Xtraordinaire 36"-Elite - bypass rod - unscrewed! Need to fix. Help!

[longjnsilver]

Hi,
Johnny Long here. I'm replacing the black hardware on my Xtrordinaire 36" wood burner with brass hardware. Thinking I might find a way to change out the end of the bypass rod, I unscrewed it - LIKE AN IDIOT - and when I withdrew it, heard a "CLUNK." Now whatever it screwed into has changed position, so looks like I'll have to disassemble the upper part of the unit - the heat exchanger? - to reach the place where it attaches.

Can anybody help/advise me here? THANKS! (Lesson learned: "If it ain't broke...")
See pic.
Johnny - in Hendersonville NC

 

[webby3650]

It ain't broke. Get a flashlight, look back in behind the face and you can see the bypass rod that the extension screws into.

 

[longjnsilver]

Will do that tomorrow first thing. THANKS!
If I can avoid a disassembly, I'll be one thankful puppy fer sure!
Johnny

 

[longjnsilver]

Will do that tomorrow first thing. THANKS!
If I can avoid a disassembly, I'll be one thankful puppy fer sure!
Johnny

NOPE! Sorry, WEBBY3650, but you must not be familiar with my fireplace. Check these pics of the draft bypass rod and the hole where it enters. There's a steel tube guide for the shaft of the bypass rod. Obviously I've got to take the unit apart to even see where it screwed in. From the diagram, looks like I can get to the spot just behind the heat exc hanger.

 

[webby3650]

It's just a matter of getting it lined up again, it's all there.

 

[maverick06]

i have the non-cat version of that stove. Dont dissassemble!

you should be able to reach in the back and play proctologist and get it all lined up.

For my stove (its a non-cat, should be nearly the same for the bypass, maybe not) I used to take the baffle down to clean it, and that was a pain, and the bypass would get fouled ever few years and jam in place. I found that you can disassemble and re-assemble it without pulling the baffle down. Since yours "ell" the damper was probably fully closed (pushed in). What i would do would be reach into the stove and feel for the bypass plate. you should be able to wiggle it around and move it. (at least push it up). If you can get it to slide into the "open" position, you should be able to then put the rod in place and screw it down. When you wiggle the plate, I would expect to try to pull it towards you and probably lift up a bit.

That sounds more complicated than it is. Check out this thread, not that it is your problem, but it will help:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...r-elite-33-fpx-33-aka-lopi-declaration.39485/

specifically look at this picture.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/img_0433-jpg.115355/

Thats the yoke for the bypass plate, you have to get the metal rod, piece coming towards the camera, through the hole in the fireplace collar. Once it is there it will be nearly perfectly in alignment iwth the bypass rod. of course the clearance through that hole is probably 1/8" and then there is probably an 1/8" alignment with the rod. so there will be a lot of trial and error to get it done, but its way faster than disassembly!

Spend an hour screwing around with this before you do anything else. Good luck!