Lopi Question

[sixman]

The main air damper at the bottom of the stove is really noisy. It sounds like two pieces of flat metal covered in welding splatter or rocks grinding when you open or close it. Just wondering if anyone else has this concern and is there a way to fix it.

 

[madrone]

I've experienced this, and used teflon spray to fix it. I had to spray it down twice, each time pulling the control out all the way and aiming for the hole, then sliding back and forth a few times. It still occasionally gets sticky when the stove's been hot, but the grinding is gone. I originally thought it was the teflon that fixed it, but now I wonder if something in there was blown out by the spray. I'd be surprised if any spatter was in there, but that's indeed what it felt like. Gone now. I think others here have used silicone spray.

 

[dlaurinaitis]

Mine sounds like metal on metal, but it never bothered me.

The first time I slide the action and heard it I was happy that is wasn't a complicated set up with bearings or anything. Less crap to break or maintain.

 

[sixman]

I don't mind the metal to metal sound and that is what I get with the by-pass on the side. However the lower main control does have something grinding between the two pieces of metal. I will get the air compressor after it to see if maybe I can blow out anything that may be in there and then some lube.

 

[Treacherous]

Mine is noisy too.. I just figured it was the nature of the beast. I guess I'll try using a little spray in there. The noise doesn't really bother me but in middle of night it can certainly wake someone up.

 

[tickbitty]

I wonder if it might be better to use spray dry graphite instead of anything oily or plasticky? Graphite powder might do the trick~

 

[madrone]

True. That's why I chose teflon spray, it's a dry powder in an aerosol. There is a graphite spray that's the same idea and I'd think that would work well. Don't spray an aerosol into your hot stove, of course. :cheese:

 

[sixman]

I see that the front cover is of the air control is held on with pop rivets. I did not have my rivet gun at home with me this weekend but I will bring it home next week and drill those rivets out so I can remove the primary air control to see what is causing the noise. I will get back with you with a report.

 

[sixman]

Okay, just wanted to get back with all of you on how the investigation went. As I suspected the noise was due to welding spatter ( very small steel balls about the size of a large flea) between the damper and floor of stove shell. I had to drill out the front two rivets and use my dremel tool on the bottom rivet since it was too close to the floor for a drill. Slid the damper assy out and blew out the spatter with air compressor. It took a while to get it out and ended up coating the damper with liquid wrench, putting it back in and letting the spatter get stuck to the damper and then wiping it off and repeat several times until it is all out. It now slides like butter and church mouse quiet. 30 minutes spent for a lifetime of quiet operation instead of it sounding like someone stepped on a cats tail every time you adjusted the air.

 

[madrone]

How about that? I suspected that at first because it felt like a little ball rolling under the air control plate, but then wrote it off and went with the teflon instead of just compressed air. Good for you for getting in there and solving the mystery! Easy fix if you've got a pop riveter.

 

[CSCPeter]

If you don't have a pop rivet gun, you can just screw it on with some larger self tapping screws. does the trick

 

[Treacherous]

Resurrecting an old thread.... I was going to lube up my air control with some dry graphite spray. I notice installer/dealer removed the OAK cover.

Upon further inspection it appears I might be able to lube it from within this access port. I can see the front and back opening where air adjustments are made. Not sure if this will work as well removing the rivets and assembly but might save me some time.

On a side note... can anyone think of any cons in regards to airflow with OAK cover open but not using an OAK? I have no issues with air control at all.

 

[eclecticcottage]

Hm...I think that's open on my Republic too.

I get a little squeek noise like metal rubbing when I pull the damper in/push it out, but I found if I lift it a little bit it doesn't make any noise.

 

[Treacherous]

Mine usually varies depending on temperature. It can be ultra quiet or a somewhat screechy. It sounds like it can be made whisper quiet though. The graphite spray I plan to use it supposed to be good up to 1K degrees and if it ever got that hot down in the air control area I would have other issues to contend with.

Of course not going to do it today with the stove in use. I might end up waiting until spring since it might emit a bad burn off smell.

 

[rdust]

I notice installer/dealer removed the OAK cover.

My Endeavor didn't have the cover in place and I did the install myself. Mine was in the factory crate until I removed it so it didn't have it from the factory, I assume yours was the same way.

 

[Treacherous]

It was pulled out of the crate at my cabin so it sounds like OAK punch-out removed from factory is normal.

 

[Treacherous]

Let stove go out this morning as a test. I sprayed both front and rear air opening that are viewable in the OAK cutout in the open and closed state. I'm sure opening it up on front and spraying would be optimal but this really quieted it down a lot and is so much smoother. I guess I will see if a heat cycle re-introduces the noise.