sucking air through ash clean out

[crappie cat]

when I shut the front air off I notice hot spot over clean out hole drawing air & it looks like only the right side of air washers are blowing. Ran a probe up left rear air intake but found no vertical blockage. Smoke test shows left intake is drawing, but maybe not as much as right. I take this stove apart & clean good at least 3 times year + sweep chimney. Not neglected. clean out brick still fits well, not broke. Watcha thinks?

 

[Woody Stover]

If the ash drop is on the left side of the stove then the vacuum will be less in the left side of the fire box, and less air will come in the left air wash. I'm trying to figure out how to minimize ash drop leakage in the Buck 91. It has a lid, and I think that may not have been down tight a couple of times. Coals could be getting in position to interfere with the hinges, which are tabs on the sides of the lid. Does your ash drop have a lid, a plug or what?

 

[crappie cat]

Yes, the ash drop is left of center & a special fitting plug brick came with stove. Bricks are a little loose but in good shape. Maybe I try piece aluminum foil under plug

 

[crappie cat]

Foil worked, no more draw through ash drop. wish all things were that simply fixed