I did a clean yesterday and then left the stove off afterwards until just before dusk. I was interrupted just before completion and moved onto something else. So when the house stat was cooling down and night fall was coming I plug my P68 back in, flip to auto igniter, and turn onto room temp to start the stove. The thing runs flawlessly so i do not sit and stare any longer at start up many times.
Here's where it gets good. I was outside and noticed something different. Smoke. Huh? I go in to investigate and low and behold the flame is huge but lazy and waving like a bus load of kids leaving the circus watching the entertainers wave them off good by.
I looked into the stove and realized I had set the flame guide off to one side after the clean when the phone rang and fed pellets were piling up bad. My dumb ass also forgot to latch the door but it looked as if it was closed and I didn't realized it was open until I grabbed it to reach in with a welding glove to grab the flame guide and place it where it belongs while the stove was running after I knocked down some pellets. I am not a panic stricken type even when stuff is on fire. Bullets flying gets my attention somewhat better but still panic would be self defeating. Just not how I am wired.
So once the flame guide returned and the door securely latched like it supposed to be things leveled right out within about 2 - 3 minutes. No more smoke etc; Here is what I learned. Double check your work at all cost which I usually do but didn't. I also now know what the lazy flame referred to looks like. It's sloppy, inconsistent, and wavy vs. the crisp standing at attention flames we strive for. I will be able to tell when the door gaskets are not right in the future and also conformation as to why I have CO and smoke detectors. They did not go off BTW. The smoke was outside coming from the exhaust venting.
This also was a small reminder about safety, being anal about it, and double checking stuff at all times. Just wanted to throw out my embarrassing moment and spread some often taken for granted awareness. Good Luck and don't try to repeat my dip chit maneuvers. Pay attention and finish what you start even if you are basically finished. My 98% score ( minus 1 for not latching the door & minus 1 for not reinstalling the flame guide) could have been 100% disaster.
What perplexes me is that the P68 actually ignited, started, and ran for probably 15 minutes before I noticed something was goofy without issue other than my mess up, smoke, and sloppy flames. The flame guide is absolutely necessary for proper operation. I remember reading where someone here had a used stove without one or a damaged one wanting to run it that way or wondering if they could. Yes, It will run but not right at all.
Here's where it gets good. I was outside and noticed something different. Smoke. Huh? I go in to investigate and low and behold the flame is huge but lazy and waving like a bus load of kids leaving the circus watching the entertainers wave them off good by.
I looked into the stove and realized I had set the flame guide off to one side after the clean when the phone rang and fed pellets were piling up bad. My dumb ass also forgot to latch the door but it looked as if it was closed and I didn't realized it was open until I grabbed it to reach in with a welding glove to grab the flame guide and place it where it belongs while the stove was running after I knocked down some pellets. I am not a panic stricken type even when stuff is on fire. Bullets flying gets my attention somewhat better but still panic would be self defeating. Just not how I am wired.
So once the flame guide returned and the door securely latched like it supposed to be things leveled right out within about 2 - 3 minutes. No more smoke etc; Here is what I learned. Double check your work at all cost which I usually do but didn't. I also now know what the lazy flame referred to looks like. It's sloppy, inconsistent, and wavy vs. the crisp standing at attention flames we strive for. I will be able to tell when the door gaskets are not right in the future and also conformation as to why I have CO and smoke detectors. They did not go off BTW. The smoke was outside coming from the exhaust venting.
This also was a small reminder about safety, being anal about it, and double checking stuff at all times. Just wanted to throw out my embarrassing moment and spread some often taken for granted awareness. Good Luck and don't try to repeat my dip chit maneuvers. Pay attention and finish what you start even if you are basically finished. My 98% score ( minus 1 for not latching the door & minus 1 for not reinstalling the flame guide) could have been 100% disaster.
What perplexes me is that the P68 actually ignited, started, and ran for probably 15 minutes before I noticed something was goofy without issue other than my mess up, smoke, and sloppy flames. The flame guide is absolutely necessary for proper operation. I remember reading where someone here had a used stove without one or a damaged one wanting to run it that way or wondering if they could. Yes, It will run but not right at all.