Pacific Energy brickrail warpage?

[cammer]

I have a PE Pacific insert and have just noticed in the past couple of days that the part that PE calls a brickrail is warped or has moved from its original configuration. It is a piece of 1/4" steel that runs the depth of the firebox, front to back. It supports the baffle and also has tabs which hold the firebrick in place. It appears that the tabs are now protruding more into the firebox where they pointed straight down before. Also, the rail that supports the baffle is tipped up and is forcing the baffle upwards. This has only happened on the right side brickrail as the left one has never moved. The baffle now sits approx 1/4" off of the left support because the right support has forced it upward.

I originally figued that a warped piece would be due to overfiring the unit. I am not aware of any time that this may have occurred as I have no indication of temperature on it. However, it looks from the parts diagram in the manual ((broken link removed)) that these brickrails are removable. I am now wondering if it is possible that the one brickrail has been somehow shifted when the stove was loaded and that heat was not the cause at all.

I am going on vacation tomorrow and plan on checking to see if I can move the rail by hand when I get back and the stove is cold.

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this or may have any input/ideas? As always, all comments are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jimbob]

The brick rails are removable by hand. Remove the baffle first, then the offending brick rail.
Is is definitely possible that the rail has just simply been moved an bit out of place.
Warped rails should be able to be straightened by clamping them in a vise.
New ones are available from the manufacturer, if yours is warped and can't be straightened.

How old is the stove?

 

[cammer]

Thanks for the info Jimbob. I will remove the baffle and rail when I get back next week to see if it is warped or just out of place.

The insert is not quite 2 yrs old and is in its 2nd season. It works very well and provides most of the heat for a 2200 sqft sidesplit. I do have electric heat in the nursery.

 

[karl]

I doubt they're warped but they are free floating. I took my baffle out for cleaning and after I put everything back I thought a rail was warped. It turns out, it just wasn't seated properly.

 

[cammer]

Thanks Karl. In seeing the exploded diagram this morning and after reading these last 2 replies it seems most likely that the rail has been moved at one time when the stove was loaded. Now if I can just get it cool enough to get in there...

 

[cammer]

I got home, cleaned out the stove and had a better look. It turns out - as was suggested by you guys - that the rail had been pushed up which caused the baffle to sit beside the rail rather than on top of it where it is supposed to be. All is good now and I am burning again - which is great as it was -25C (-15F) when I came to work this morning.

Thanks for the great input.

 

[iceman]

I doubt they're warped but they are free floating. I took my baffle out for cleaning and after I put everything back I thought a rail was warped. It turns out, it just wasn't seated properly.

me too i thought mine was sot then tom told me they moved and sure enough a piece of wood must have moved it