Vermont Castings Defiant woodstove problem

fireweed farm · #1 02/12/13, 10:43 PM

Seems I've got a problem on my woodstove and just had to turn on the electric furnace for the first time this winter.

What happened is... the damper lever (on left side) fell off right in my hand. On the woodstove itself there is a small round peg with a flat side that this lever attaches to. On the lever there is a small screw you tighten that locks to the flat side of round peg.

It seems that the peg has been pulled part way into the woodstove. Just enough that the lever can't get enough grip on the peg. I tried pulling the peg out further but it wouldn't seem to come. Pushing it out from the inside of woodstove isn't possible without unbolting what seems to be a cover over this pin/lever attachment- and not something I'd best be doing unless I'm sure that's what's needed.

The damper is stuck shut so can't even start a small fire. I tried to pry open the damper by hand and by tapping with kindling and hammer but no budge.

Not sure what to do now. Hoping this makes some sense! Any ideas appreciated.

copperkid3 · #2 02/12/13, 10:49 PM

Can you provide pics? It might help.

fireweed farm · #3 02/12/13, 10:53 PM

Good idea, will try.

fireweed farm · #4 02/12/13, 11:05 PM

Vermont Castings Defiant woodstove problem - Homesteading Questions

fireweed farm · #5 02/12/13, 11:07 PM

On the left is lever handle that's off- you can see the allan key screw to keep it held on the flat side of peg- at right.
Problem is the peg seems to have sunk into the woodstove as it isn't sticking out far enough for the screw to attach.

arabian knight · #6 02/12/13, 11:39 PM

Yes I agree. Try getting a needle nose plier and try pulling it outward maybe enough, then put the handle back on making SURE first you screw the Allen Screw out enough so you don't "push" it back in.

copperkid3 · #7 02/12/13, 11:49 PM

What have you used to try and get a "grip" on the 'peg'?

I would suggest (if you haven't done so already),

to try and grab it with a vise grip pliers and then

pull it out as far as possible and being carefull so as not

to loose it back inside or damage the end, try to

reset the allen set screw and pray that solves the problem.

Otherwise, I think you may have to take apart the cover over

this pin/pivot point and adjust it accordingly.

Or mix up a batch of JB weld and reattach your handle! <grin>

How Do I · #8 02/13/13, 12:31 AM

What is the model number on your stove? I really have no idea other than what I'm reading on Vermont wood stoves and one instruction manual says to remove griddle and adjust the damper tension. This is to tighten it up I believe. Maybe you could reverse tension to loosen it, fix, and then readjust for proper tension once the handle is fixed (you say it is closed right, so there would be the most tension on the damper in that position??) Maybe that is what is preventing you from budging it. Just a wild guess here.

frankva · #9 02/13/13, 07:15 AM

I have a defiant encore. The only way to lubricate the inner mechanism/connection is the tear down you are describing.

So I live with the noise.

I also would try the vise grip method with out forcing. Might have wiggled one way or the other inside and would be worse to break it the rest of the way.

If you do have to tear down to fix this, be mentally prepared to rebuild all the gaskets/cement. (The back requires 2 or 3 people to get it back in place without ruining the cement job. My experience. Someone who does it every day might have that thing back on slick.)

If you have 20 years on the stove do the math.

Good luck.

**Cabin Fever** · #10 02/13/13, 09:11 AM

It appears there is suppose to be a spacer (Part #46) between the damper handle and damper rod.

fireweed farm · #11 02/13/13, 10:34 AM

It's 3 years old and the local store stopped selling them two years ago. Hopefully I can get it back out and figure out why it happened in the first place. If it needs a rebuild will not be happy especially mid winter.

CF- did you find this sketch on the VC website? I must be missing it, will check again. Yes #46 is sticking out but it's as if the washer or whatever that is between it and the stove itself is missing (from the factory).

**Cabin Fever** · #12 02/13/13, 11:07 AM

I believe #46 is the "washer" (the company calls it a "spacer") What is sticking out of your stove is the end of the damper rod (Part #13) The spacer fits between the damper rod and the damper handle.

**Cabin Fever** · #13 02/13/13, 11:12 AM

I got the parts diagram and parts list here ==> http://www.fergusonfireplace.com/1610defiantnc.html

johng · #14 02/13/13, 11:13 AM

Can you use some needle nose vise grip pliers to get you by until you can fix the stove?

fireweed farm · #15 02/14/13, 01:30 AM

Fixed!
The salesman from the woodstove store came by, thinking it needed a rebuild and wanted to see first.

So the horizontal rod that directly adjusts damper was too tight and somehow pulled itself into the stove about 1/2".
We took the stove pipe off for visibility. Then on the damper plate there are two screws in the middle. The one that sticks out nearly an inch was loosened. That loosened the damper enough that we could actually open it again. We sprayed it down with graphite (moving parts) then put it back together. That's it!
In three years I hadn't cleaned that part of the woodstove out so perfect timing to clean er out while in there too.
Hope that helps someone else with similar problem! Thanks for the help.

frankva · #16 02/14/13, 04:58 AM

Thanks for the update. I do hope it was no charge on the service call.

Should have been under some sort of warranty either VC or general principles at the stove shop.

Was it powdered graphite?

Stoveguy · #17 02/14/13, 07:04 AM

Dear Fireweed,
There are two solutions for re-attaching the handle to the damper by-pass rod.

It appears from the photos that you can get a pair of vice grips on the rod. If that is the case, use the vice grips to open the dampler by-pass wihich will allow enough side to side play on the by-pass to re-attach the handle.

If that does not work, it will be necessary to remove stove pipe and access the damper through the collar of the stove. The dampe can then be opened manually. Again this allows enough side to side play to re-attach the handle.

If the second option is more than you want to tackle, we suggest contacting a dealer in your local area.

Regards,
Stoveguy