PE 27 baffle insulation

[snrek]

I have a PE 27 that is about 5 years old. Last week I had to take out the baffle to rescue a bird trapped in the flue. I don't remember seeing any insulation except the air tube insulator, but it was probably there. I'm having to use a walker so getting down there again is quite an ordeal, I can do it when I have to but it hurts. About 2 years ago I had a knee replacement and any activity involving that knee is slooooooow and painful.
Anyway, the air tube gasket had disintegrated and I didn't notice the others. I have read quite a few times how bad the quality of the OEM gaskets is and I must agree. There is a reference to making the gaskets yourself but no instructions on how to do it. This leaves me with 2 questions:
1. What do these gaskets do? Obviously they are a seal but do they seal the fire below the baffle and why?
2. How can I replace them? What do I use and what am I trying to accomplish?
Thanks

 

[begreen]

The air tube gasket is cheap and considered sacrificial. It reduces leakage around the secondary feed tube and is meant to be replaced each time the baffle is removed. . You can weave your own out of 1/4" or 3/8" door gasket material. That works well for a more permanent fix. Or just buy several factory gaskets. A six pack is about $20.

The baffle insulation is inside the baffle assembly.

 

[Sprinter]

Here are a few pics of what Hogwidz did:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-custom-baffle-gasket-shes-cooking-now.23717/
(See post 10 of this thread)



I made one of these after original was found disinterated my first cleanout. Take some 3/8 gasket rope, cut to proper length and stitch the ends. I used copper wire. It's still in good shape and will compress enough with the heavy baffle.

This is his latest incarnation. But he still needs to test the material I think.


Hope Hogz doesn't mind my sharing these.

 

[begreen]

I'm running on a homemade gasket now too. Works fine and looked just like that after a year of service.

 

[Woody5506]

Mine was gone too after the first year of burning but last time I removed the baffle the replacement was still fairly intact. I was pretty careful though with it.

I bought them from the dealer for some rip off price like $5 each.

 

[Hogwildz]

Here are a few pics of what Hogwidz did:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-custom-baffle-gasket-shes-cooking-now.23717/
(See post 10 of this thread)

View attachment 223362

I made one of these after original was found disinterated my first cleanout. Take some 3/8 gasket rope, cut to proper length and stitch the ends. I used copper wire. It's still in good shape and will compress enough with the heavy baffle.

This is his latest incarnation. But he still needs to test the material I think.
View attachment 223363

Hope Hogz doesn't mind my sharing these.

Nope, not at all. That's what they are here for.
The new material is toast I think. Similar to the OEM, similar results.
I have not cleaned the liner this year, so I will know next fall when I clean. I suspect the new material is toast though.
I have a few other ideas in the frying pan though.

 

[Sprinter]

I have a few other ideas in the frying pan though.

So do I. Bacon and eggs and hashbrowns. Thanks for your work on this. That rope idea has saved me a lot of trouble. It was still in good shape at last years' cleaning.

 

[madison]

.... in the frying pan though.

One idea i had and may attempt is making a gasket of RTV red, ie. let it solidify in some sort of mold, or just make a few successive layers of the RTV in the approximate shape of the gasket on a piece of wax paper - let it set for a while and try it in the fall.

 

[Sprinter]

One idea i had and may attempt is making a gasket of RTV red, ie. let it solidify in some sort of mold, or just make a few successive layers of the RTV in the approximate shape of the gasket on a piece of wax paper - let it set for a while and try it in the fall.

I'm not familiar with the characteristics of red RTV. Will it stay pliable enough to form and keep a seal?

 

[Hogwildz]

One idea i had and may attempt is making a gasket of RTV red, ie. let it solidify in some sort of mold, or just make a few successive layers of the RTV in the approximate shape of the gasket on a piece of wax paper - let it set for a while and try it in the fall.

You can try it, I think it may burn off.

 

[begreen]

Put a dab on the secondary tube right under the baffle as a test and see how it stands up. I'd be curious if it burned to dust or baked hard as a rock.

 

[madison]

My baffle has a small crack - (been waiting more than 4 months for the warranty replacement - that is another story altogether - NOT holding my breath)- i may smooze some RTV on the crack and will report back on the RTV properties after being baked on the baffle.

 

[snrek]

Thanks so much for the help! I'm still trying to figure out what the gaskets on the sides of the baffle are supposed to accomplish. I may wind up getting a six-pack of the air tube gaskets and treat them as disposables. OTOH, if I'm using rope to make my own "neverfail" gaskets I might as well make a tube gasket too.