VC 2040 Temp drops after damper for cat is closed

[CTwith3]

Heated my stove up to about 550 with splits that my General moisture meter says was from 10.5 - 15.5.
After building up a coal bed for 30 minutes, making sure that I have a good sized load in my stove, and running my stove at about 550, I threw the lever to start using my Cat. What I am seeing is my stove top thermometer showing that my temp is dropping down to 450 and lower.

 

[CTwith3]

Just ran the stove top temp up to 650 for 20 min and temp dropped to 450 in less than 10 minutes

 

[Poindexter]

What make and model stove?

 

[CTwith3]

1994 VC Encore FlexBurn 2040.

I burned 24/7 the last 2 years, but the combustor looked fine, and clean, when inspected thus month.

Could it be a bad combustor? Doors are snug, damper and air control operate well.

 

[webby3650]

Your moisture measurement was taken on the long exposed side of a fresh split? Did you take the fire back out and inspect the combustion box?

 

[webby3650]

This is a flex burn from 1994?

 

[CTwith3]

1994.
I actually measured moisture along the length of the wood on all sides this evening because I got a new moisture meter today. They also sounded dry when smacking them together.
Take the fire back out? Do you mean put out the fire? If so, then no I didn't put it this is going on now and it would be too hot. Did I misunderstand you?

 

[begreen]

Added stove to title to attract attention of other 2040 owners that may be able to help.

 

[webby3650]

The 2040 is the 2in1 or flexburn correct? This is a pretty new model, in 1994 it would have just been a catalytic model.

These stoves are very complex. The fire back is the cast iron piece in the back of the stove that covers the combustion system. It needs removed on occasion for cleaning and catalyst inspection/replacement. Have you accessed this area?

 

[Diabel]

You need to let the stove to go cold. Inspect/clean the cat (after two yrs of 24/7 usage surly there is some fine ash build up).

Re-split one of your logs/splits and take a moisture measurement on the freshly re-split log face. If it reads anything above 20% moisture, then your wood isn't quite ready.

 

[CTwith3]

The oak and maple I am using was split and stacked out of doors for seasoning 18 months, and not big honking splits, so I outdoors be surprised if there was a moisture issue, but will do on re-splitting and cleaning out the stove today.

 

[CTwith3]

I emptied the stone and found a pretty dirty combustor, plus a bunch of fly ash in the well under the combustor.
I spent a while getting everything clean and am hoping that is the end of my problems, for the moment. I received a delivery of 2 cords of "seasoned firewood" today and found at least 1/3rd of it to have a moisture content of 18% - 35%. I haven't contacted the landscaping business as of yet because I don't think I will get anywhere. When I called and told them I need wood to burn immediately they told me the wood is "seasoned" 11-12 months, but I'm not sure I believe that. I already have another 5 cords of wood that has been seasoning from 6-18 months and this wood is my security/peace of mind stash. Luckily, my neighbor across the road has another 1-2 cords of wood that he has been saving for me since the oak and maple trees were cut down and into 18" - 19" lengths back in June. I need to order some new tires for my cart so I can fetch them and get busy splitting for end of next year's season.

 

[Diabel]

Clean cat = good performance.

Your fire wood is a problem. 18% is good, 35% do not burn it....you will stall the cat 100%.

 

[CTwith3]

Clean cat = good performance.

Your fire wood is a problem. 18% is good, 35% do not burn it....you will stall the cat 100%.

The wood in the stove was 10.5 - 15.5%.
The landscaper delivered wood today that wasn't dry enough. I have 3 cords of dry wood in the 10-15% range.

 

[Diabel]

Oh ok.
Sorry I misread it then.
So the wood you are burning this season is 10.5 to 15.5 of moisture on a freshly split piece. If that is the case then you are in a great shape.

 

[CTwith3]

What a difference a thorough cleaning makes.
Stove is humming along with the Cat engaged holding the temperature beautifully.
Just loaded for the night and expect to wake up to a warm house with some hot coals ready to go if needed.
Thanks all, I should have known to just be quiet and clean and inspect.