VC Intrepid II model 1308 Bolt - 3rd time is a charm. Cmon, all you repair guys! HELP!

[deenibeeni]

A bolt is stranded behind the lower fireback.I need HELP! Thirty-one degrees last night! Where are all the Mr. Fix-Its when I need 'em???????

I've attached the page from the manual that shows the parts I'm referring to.

There are five acorn nuts as you are facing the back of the stove, two on the left: one upper, one lower. You can see the holes for them in part #3, "back panel."

There are three on the right: The top one caps a bolt that holds the damper housing (#7) in place. The bolt is easily seen inside the stove, the top of the bolt is not hex-shaped but paddle shaped, holding the damper housing. that bolt is #9 on the exploded diagram. It is not the bolt in question, I'm just getting you oriented.

The next bolt down on the right (still not my bolt, I'm still getting you oriented) is a hex bolt, #12 on my diagram. It goes through the fireback clamp (#11), through the upper fireback, and out the back of the stove, where, again, it is covered by the middle acorn nut on the right side of the back of the stove.

The third bolt is my bolt. It appears to be another #9, which is shaped like the upper one on the same side, but I have never seen the other end of it since, as I said, it is lost inside the stove. It goes through the lower fireback, out the back of the stove, and is covered by acorn nut #3, which I have. Unfortunately, the bolt is not visible to me, as it is covered by part #15, "rear air tube," which is in there quite firmly and does not want to come out. I can't see any screws going through the "rear air tube" on the diagram. It might just be wedged in.

If it's just a matter of levering the rear tube out so I can get to the bolt, great. But the way these stoves fit together, there could be another part holding it in place. I don't want to get a lever in there until I'm sure that's what I should be doing. I don't want to break something.

So back to my original question: how do I get to that bolt.

Part B of my question is, If I can't get it out can I bolt it from the back just to fill that hole. It won't be actively securing the lower fireback, but there does not appear to be a millimeter of jiggle room in the rear air tube, so maybe it's enough, I don't know.

 

[BrowningBAR]

If I have a chance today I will take a photo of the firebox of the Intrepid and try to illustrate how I removed it.

 

[begreen]

I wouldn't run it without the bolt. To do so may risk warping. Here's what I'd try: Remove all the parts you can to reduce weight and obstructions. Then get a burly friend, lift the stove upside down, and shake the bolt out.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Can you post a picture of where the bolt is stuck?

 

[deenibeeni]

Thanks all.

I spoke to someone yesterday who told me the lower fireback is probably cemented in there & that was why it wouldn't budge. And that if it wouldn't budge, not having that clamp on it wouldn't be too terrible, since everything is a very tight fit even without it. And that my idea about plugging the hole was good; that if anything the hole would let a little more air get sucked into the stove. So I tried that, got a bolt that fits & plugged it from the outside & it's burning really well right now, not too hot.

I did think about turning it over & shaking it, begreen. Maybe in spring. At one point I had a chopstick with some crazy glue on it and tried to get the bolt to stick to it so I could pull it through the back of the stove, but that didn't work & now the bolt is totally out of reach. Right now things seem to be okay.

 

[mellow]

Guessing the bolt can't be picked up by a magnet, if it could I would say try dropping a doughnut shaped magnet down with a string tied to it.

 

[BrowningBAR]

Thanks all.

I spoke to someone yesterday who told me the lower fireback is probably cemented in there & that was why it wouldn't budge. And that if it wouldn't budge, not having that clamp on it wouldn't be too terrible, since everything is a very tight fit even without it. And that my idea about plugging the hole was good; that if anything the hole would let a little more air get sucked into the stove. So I tried that, got a bolt that fits & plugged it from the outside & it's burning really well right now, not too hot.

I did think about turning it over & shaking it, begreen. Maybe in spring. At one point I had a chopstick with some crazy glue on it and tried to get the bolt to stick to it so I could pull it through the back of the stove, but that didn't work & now the bolt is totally out of reach. Right now things seem to be okay.

The lower fireback should not be cemented in. It should create a seal with gaskets, not cement.

 

[Treacherous]

Would a magnetic telescopic pen or one of these flexible reach tools work?

(broken image removed)

Expensive option to find a dropped bolt but maybe an inspection camera. It includes: "Hook, mirror and magnet accessories"

 

[BrowningBAR]

I would still like a pic to see where the bolt is as I am looking at the firebox and can not imagine where it is stick in a way that I could not remove it or get to it.

 

[defiant3]

So first remove grate and ashpan. Then, the left and right shoulders that ho;ld up the grate come out. They're cemented in, so after a few love taps, work on prying them carefully upwards. These would be parts #43 and 44. Now, the lower fireback comes out as the shoulders did, though usually much easier. It too is cemented in, and must be pried and lifted out of it's place. There's your bolt
\
Clean off old cement and reinstall parts as they came out. Sounds sort of fun in a sick way, doesn't it?

 

[defiant3]

Oh yeah, the upper fireback and throat hood assy. has to be out first! Good luck!