Jotul 3TD Observations and Question

[gman1001]

Hi, just noticed something.

My new to me 3TD (bought for $300 this fall) has what looks to me like a baffle or deflector inside of the stove, that rests at the top of the firebox.

While attempting to overload my stove I must have knocked is from its seat, leaving a 1 to 2 inch gap all around it. Best I can tell smoke etc... now just goes straight out of my top venting stove, instead of being deflected around this baffle.

Any thoughts on the net effect of my displaced baffle?

Tx!

Garrett

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

Ummmm, put it back.

 

[gman1001]

yah, once the stove cools down.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

LOL, good to hear thats the plan, noting is going to get hurt in the short term.

 

[wahoowad]

To answer your question, this baffle supports the burning of volatile vapors that might otherwise leave your system. Your stove is less efficient if it does not work as designed. I do not know this stove although I have a 3CB with a baffle in the same place. My baffle takes air from a rear air supply (hidden by the rear shields) and allows it to flow into the stove, into the back of the baffle and out the holes. My first concern would be about the possible disruption to the connection between the rear air supply passage in the rear of the stove and the baffle. You likely have impacted this connection and it might allow airflows in your stove contrary to the engineered design.

Mine is bolted in. How is yours atatched and what came loose? Was it simply cemented in place? Mine could not come loose without significant damage to the fasteners or internal plates.

 

[Mike Wilson]

On most newer Jotuls the baffle plate simply lifts out. It makes cleaning MUCH easier.
The flip side of that "ease" is that when you are loading it, if you cram too much wood in, the plate lifts up. It eventually goes back down once the wood burns down a bit (gravity and cast iron tend to work that way ;-) )

-- Mike