Lopi Leyden question; weighted ash cover's purpose?

[zrtmatos]

Can someone who really knows a Lopi Leyden (attention TRAVIS techs) tell me the purpose of the 2 weighted ash traps in the firepot area are for?

I was hoping to make cleanup easier by removing them and letting ash fall directly into the ash pan but immediately noticed a difference in burn pattern. With the ash pan closed off why doesn't this perform the same way? I am trying to similate a Harman design here. Anyone know?

 

[Utilitrack]

I forgot to replace them after cleaning out some ash from my firepot ONCE! The burn pot filled up with pellets quickly and had I not noticed I am pretty sure that burn back up the auger chute was a real possibility. Obviously having those traps shut helps maintain the air flow needed to maintain combustion. Hopefully a pro will chime in, but that was my one and only experience when I forgot to replace those trap covers.

 

[zrtmatos]

Ok, thanks Utilitrack.

 

[richkorn]

Not an "expert" but have had mine since 2008. The way it's designed those traps maintain the negative pressure in the stove. Remove them is just like opening the ash bin while burning (unlike an Enviro Empress that has slotted grooves at bottom so ash falls through, different design...)

I don't even remove them until I vacuum the stove box out (I rarely remove them and scrape ash down into the pan). I find it easier to vac when ash gets high and after stove has shut off and cooled.