Question about 79 VC Resolute

[Phishfinder]

Hi Everyone!

Have two questions about this awesome little stove. Enjoying our first Canadian winter with it and we're new to heating with wood. So far so good but just need a little clarification. When we reload the stove we always open the damper load er up and leave the damper open until it comes back to 500 then close. Is this necessary each time or could we just close again after it's loaded?

2nd question is about the front door. Up above the handle there is a little micro gap between the doors. As the stove heats the gap gets much smaller but I can still see a little gap. Gaskets all look good and I'm curious if this is normal or should I be able to see nothing at all?

thanks for any and all replies!

 

[defiant3]

SO I'm guessing that you have a 2 door Res?

 

[Phishfinder]

Hahaha. Sorry about that!

Yes, it's a two door. I've attached a picture and had just loaded it up five minutes ago. Damper is open and you can see the little gap at the top.

 

[defiant3]

Nice!! Simple fix, really: the right door should have 1/4" gasketing that wraps around the place where you can see the fire and go down to the place which corresponds to the end of the gasket on the left door. It's strange but the gasket on the left door comes up from the bottom edge and just ends about 2" or so before it gets to the top, leaving that 2" unsealed. Crazy. So I wrap the right door gasket around and bring it down to that point. Works great!

 

[Phishfinder]

Thanks Defiant, appreciate your reply.

Yeah, that IS nice and easy! When we moved into the house that gasket did have a little xtra piece, which I trimmed. Oops. Hahaha. Will get myself a new gasket set.

I've also seen people talk about the single fire back cracking. Mine has a little something happening and I don't think it's a crack.... maybe just a little wear? You think we should be concerned?

 

[defiant3]

One of the cool things about your 2 door Res. III is that it came with the 2 piece fireback already in it. So the crack isn't good, but it won't be a big problem, won't affect the damper at all. Replace that lower fireback sometime when you feel like it.

 

[Phishfinder]

Cool, so it's a res 3? Is it actually from 79? And I guess that is a crack eh? It just looks like a little scrape in the cast, good thing I asked! It replacing the FB something I can do with little experience or should I be looking for a VC person in my neck of the woods? And where would I go about getting a new fb?

Sorry for the barrage of questions and thank you for all of your help.

Have a Merry Christmas!

 

[defiant3]

So the Res. III was the last and best incarnaton made from like 1983 until 1987 or so. They ALL say 1979 as that was the year the Resolute was introduced.

Fireback replacement isn't hard unless screws start breaking, then it's more interesting. Finding V.C. repair people is far more difficult these days, but maybe give it a go in the off season and see how how you do on your own. Folx here may be helpful..

Yes I know it's Xmas morning. Now that my kids are teenagers it's ME now waiting for THEM to wake up!

 

[Phishfinder]

Funny how things change the older we get eh?

Happy to hear I can take a shot at it myself. Would like to get a little more familiar with some of the workings. When the spring rolls around I'll post and see if I can't get a little help as I go. I really like heating with wood and it sounds weird but this stove has some personality and I'd love to keep er around as long as possible. Finding someone for a full rebuild would be nice at some point too! Planning a road trip to Ontario any time soon?? Hahahahaha.

 

[defiant3]

BELIEVE me Canada's looking better and better...

 

[Phishfinder]

Hahahaha. I totally understand! When you make the jump I have a resolute that needs some love!

 

[Mybooman]

Defiant3: Help me out here, please. I have read and reread this post and it still is spinning in my poor head. Firstly, where is the crack in the picture? The vertical space between the plates? Or the rainbow shaped thing over the far left air hole place -the sixth hole that isn't there? Or am I missing it altogether? Secondly, your gasket description has me lost. I put gaskets all along the outer edges of my two doors, but not up the center which is how I am reading your description. Although now I "filled in" that small gap on the top because of what you said here, thank you. Was I supposed to put gaskets all up the left hand center door edge until the last 2"?

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[72Rover]

That crack is almost identical to the one in my early Resolute - and I have just replaced the fireback.

...and yeah, dealing with all the hardware that has hardened into something like Grade 27 steel is the biggest headache....