Bi-Metallic Spring Actuated Damper

 
JohnnyV
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Post by JohnnyV » Mon. Jan. 23, 2012 10:33 pm

I have a Hitzer with the bi-metallic spring actuated damper and am wondering how you can tell when the bi-metallic spring is going bad. It seems with the last cold spell I was burning the stove hotter than normal and now that the temperatures are getting warmer, where I had it set a couple weeks ago and the stove would burn around 425 now it burns barely at 400. I played with the back and set the setting to zero then set it back to where I had it and the temperature still isn't above 400. So how do you know if it is the spring? How long should they last (I have only had the stove 2 years)?

Any help or pointing in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.


 
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Poconoeagle
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Post by Poconoeagle » Mon. Jan. 23, 2012 11:50 pm

it should last much longer than that.
perhaps you don't or didnt moniter the draft? with the warm and cold weather stoves burn quite different...

windy when burn hot? this damper, it lets the air in or controls the exhaust? must let the air in right?

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 7:30 am

My spring loaded thermo has been on the 50-93 for over 10 yrs & still works fine. I think PE covered it. ;)

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 8:14 am

Some quick ideas - When your stove was "topped out" at 400 degrees was the flap open to allow air into the stove? If the flap was wide open and 400 is all she wrote...it sounds like a draft problem.

If the flap was closed or nearly closed, it sounds like an adjustment problem. What # did you have the dial set at during this?

It is possible that the spring is messed up, but unlikely.

 
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Post by JohnnyV » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 8:51 am

My draft is more than fine. I have a baro damper on the pipe, because of the strong draft. If I cover the baro my stove temp will just keep climbing even with the manual draft closed all of the way.

The flap on the back was open a little at 400. It stays open just enough to maintain the temperature that the dial on the back calls for. If the temp gets to low it opens up more to get to were the temp needs to be then closes. This is still happening, it just seems that the stove thinks the dial is set for a lower number.

I had the dial set at about 8.25-8.5 and that is where it would burn around 425. Now I have the dial set to a hair under 9 and the stove is burning around 400.

Just a thought: Would/Could ash buildup in the stove itself be insulating it well enough to cause this?

 
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Freddy
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Post by Freddy » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 9:04 am

I don't think bi-metalic springs can go bad. Asking how long one last is similar to asking how long copper and stainless steel last. Other than somehow corroding away I think they last about forever. I know I have one that's 30ish years old and going strong.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 9:23 am

Any chance the length of the chain going to the flapper changed a little? (Did you take it apart recently and reassemble it differently?) :gee:

Ash buildup in the stove can definitely cause a drop in heat output.
Last edited by Rob R. on Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 10:57 am

Probably the obvious, but do the dollar bill tests on all your gaskets. Have you opened your flap wide open just to see what happens & then shut it down??? Your gripe is not enough heat??? or too much? To little is what I'm reading. Tap the thermo box????

 
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Post by JohnnyV » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 12:05 pm

I am not complaining about the heat output. I just want to know why all of the sudden it seems the setting I had the dial on is no longer producing the heat it did a week or so ago. Maybe since it is warmer out (30-40) instead of in the teens and 20's is causing it. Maybe its the bi-metallic spring. I don't know a lot about the bi-metallic spring and actuated damper and was just wondering if maybe this could be the problem. I did the dollar bill test and everything seems okay, so I am guessing it is not a leak. Other than temperature change outside, nothing has changed. I did not change the setting on the dial, but I did notice it is not giving the heat it did at that setting before. I did open it up more and the temperature went up then it closed itself. I just want to make sure that when I turn the dial to a setting and go away for the day and come back, the stove temp is what I have observed in the past at that setting, plus or minus a little of course. But 25+ degree difference just has my mind wandering is all.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 12:39 pm

Sounds like it was just a fluke due to serious outside temp changes my friend. ;) Just remember, any setting changes take some time on a coal fire.

 
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Post by JohnnyV » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 1:08 pm

I thought it would have worked itself out after 2 days though.

 
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Post by fastcat » Tue. Jan. 24, 2012 11:24 pm

Yesterday and today I had the same thing going on with my stove, I have had it before and I would have to think it is the nutso weather we are having, 50 one day and zero the next. Nothing to worry about if you are going away and the temp is going to get colder just set the dial back a hair and when you get home adjust to get your temp back.

 
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Post by JohnnyV » Wed. Jan. 25, 2012 8:25 am

Well it seems to have worked itself out. I agree that this nutso weather is playing havoc with everything this winter. I also think it was the coal. Reason I think this is it was the last little bit of coal that I had left (hard nut). Well, the new hard nut coal I got is a lot bigger than the previous batch. When I looked at the coal in the coal yard I told the guy this is a lot bigger than the last load of coal I got. I looked at his pea coal also and said that those pieces were a little larger than the nut coal I got last time. Well, I think this larger nut coal is going to make a difference (its early as I only used it last night), but I did notice a difference in heat output and temp where I have the dial set. Also, I noticed that when I fixed the fire this morning I did not have as much ash or use as much coal to top it off. If it keeps going this way with this new load I will be a happy camper! :D

 
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Jan. 25, 2012 8:33 am

Oh, so more than just the nutso weather had changed here...different coal too! :o

 
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Post by freetown fred » Wed. Jan. 25, 2012 8:51 am

Great, but you state you're not getting the heat out-put you are used to. I guess I'm just confused on what you're looking for???
JohnnyV wrote:Well it seems to have worked itself out. I agree that this nutso weather is playing havoc with everything this winter. I also think it was the coal. Reason I think this is it was the last little bit of coal that I had left (hard nut). Well, the new hard nut coal I got is a lot bigger than the previous batch. When I looked at the coal in the coal yard I told the guy this is a lot bigger than the last load of coal I got. I looked at his pea coal also and said that those pieces were a little larger than the nut coal I got last time. Well, I think this larger nut coal is going to make a difference (its early as I only used it last night), but I did notice a difference in heat output and temp where I have the dial set. Also, I noticed that when I fixed the fire this morning I did not have as much ash or use as much coal to top it off. If it keeps going this way with this new load I will be a happy camper! :D


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