PE T5 Alderlea fireplace insert door alignment

[cbscout]

Hi, I noticed an issue last night that started out of the blue this season. My Pacific Energy Alderlea T5 Classic Insert was burning pretty well all day and in the evening after I reloaded, I noticed that it seemed to continue to burn hotter than usual. Flames were licking the door and also going up the flue (which is at the front of the baffle). Is this a door gasket issue, where the seal has gone bad?

Thanks!

cbscout

Edit: I did figure out that the possibility is high that the gasket does need to be changed now, but it is still relatively new. The top corners are flattened in while the bottom ones are not. I am making an assumption, but it seems the door is probably the issue here. I also did the dollar bill test which failed. I would like to give the door adjustment a shot myself before I call anyone too do it for me. Anyone have any advice on this? I was going to order the actual PE brand door gasket and install it, but the door adjustment I don't see much information on out there.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I’m not near my stove at the moment so I can’t check, but I don’t remember a lot of adjustments possible on the stove. Are your hinges worn? One thing I did find on my stove was the latch mechanism needs to be lubed every year. If the latch isn’t pulling the door shut, it could fail the dollar bill test.

I use a graphite spray. The oil gets the graphite in where it needs to be, then cooks off with the lit stove. Some like to use graphite powder instead. To each their own.

 

[cbscout]

Thank you. I’ll get some graphite spray.

Hinges aren’t worn at all. I did end up replacing the door gasket, so it now closes very tight. The bottom of the door you can’t get the dollar bill out. On the top of the door it slides out, but it has tension.

As far as the door adjustment, the bracket on the latch side is supposed to be able to be adjusted according to the dealer. Not sure if fooling around with that would help or make things worse. I really don’t know if that’s the issue. Thoughts?

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Lube it first. That solved all my issues. I easily went a year fighting things and frustrated before I tried the easiest fix. If I remember correctly, the point where the handle passed through the door was my issue.

 

[begreen]

There is some door adjustment on the T6, but I am not sure if it translates well to the T5 insert. It's more of an up/down adjustment than toe-in/out but there may be a little slop in the bracket that allows that.

 

[cbscout]

Lube it first. That solved all my issues. I easily went a year fighting things and frustrated before I tried the easiest fix. If I remember correctly, the point where the handle passed through the door was my issue.

Thanks, I'll see if I can grab some today, betcha Home Depot carries it.

 

[cbscout]

There is some door adjustment on the T6, but I am not sure if it translates well to the T5 insert. It's more of an up/down adjustment than toe-in/out but there may be a little slop in the bracket that allows that.

Thanks, begreen.

 

[begreen]

It took some digging. This was right before we got our T6. Here are the directions for adjusting the T5 freestanding stove. I'm not sure if they will work for the insert. Let us know.

Post in thread 'PE T5 can't keep temp under 700 and short burn times with full load . i think i have an air leak'

Feb 25, 2009

This sounds like just the problem I had.

To check it out you need the following:
11mm or 7/16" socket
Short socket extension and wrench

Instructions:

Make sure the door is closed and latched
Fully open right hand side trivet
Look carefully in the corner formed by the trivet and the stove top.
You will see the head of a hex bolt sitting there (ignore the adjacent cap screw)
Using the socket, loosen the hex bolt (just remove tension, do NOT totally unscrew it).
Now apply pressure to the top of the door using something that won't catch fire right away. I used the end of a split.
While...

• KeithO

 

[cbscout]

It took some digging. This was right before we got our T6. Here are the directions for adjusting the T5 freestanding stove. I'm not sure if they will work for the insert. Let us know.

Post in thread 'PE T5 can't keep temp under 700 and short burn times with full load . i think i have an air leak'

Feb 25, 2009

This sounds like just the problem I had.

To check it out you need the following:
11mm or 7/16" socket
Short socket extension and wrench

Instructions:

Make sure the door is closed and latched
Fully open right hand side trivet
Look carefully in the corner formed by the trivet and the stove top.
You will see the head of a hex bolt sitting there (ignore the adjacent cap screw)
Using the socket, loosen the hex bolt (just remove tension, do NOT totally unscrew it).
Now apply pressure to the top of the door using something that won't catch fire right away. I used the end of a split.
While...

• KeithO

Thanks, begreen, will do!