economise. My fireback cast baffle board has absolutely no sings of heat corrosion and is fully intact. The board displays a date year of 1986 but not sure if it represents mfr year or not.

I will be buying new grate before this season is done. Hopefully soon. If anyone knows an American co. Casting quality parts for VC Defiant Encore units, please inform. Thank You.

 

[Megunticook]

This happened to my Encore 2550 grate a few years ago. Used it for a few seasons after it warped but finally decided to just replace it.

@michael.foley4379 you asked about getting a quality replacement for yur Defiant Encore. I see Mt. View has them: https://www.stove-parts-unlimited.c...e-encore-bottom-grate-1307434a-p/1307434a.htm