Ductchwest 2461 missing catalytic combustor

[B1Gmike05]

Hi Everyone,

I have recently replaced the door glass and door gaskets on my Dutchwest 2461. After the glass was replaced, I started a fire to see how everything was running. I got the fire up to temperature and closed the damper to engage to catalytic combustor. Upon doing so, the fire would die down and my temperature would start dropping. In order to keep the fire in the burn zone I had to open the main damper. The following day I started disassembling the stove to take a look. Once I removed the top I saw it...... the refractory mold and the catalytic combustor were not there! What a pain. I love heating with wood but this kind of put a damper on my mood. I have looked online and I can find all the parts needed, but it will be around $350 to replace the missing pieces. I dont have the money right now to replace the parts, so I have a question. Would it be safe to use the stove as a non-catalytic style stove? I am able to keep the stove pipe temperatures between 500-700 to avoid the build up of creosote in the chimney. I am planning on replacing the parts, once I have the funds. I just wanted to see if it would be safe to burn, or if these stoves only work as a catalytic type. Any feed back would be greatly apricated.

Thanks

 

[rwh63]

please only run it as a cat stove, unless just as a fireplace. either find the $ to buy new (shop around), or maybe buy a cheap donor stove with the parts intact.

 

[B1Gmike05]

please only run it as a cat stove, unless just as a fireplace. either find the $ to buy new (shop around), or maybe buy a cheap donor stove with the parts intact.

Thanks for the replay. I have been constantly looking around to see if I can find the parts required. I do plan on replacing the parts when I am able to. I just wasnt sure if it would be okay to run if I kept the dampers open. What do you mean by using as just a fireplace? Do you mean keeping the doors open? Or just keeping the dampers open as to let the smoke and everything go up and out of the chimney?

 

[rwh63]

Thanks for the replay. I have been constantly looking around to see if I can find the parts required. I do plan on replacing the parts when I am able to. I just wasnt sure if it would be okay to run if I kept the dampers open. What do you mean by using as just a fireplace? Do you mean keeping the doors open? Or just keeping the dampers open as to let the smoke and everything go up and out of the chimney?

yes, damper open. make sure the removeable top has a good gasket it on it. i'm not encouraging you to use it at all, just don't try to run it with the damper closed.