Broken Franco Belge-Fatal?

Hi folks! I took the door off of my Franco Belge 10.7554 to replace 2 pieces of glass. While lifting the door to remove it, a small iron plate came out as well. It is the plate that the upper door hinge hangs on. It is broken off the main cast iron mass for sure! Must I throw this stove away now? I cannot hang my door on one hinge. My daughter will help me upload a picture later of the broken 2x7 inch piece of iron.

Everything is fixable, one way or the other. I'm sure it could be welded, or a new piece fabricated.

Depending on wheres it at, maybe you can drill it and put a bolt or two thru the door or frame? Anything is fixable...Pics would help....

I am going to go at it with stove cement. It is worth a try....the configuration would not permit any screwing or bolting and it appears that this is not a new beak upon closer inspection! Some hunks of other "material" seem to have come off too! It might be stove cement that hung on for a while. I've already burned 500 pounds of coal so far this year in my first coal stove but I'm hooked. I must have it working so I'll try this.

In a previous post you said your stove model was 10-1475. If it is, the hinge pins are part of your door, and those pins fit into a replaceable bracket that is mounted to the front panel of the stove. The upper and lower hinge pin brackets are each mounted with 2 machine screws and nuts(metric thread). You could use standard thread screws and nuts in a pinch.

Stove cement is a SEALER, NOT A GLUE. If it is the upper hinge pin bracket and your stove is indeed a 10-1475, the bracket number is 10.475.151-14. Check the model number stamped on the tag on the back of your stove.

There used to be a Franco-Belge dealer in Alburtis Pa. I can't find their phone number at this time.

Hope this helps.

Packard Bill

I should have been more thorough in my last post. If the bracket broke off with a piece from the front of the stove, you may be able to have it welded. It's cast iron so nickel rod would have to be used and the cast heated prior to welding. The piece MUST be welded flush or the door won't seal. If it can't be welded, for one reason or another (like the break goes into the stove cement joint to seal the front panel to the sides, top and bottom plates) then you will
have to replace the entire front stove panel. If that's the case, the entire stove will probably have to be dismantled, and resealed with stove cement. You will need to replace all screws due to rust (they will break when you try to loosen them). This is a job for a craftsman. It requires finesse and strength. The panels will have to be loosely fitted together with the stove cement in the joints and all the screws tightened before the cement hardens. (The stove will have to be lifted and turned without disturbing the joints too much. I don't want to see anyone hurt either doing the job or from the stove leaking carbon monoxide because of leaky joints.

Dear packardbill..you are so helpful! thank you! There was confusion about my model number but now I see that it is a 10.75.69.Well, my brother has offered to "braise it" if only I could get the ornamental piece off so he can get in there. My brother is not a perfectionist so this will be rough to get it perfect. Yes, it has to be absolutely perfect or the door will not close properly! Thankfully, it does not appear that the break invades the box. If that were the case I would be looking for a new stove online tonight. I doubt there is a craftsman near me who could do this job. And at what price? I replaced the glass panels with ease and was truly happy with the design of this stove but am not too hopeful for the future of it....I'll let you know! darn, I want my stove glowing!

FWIW, there are a plethora of Franco Belge parts on Ebay right now. Don't know what model, but it might be worth checking out.

I have successfuly brazed cast iron a few times. Not on a stove though I must admit. If there are any lumps left on the surface after the braze job, just grind them off. The more your bro. can heat up the cast iron arround the baze site (and the piece to be brazed back on) the less chance of the cast iron cracking durriing the process.

It is not fatal! Piece braised back on to allow door to hang again and closes beautifully! So happy! Now, back to learning exactly the techniques to get enough heat out of this beauty without overfiring! Thanks for all your help!