Routine cleaning reveals problems on VC Defiant

[HumaneSocietySteve]

Hey Guys,

I had posted this question in one of my old posts and I think it got lost in the mix. I am hoping to get some input on this problem so I can start working on the solution ASAP.

Hey Fraxinus,

I took your advice today and removed the stove pipe and underlying iron plate (Bear to get out) to clean the loose ash behind the fire back on my 1975 VC Defiant in hopes of improving draft and achieving secondary burn. Just like you said about 3'' of ash had accumulated behind the fire back. I started vacuuming and all was going well until metallic objects of some sort started plinking their way through the shop vac hose. Upon closer examination it seems to be semi metallic stove putty. I am guessing this is not supposed to happen under normal circumstances. Under the putty, which is now in pieces. there is what looks like screen door wire mesh material showing.

I think I have really opened up a can of worms or more likely my check book. HELP...Some of you old stove horses please clue me in to what I have uncovered in my ROUTINE cleaning and what I need to do now.

Also upon closer inspection I noticed a hairline crack running vertically up the fire back from bottom to top. If I remember right my father in law had his old original fire back replaced on the same model VC Defiant because of the same problem and had the new and improved two piece fire back installed years ago. My guess is that I am going to have to cart the stove in for an overhaul at the local wood stove shop.

Any and all input welcome.

 

[fraxinus]

A rebuild of your stove would replace the cracked fireback, reseal all joints with stove cement, install new gaskets, etc. I'm not sure what this is costing these days, but I would guess at least $500 assuming you can find someone to do it. Is it absolutely necessary? Probably not. The metallic stuff you vacuumed out is stove cement that has broken down over time. With the top plate out, you may be able to put new cement into the joint using a caulking gun. If you can't, I don't think there's a great deal to worry about - this is a pretty tight joint even without cement. If you want to check, put a bright light in the area in a darkened room and check for gaps from the outside. There is a mesh in this area, but I've never been certain about its purpose. As for the crack, drill a small hole at each end. This will relieve stress and should prevent the crack from enlarging. If a rebuild does seem the best course, you can certainly get through the rest of the winter and have it done when you don't need to use the stove.

 

[HumaneSocietySteve]

Hey Fraxinus,

Thanks for the sage advice. I was a little worried. I will check out my options today but will go ahead and get the old girl fired back up tonight or tomorrow. At least she is good and cleaned out now. My father in law replaced the fire back himself so I may go this route and pick up all the gaskets and extras and do the job myself this summer. Paying $500 for someone else to rebuild goes against my nature. Sounds as bad as "Paying" for fire wood. Blasphemy

Has anyone done this rebuild on their VC Defiant???

 

[mlunn]

Steve,
I just finished rebuilding my VC Defiant 1A(old model) last night. I have copied in a website that shows an exploded view of the stove. It has all the part numbers you need to talk to a woodstove parts place. The website is (broken link removed to http://www.discountstove.com/partsvcwbfreestanding.htm). Pick the Defiant icon and find the woodstove you have, but it sounds like you have the 1A like mine. Rebuild was pretty easy. There are four tie rods on each corner that hold the top of the stove on. The tie rods slide out after removing the nut on the bottom of the stove which is under the legs. You have to remove the legs to get at the nut. The fireback is only available in two sections. They should slide out. The issue I had with my stove was the end baffle that holds the firback plates in was warped, so the fireback plates fell out. You will want to make sure that the fireback plates slide in tightly. I also changed the tie rods as mine were also very brittle. You will also need some furnace cement to seal the top back on. All the parts firebacks, baffle, tierods and cement cost me about $300.00 at a local woodstove shop that deals with VC. Rather pricey, but cheaper than replacing the stove. About one and a half cords of wood. Ouch!! If the firebacks are not severly cracked and fit in pretty tight you should be able to make it till the end of heating season. Good luck.