QuadraFire 5700 strip down

[charly]

Getting ready to move my 2 year old Quad out, lightening the load. All the firebricks are still good,no cracks. Brackets that held them as well. Looked over the whole body with every heat shield off, all looks perfect. Wow, I couldn't believe how far the secondary draft stays open on it's lowest setting. I can't believe the little pads they use to close off the primary draft. The front one was not aligned from the factory, shame on them, only 3/4 of the hole was closed off. Loosened the bolts and realigned the bracket. The rear one was oozing ashes and creosote out the hole, they come from a spot you can only clean from the hole you see. Again that should be in the manual to pull the shield and clean that every season, with ash coming out the hole, again not a complete seal. Going to replace these pads. Seems like a risky way to close off a main draft.

 

[Todd]

Next picture should be that new Fireview sitting on that hearth. It will be interesting to hear the comparisons between the two different stoves.

 

[charly]

Next picture should be that new Fireview sitting on that hearth. It will be interesting to hear the comparisons between the two different stoves.

Have to build a bigger pad first. August is here tomorrow, I want to have everything ready to go early, then do a bunch of small break in fires so nothing is rushed. I'm thinking the Fireview is going to out heat the Quad, once up to temperature.. I burn 24/7 when I can.

 

[begreen]

Are you sure the 75% closure wasn't intentionally by design? EPA stoves don't close off the air completely. Some leave the secondary intake port wide open. This is to prevent smoldering the fire.

 

[Jags]

Also looking for a comparison. I will be completely surprised if the fireview puts out more heat.

 

[charly]

Are you sure the 75% closure wasn't intentionally by design? EPA stoves don't close off the air completely. Some leave the secondary intake port wide open. This is to prevent smoldering the fire.

The secondary air yes, but the primary start up air at the bottom should be closed right off. The round pad closes over the w hole like a pad closes a hole on a flute. They had the thing cocked to one side. Poor set up standards. Who ever did, saw it and left it. I was a Harley Tech for 10 years for a dealer. I know when I see cobber work, not giving a hoot! This was it. Something that critical you make sure it's done right or go sweep floors. And I'm betting the FireView will out heat the Quad. The Quad held a ton of wood but with all the heat shields , it was pathetic. Yes it kept us warm , but not for the size of it. Heat off the glass and top plate, that's it, plus most of the time the pipe was as hot as the stove top. I figured half my heat was going up the pipe. I couldn't stand using the blower! Who wants all that noise! It will be heating my garage next.

 

[charly]

Are you sure the 75% closure wasn't intentionally by design? EPA stoves don't close off the air completely. Some leave the secondary intake port wide open. This is to prevent smoldering the fire.

Yes the bottom picture in my post is the secondary air , that has a stop , so it can't be closed all the way to cause smoldering like you said. The first picture is the bracket that was cocked down at an angle. That round pad fits that hole perfectly! When it's aligned right.

 

[begreen]

Good info. I have never seen these ports exposed. So does the ACC have its own intake port?

 

[charly]

Good info. I have never seen these ports exposed. So does the ACC have its own intake port?

Yes two of those bottom holes are for the ACC. The timer opens both front and rear and they close once the timer winds back down and shuts off. You can manually open the primary air , which looking at the exposed linkage just opens the rear air intake, not the front. Those holes have to be sucking air all the time anyways, a little. I'm going to get two new pads while it's apart. The rear one is in the picture. You can see that takes a beating. Not checking those pads for a while would explain a runaway stove.

 

[Highbeam]

Quad has at least done one thing right, made the secondary air supply adjustable. Very rare in the stove world and I think it is a good idea. My secondary system is wide open throttle all the time. Which can really make things interesting when the stove gets hot.

The primary air should not be designed to close off 100%. It is not common and if that's how the quad works then it is the exception. I am not so sure that it is a good idea to completely shut the primary air off. You want a little bit of air making it to the fire.

 

[charly]

Quad has at least done one thing right, made the secondary air supply adjustable. Very rare in the stove world and I think it is a good idea. My secondary system is wide open throttle all the time. Which can really make things interesting when the stove gets hot.

The primary air should not be designed to close off 100%. It is not common and if that's how the quad works then it is the exception. I am not so sure that it is a good idea to completely shut the primary air off. You want a little bit of air making it to the fire.

Looking at these pads that cover the 2 primary holes, I'm sure they suck some air even when they are supposedly closed.