Pellet Insert Removal

[guitarjamman]

For those of you with an insert, what is your favorite method for pulling it out for cleaning/repairs?

Currently, I remove the surround panels and set those aside, then walk the stove out by picking up one end and rotating it, switch to the other side and rotate, etc. I have a flex pipe that attaches from the combustion blower to the solid sleeve running up the chimney so I can get it out quite a bit before needed to unhook the two.

The whole "left foot, right foot" is slowly putting some nice scratches in the hearth stone. Any tips to make this less painful?

 

[briansol]

I move mine as little as possible for the same reason... the slate is getting hamered. yet another reason why I wish I bought a free standing model instead.....

I try to sneak in with my arms and not my toroso/head as much as possible so as to not disrupt the pipe connections or the hearth

 

[glenc0322]

Not sure about your stove but i built this and love it works great for me
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...ra-insert-rail-kit.105997/page-2#post-1500723

 

[DBCOOPER]

I pull it out a little then lift it up in the front and slide a pvc pipe under it with my foot and slide it out with that.

 

[johnny1720]

I have some wood shims under my stove to level it up. It also helps me get it in and out of the fireplace.

 

[earl764]

Frankly, I try not to.

My insert is such that after I remove the side panels and perhaps do a slight slide/wedge movement, I can get to any component. The components are sectioned off so they're either on the left or the right side. Nothing too crazy directly behind the unit.

I do regularly vacuum behind mine to keep cat hair at bay.

 

[CygnusX1]

The rail kit is the way to go. You can slide it in and out of the fireplace without damaging the hearth.

 

[Justin M]

Use some small wood dowel rod as rollers. Make a rail kit if it is a raised hearth.

 

[fmsm]

That's why it bought a Harman. Just undo 2 latches and slide

 

[RKBAGUY]

Funny you should ask this today. I posted this just yesterday.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/am-i-nuts.115494/

Shorthand: furniture sliders.

 

[Former Farmer]

I slide a piece of sheet metal (28 gauge) under the insert an over the hearth, then slide the insert out onto sheet metal to keep the hearth from getting all scratched up. I built a cart, the height of the hearth, that I slide the insert onto and roll the whole unit and cart outside to do my yearly cleaning.

 

[glenc0322]

I slide a piece of sheet metal (28 gauge) under the insert an over the hearth, then slide the insert out onto sheet metal to keep the hearth from getting all scratched up. I built a cart, the height of the hearth, that I slide the insert onto and roll the whole unit and cart outside to do my yearly cleaning.

lets see a picture of your cart? was going to make one myself over the winter

 

[Former Farmer]

lets see a picture of your cart? was going to make one myself over the winter

I'll try to get some uploaded tomorrow.

 

[Former Farmer]

This is the cart that I built for my insert.



I used 4 swivel casters for the wheels and two pieces of 3/4" plywood for the top. This worked out to be the perfect height to be able to slide the insert out onto from the hearth.

 

[guitarjamman]

Well a wooden dowel worked like a charm. Rolled right out without any scraping noise - going to work on building a cart like mentioned above.

Man, I took the stove completely apart and cleaned the ever living hell out of it. I don't think the previous house owners ever cleaned it once, the whole backside behind the firebrick plate was full (to the top) of ash, and the side exhaust cleanouts were completely packed. I removed the vacuum hose line and blew it out, vacuumed out all the passage ways and cleaned and lubed all the motors.

Replaced the auger motor (pain in the ass to get the set collar to lock into the flat part of the spindle), but this stove ran like a champ. Have a new door gasket on the way and should be in tomorrow (can see a major draft entering in under the door) and hoping that will keep it from kicking off after the metal starts expanding.

But it is amazing how a deep clean really springs new life into these machines.

 

[joescho]

For those of you with an insert, what is your favorite method for pulling it out for cleaning/repairs?

The whole "left foot, right foot" is slowly putting some nice scratches in the hearth stone. Any tips to make this less painful?

Anybody have a Quad Mt. Vernon? They're pretty heavy, and I like the dowel trick, but I'm not sure I would be able to get the stove lifted up enough to get the dowels underneath. That thing is pretty heavy.

I with they had a rail set like the Harmon, especially when now its all the same company.....