Jotul 3 TDIC crust below catalyst?

[CraigP076]

I moved into a house with a 30+ year old Jotul 3 TDIC. When I opened the back, the catalyst had a thick layer of ash covering it, but after vacuuming looks in good shape.

But below the where the catalyst sits seemed dirty. When I tried to clean it, a piece came out of what looks like a crust layer and I can see through to the fire box below (see pictures).

My question is- should I clean out all this crust layer, or is this something that was supposed to be there separating the catalyst and has been degraded?

I'm new to wood stoves so any guidance is much appreciated.

 

[begreen]

I'm not familar with the cat version but it looks like the middle section has burned out. What I am not sure is if this is part of the inner back plate or the actual back panel. D. Hermit has more experience with these stoves. I think DAKSY did one about 6 yrs ago.

M

Thread 'Jotul 3TDIC-2 Back Burn Plate fitment'

Nov 18, 2019

Im in the process of rebuilding my 1990 jotul 3tdic-2 and am looking to see if anyone has run into back burn plate fitting issues. After installing the side burn plates and sliding the new back burn plate in, there is a 1/4 gap between side and back burn plate. Is this normal? It seems ash could get around the back burn plate and clog up the catalytic combustor.

• mmccaughey
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Jotul

 

[CraigP076]

Thanks that makes sense. Here is a picture from the inside front in case it is helpful. I moved some of the kindling visible from the whole pictured above aside to take this- the whole is on the middle section