pull insert

[gilmil]

I'd like to pull my HI300 insert to install a block off plate. Any advice as far as how to go about pulling the insert? I know how do pull the fancy trim and door off, I'm just not sure how to wrassle the 500lb beast out of my fire place. Maybe some luan to protect the hardwood floor?

 

[Eaglecraft]

I'd like to pull my HI300 insert to install a block off plate. Any advice as far as how to go about pulling the insert? I know how do pull the fancy trim and door off, I'm just not sure how to wrassle the 500lb beast out of my fire place. Maybe some luan to protect the hardwood floor?

Gilmil:

Is your insert flush with your hearth extension? If so, the hardest part will be to disconnect the liner from the stove. Sometimes the appliance connector, or the liner, has stove cement on the stove flue connection to seal those joints.

Once you get the liner disconnected from the stove, and if you don't have a raised hearth extension, place a few pieces of sheet metal over the hardwood floor. You can buy large pieces of 26 gauge sheet metal from Home Depot, or from a sheet metal shop. If you are still concerned about protecting your floor, obtain a thin - 1/16th or 1/8th - panelling, etc. on top of the hardwood, and then the sheet metal on top of that. Place the sheet metal so that it extends a little bit over the protective panelling so that you can start the stove feet onto the sheet metal.

Your HI300 will probably have feet. I'm not familiar with the HI300, but my insert has three feet - two in front and one in back. When I needed to slide my 550 lb. insert in place under the liner, I used the sheet metal trick going the opposite way. Those feet will slide on the sheet metal slicker than snot. Get a hand hold on one of those feet and pull hard. Pull one side and then the other. If there is not enough space under the stove to get a hand hold, place a rope around one of the feet and get those feet onto the sheet metal. Once the feet are onto the sheet metal, the heavy stove will slide with surprising ease.

Good luck with installing your block-off plate.

 

[gilmil]

I have the liner disconnected. Tomorrow I shall go get some thin sheet metal from the hardware store and see what I can do. I need to slide some under the stove before getting it out of the fire place because the bricks are a little uneven.

 

[Eaglecraft]

I have the liner disconnected. Tomorrow I shall go get some thin sheet metal from the hardware store and see what I can do. I need to slide some under the stove before getting it out of the fire place because the bricks are a little uneven.

The additional sheet metal over the uneven hearth will help a lot. To lift the stove feet to get them onto the sheet metal, you can probably use a "wrecking" bar to lift the stove a fraction of an inch. Get a partner. One uses the wrecking bar and maybe a 2x4 to lift one of the feet high enough, the second person slides the sheet metal under the feet. By the way, the sheet metal under the stove feet does not need to be a whole sheet - only large enough and long enough to meet the other sheet metal on your floor. Using a smaller piece of sheet metal would make it easier to get the metal under the stove feet.

Be careful, take your time and stay cool. A guy can get hurt moving a 500 lb object.

Good luck.

 

[gilmil]

Sheet metal worked like a charm, the back feet were higher than the front, so we were able to rock the stove and slide the metal under it.

Thanks,
Gil