P43 hopper extension install problem

[scajjr2]

Ordered a hopper extension for our P43 last week from Mountain View Hearth Products. It arrived today. The extension has 4 latches which are basically like the hopper latch and they are supposed to go through 4 knockouts on the stove's hopper. Except my stove's hopper only has 2 knockouts.

Called MtnView's customer support after their online chat session had the agent (Brittany) tell me I needed the hopper switch extension kit. My stove doesn't have the mechanical switch, has a vacuum switch. Girl I got on the phone can't find what I'm talking about in whatever manual she was looking through so I'm waiting for a call back.

Now the extension has a tab with a hole that lines up with the hole on the top of the stove hopper where the latch goes. I asked the agent if I'm supposed to remove the 2 front latches off the extension and then put 1 in that center tab so it use those 3 points to secure the extension. She didn't know,said she'd go "ask the guys in the warehouse to see if they know" which is why I'm waiting for a call back. Home & Hearth had just closed so I can't call them till tomorrow.

Anyone have any info on this setup?

Sam

 

[Lake Girl]

Hopefully Mountain View will get back to you today ... don't forget, you're two hours ahead of them on the east coast!

 

[scajjr2]

They didn't call.

Doing some searching on the web I found the hopper they sell, p/n 1-00-09536, and on Woodsmans Parts Plus site they have one with p/n 1-00-09636. The 09536 model I got has the round handle on the top of the hopper. The 09636 model shown on Woodsmans' has the same lever handle my P43 has on it's hopper. So I'm guessing the 09636 is for newer stoves.

Sam

 

[Bioburner]

Someone should be along with a 43 to help. There's a fair number of them on the site.
Welcome

 

[scajjr2]

Found out the 09636 is a 22.6" wide, the 09536 is 21" which is what the P43 is.

Mtn View did call back to tell me they are waiting to hear back from Harman. I may just keep it and modify it myself if they can't find the correct one.

Sam

 

[Lake Girl]

Glad they did get back to you ... no numbers in the owners manual or on the Harman site?

 

[bogieb]

I got that same hopper extension and had the same problem with my P43. I just took out the two front latches from the corners, installed one of them where the current lid latch hole was. I did have issues with trying to get it so there were no gaps (using a flashlight to check for gaps), so ended up just using a bit of RTV to tighten it up.

A real pain in my patootie as I had gotten this ordered by the "local" dealer. It was $20-30 cheaper thru the dealer than the internet. I had already figured out the people I dealt with weren't the brightest bulbs, and "local" for me isn't within a couple of miles, so I decided to just deal with it on my own. The latch is different, but does work without any modification.

The dealer told me I didn't need the relocation kit even though I told them I had the mechanical push button (me being the stupid girl and all, they wouldn't listen to me). I ended up just putting in a flat piece of metal to hold it down at all times. Dealer also had no clue about the size of the air inlet pipe of the stove (insisted it was 2" even though I measured it before I went in looking for flex pipe the correct size). Too bad that the dealer is clueless - I will never go back there again.

Anyway, you can make the set up work fairly easily. If you need more guidance, let me know (although I work during day, so answers might take some time).

 

[scajjr2]

Thanks for the info bogieb. My first thought was just as you did- I can just take off the front 2 and put one in the center. If they call back today I'm just going to tell them I'm keeping it and modifying it.

Mtn. View's customer support was like dealing with Comcast- people reading from a script obviously except "the guys in the warehouse" weren't exactly like bumping it up to level 2 support.

Sam

 

[bags]

When you do these extensions do you remove the hopper lid and then reattach it up onto the new extension? I am picturing drilling the rivets on the hinge and then re-popping it.

 

[Bioburner]

On the 45 you just open the lid and put on the extension.

 

[bags]

On the 45 you just open the lid and put on the extension.

Imagine it's the same for all P Series. That's goofy though. Having the OEM lid just flapping or hanging back there. I'd take mine off. Looks like drilling out 5 rivets on the 68 would take care of that. My 45 has 7 rivets. Same set up but for some reason the 45 is double riveted on both the left and right. I'm not really needing any extensions but can see where they'ed be nice. Not real crazy on the bumped up look at all but I could get over that with the extended burns and such.

 

[Bioburner]

Getting a couple days of burn or the weekend is what its for.
Ron I think had one made by a local sheet metal guy and then used the original stoves lid. Very cheap then. Smart way to go and can make it a bit taller or get crafty and see if one can make a humped back for more volume without height.

 

[bogieb]

Both the P43 and P61 have the lids hanging back there. doesn't matter - you can't see them anyway. I don't have to keep track of them in case I want to sell the stove later also. Can easily remove hopper extension, close lid, and I have two items to put on CL - no damage to either.

 

[bogieb]

When you do these extensions do you remove the hopper lid and then reattach it up onto the new extension? I am picturing drilling the rivets on the hinge and then re-popping it.

For the money an extension costs, it dang well better come with a lid of its own

 

[bags]

Yeah I looked them up. I had forgotten what they go for. OUCH! I'm in the wrong business. There's about $30 bucks in metal and a knob. I'll even throw in another $10 bucks for paint. Nice profit margin there............. The ones I saw were like $260 to $270. That's just brutal for what that damn thing is.

 

[Lake Girl]

Is the extension for the hopper lid switch included?

 

[bogieb]

Is the extension for the hopper lid switch included?

He doesn't have a mechanical switch, he has a vacuum switch - and no, the extension isn't provided with the hopper switch extension. That is another $100 or so.

 

[alternativeheat]

He doesn't have a mechanical switch, he has a vacuum switch - and no, the extension isn't provided with the hopper switch extension. That is another $100 or so.

$100 for a piece of rod ?

 

[alternativeheat]

OT I know but This thread brought to mind the guy who decided to build his own hopper extension. Out of plywood

 

[scajjr2]

Didn't hear from them today, guess Harman hasn't gotten back to them yet

Yeah it was expensive but since switching to the Vermonts they seem to be "stickier" than the Greene Team hardwoods and cling to the hopper sides (tried the wax paper rub and furniture polish, neither did much). So figured the extension should let more fall during the day. We're gone from 7am to 5pm or later and on cold days last year came home to almost empty auger area. Only had it go out once but figure the extension is good insurance.

Sam

 

[bogieb]

$100 for a piece of rod ?

To be fair, there are also electrical wires (beats me why a mechanical needs wires, but it does) - at least for my P61a it is. Hey, and there is a metal cage around that rod that keeps the pellets from fouling the mechanism.

 

[bogieb]

Didn't hear from them today, guess Harman hasn't gotten back to them yet

Yeah it was expensive but since switching to the Vermonts they seem to be "stickier" than the Greene Team hardwoods and cling to the hopper sides (tried the wax paper rub and furniture polish, neither did much). So figured the extension should let more fall during the day. We're gone from 7am to 5pm or later and on cold days last year came home to almost empty auger area. Only had it go out once but figure the extension is good insurance.

Sam

Love my extensions. I'm away at least 12 hours a day, sometimes that turns nto 18 hours, so love that I don't have to worry about running out of pellets.

 

[scajjr2]

Just got a call from Mtn. View and an email with a pdf that Harman sent them. The pdf tells you to take the front 2 latches off and put one of them in the center front hole. Told them they should make sure they print out and put one in every extension they ship from now on.

Sam

 

[bogieb]

I certainly didn't get one of those in the one I got - good of you to suggest it to them!

 

[gfreek]

Don't forget the extension has to be sealed to the original hopper. Is there a gasket on the extension and the lid ??