tips for installing liner in angled flue

[saichele]

I'm trying to install a SS flex liner into my tile flue, just like I did on the last two houses, but have hit a snag. An angle more accurately. The flue goes straight down, takes about a 30 degree angle to the side, then straight to the fireplace.

I thought it would be more straight forward, but after a several tries I can't get the liner to make the bend. I'm not hanging up on the joints, but I'm not sure I have the extra clearance to get a pulling cone on it.

Any tips from the crowd? I'm done the attempts for today (15 mph wind isn't making it any easier) but I'm kind of stumped.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Heatsource]

attach a liner puller to the bottom of the liner and drop a weighted rope down to pull from below

(broken link removed to http://www.northlineexpress.com/3-duraflexss-flex-puller-3dfs-fp-5933.html)
^like this but in your size..

 

[DAKSY]

You can try using plumber's strapping to make a handle to pull the liner. You'll need to have a couple of strips of aluminum sheet, maybe 2" wide, to attach to the ID & OD of the liner. Use zipscrews to attach the strips thru from the outside & inside. These will give you something to attach the plumber's strapping to the liner more securely. Kinda hard to describe, but that's what I've used. Attach a rope to the strapping to get a better grip...

 

[Heatsource]

You can try using plumber's strapping to make a handle to pull the liner. You'll need to have a couple of strips of aluminum sheet, maybe 2" wide, to attach to the ID & OD of the liner. Use zipscrews to attach the strips thru from the outside & inside. These will give you something to attach the plumber's strapping to the liner more securely. Kinda hard to describe, but that's what I''ve used. Attach a rope to the strapping to get a better grip...

I agree, but sometimes the cone type puller is better at getting it to slide around corners (not get hung up)

 

[saichele]

That's a good thought. I've seen the cones online, but with a little luck this is the last of these I'll ever do. I do have about18" of extra liner too, so I could probably crimp it a bit towards a cone shape, at least enough to make some clearance for the zip screws and plumbers strap.

Not going back up till tomorrow. Winds are up to about 20 now, and walking is challenging, let alone waving 25' of flex pipe around.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Steve

 

[bholler]

with offsets we usually pull them up from the bottom

 

[saichele]

I've heard about that (installing the liner from the bottom) but haven't done it. How much is "pulling" from the top and how much is pushing from the fireplace? I ask mostly because my helper is my wife, who is smart enough not to go up on the roof, but also might not be all that much help on the physical labor.

Steve

 

[bholler]

well we use a hoist so it is mostly pulling but with out one it would be a combination. What size flue is it?

 

[saichele]

It's standard 7x11 ID tile. Looks brand new - maybe the previous owners had a couple fires, but they did do much. It's snug with the 6" liner, but again didn'g hit an issue until the offset. The damper is going to be tricky - it's near vertical - I think that's going to be a wiggle it a bit and get a few inches through, then wiggle some more and get a few more inches. Hence the top-down install.

That said, if you have any referrals down between Harrisburg and Gettysburg I'd be interested.

Thanks
Steve

 

[mstoelton]

You could try pulling from bottom with a homemade "cone". Make an "X" out of 2x4 with each piece ~5 1/2 inches long. Screw pieces into x and then put x in the end of the liner and screw liner onto x with a few screws. Tie rope to x and drop weighted rope down chimney and work it down from top. Pulling from below and lifting and working it from above. Takes two people.