Hearthstone Homestead Warped / Bent Primary Air Manifold

[Boston]

This weekend I bought a used Hearthstone Homestead. I got a good deal on it and thought everything looked good but when I got it home I noticed the warped or bent primary air manifold. Air tubes, baffle, stones, glass, seals etc. looks good to me. No other visible warping or damage. Will I need to fix this or will it have little effect? Also if it needs to be fixed how much work is involved and would it just be the $250 for the part or will I need to replace other parts as well in the process? I am handy but this is my first wood stove experience.

 

[BrotherBart]

That isn't the primary air manifold. It is the glass air wash. If that is the only damage it shouldn't affect performance. But it the stove got hot enough to do that, check the rest of the stove.

 

[webby3650]

Are you sure its warped? It just looks dented to me.

 

[Jags]

That would be a strange place for a warped part. To me it looks like it took a whack from a large split of wood.

And to answer the question: I don't believe that it will have a negative impact on performance.

 

[Highbeam]

That is a very logical place for a heat induced melt. I did the same thing to my englander NC30 when stove temps and pipe temps were all within normal ranges. It happens when the fire is burned hot and since all the heat has to run right up there next to that piece of metal on its way to the flue it is a very likely place for a melted plate.

On my englander it is sheet metal so I was able to bend it back mostly straight. Yours is cast and is more likely to break if you try and fix it. That part is HARD to replace on a hearthstone so I would run it as-is for awhile and check for ill effects.

 

[webby3650]

On the homestead its actually steel, and thin enough a split could bend it. If you are careless I should add.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah. That ain't cast.

 

[Jags]

And I am still scratching my head on how "normal" stove and pipe temps would have high enough heat to warp that lip.

 

[willoweep]

On my Homestead, that piece is integral with the door frame. Seems more likely that is from heat, than a dent. I'd check the baffle and secondary burn tubes carefully, they are wear items on these stoves. The door frame can be challenging to replace

 

[Jags]

Seems more likely that is from heat, than a dent.

Please elaborate. I am genuinely interested why. It would seem that if it is integral to the door frame that it would be even less likely to warp, but I am not very familiar with the build of that stove.

 

[Dakotas Dad]

I would inspect the stove very carefully, as I would any used stove, but I would no way shape or form tear it down for that. If you find other issues.. maybe, but how much will it take before this is no longer a "good deal"

 

[BrotherBart]

I appears that they make the primary air manifold/door frame/airwash in one piece. Gotta be all steel. Item #27.

http://www.hearthstoneparts.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=8570

Just straighten is the best ya can and see how it goes.

ETA: Another look indicates a cast frame that goes in front of it for door mounting.

 

[BrotherBart]

Eventually somebody has to ask how you buy a used stove without opening the door?

 

[Highbeam]

On my heritage it is one big casting that makes up the air wash plate, the secondary manifold supports, and the sides of the door that the door frame bolts to. It was all cast iron.

On the BK it is sheet steel at about 1/4 inch thick and on the englander it is sheet steel about 1/8" thick. Yes, mine just melted when the stove top was between 700-750. I was there watching the stove, measuring flue temps as well. I consulted with Mike and we are watching it but it hasn't sagged again since. I've got it mostly straight so most folks wouldn't notice. That airwash plate sees huge heat from the fire rushing past on its way to the flue.

 

[Highbeam]

I appears that they make the primary air manifold/door frame/airwash in one piece. Gotta be all steel. Item #27.

http://www.hearthstoneparts.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=8570
.

Not steel, cast iron. Are you folks using these interchangabely?

 

[BrotherBart]

Not steel, cast iron. Are you folks using these interchangabely?

Go get ya some cast iron and bend it like that. I'll be waiting...

 

[webby3650]

Not steel, cast iron. Are you folks using these interchangabely?

I verified, the one sitting right here is made from steel. I've installed half a dozen or more of these and I don't remember them being any other way. ?

 

[Highbeam]

I verified, the one sitting right here is made from steel. I've installed half a dozen or more of these and I don't remember them being any other way. ?

Do you remember if the heritage was different? I am almost certain that everything but a couple of trinkets were cast iron.

I admit that I've never tried to melt cast iron. Not sure how it would melt or if it would soften on its way to being liquid.

 

[webby3650]

Do you remember if the heritage was different? I am almost certain that everything but a couple of trinkets were cast iron.

I admit that I've never tried to melt cast iron. Not sure how it would melt or if it would soften on its way to being liquid.

It melts good! Have you ever looked inside of a VC?

 

[Jags]

Cast iron doesn't usually sag. It melts into a puddle.

 

[webby3650]

Cast iron doesn't usually sag. It melts into a puddle.

The inner top of every Non-cat Dutchwest I have looked in was sagging, its cast iron. Also the cast throat piece in the back of Encores are usually sagging.

 

[Jags]

The inner top of every Non-cat Dutchwest I have looked in was sagging, its cast iron. Also the cast throat piece in the back of Encores are usually sagging.

Hmmm...makes me wonder if there is a bit different mix for those cast parts. When typical cast is heated to the point that it looses integrity it is one step away from catastrophe. It will simply fall apart into a glop of goo.

 

[webby3650]

Do you remember if the heritage was different? I am almost certain that everything but a couple of trinkets were cast iron.

I admit that I've never tried to melt cast iron. Not sure how it would melt or if it would soften on its way to being liquid.

The heritage, tribute, and castleton all have cast air wash plates. The Phoenix and the Homestead have steel air wash plates.

 

[Highbeam]

Thanks Webby.

 

[Dakotas Dad]

webby3650.. do you work at olde towne?