Repair Question--Hitzer 983 Grate Frame

Ashcat · By: **Ashcat** On: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:29 pm

Shutting down today, I found a bent and broken part of the grate frame, in the back of the firebox. The part needing repair is the lip that holds the bottom of the firebricks against the back wall of the firebox. It seems like an odd place to fail. Looking for any advice about whether to replace the entire back "lip" along the whole width of the firebox, or staighten and tack (weld) a short piece of steel to "splint" that area. (You might be able to tell that I've never welded before)

You can see the two broken firebricks on either side of the partially cracked one right at the level of the metal lip failure--I've already repaired those bricks with stove cement , and cured them in our outdoor grill after the steak came off the grill. It gave me an excuse to use the grill for dinner!

freetown fred · By: **freetown fred** On: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:18 pm

ashcat, I replaced that frame when I first got the 50-93 a few yrs back & don't remember it costing that much--dealor close by??? or call Dean--------260-589-8536

CapeCoaler · By: **CapeCoaler** On: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:42 pm

How many years do you have on that stove...
The lip will still hold the brick in place even as is...
I do pull my bricks each year and clean the ash out...
Kinda waavvvy on that frame...
Try to leave some ash below to insulate the metal from direct contact with the coal fire...

Ashcat · By: **Ashcat** On: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:28 pm

Thanks Fred and CapeCoaler--

That stove has just finished its 4th year. The waviness of the back edge of the frame is really apparent in that one pic. I tend to get ash buildup in the corners and on the front edge, not the back edge--suggesting you might be right CapeCoaler about that region getting more exposure to active fire.

I'll check with my dealer, Fred, on the cost of replacing the whole frame. I replaced glass direct from Hitzer before this past season, and that worked out well. But it's good to throw some business the dealer's way as well.

Keepaeyeonit · By: **Keepaeyeonit** On: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:45 pm

Ashcat,did you get a price on the grate holder :?:

(I would think It's close to a $100.00 but I hope I'm wrong),I think the grate holder is the cheapest part of the stove not real heavy duty I think It's 1/8" steel If you had a 4 1/2" grinder and a welder It's a 15 min fix at the most grind the old one off and weld on a new one but at least 3/16" or 1/4" thick.I am out for the year upper 60*s for the next 10 days last load was on Saturday last shake down was last night and at 7:00 tonight she was 100*

but on the bright side I still have a ton left

for next year I hope.Keepaeyeonit

davidmcbeth3 · By: **davidmcbeth3** On: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:41 pm

I think Hitzer has a 4 yr warranty .. out of that?

Ashcat · By: **Ashcat** On: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:00 pm

Keepaeyeonit wrote:If you had a 4 1/2" grinder and a welder It's a 15 min fix at the most grind the old one off and weld on a new one but at least 3/16" or 1/4" thick.

davidmcbeth3 wrote:I think Hitzer has a 4 yr warranty .. out of that?

I'm not out of the four year period yet (purchased Aug 2008), but didn't remember that the warranty is that long. I'll definitely be calling Hitzer first. But, since Santa brought me a Bosch 4.5 inch angle grinder and a diamond blade for Xmas, and I've been eager to find jobs for it, this would qualify. Now I just need a welder. Maybe craigslist.

grizzly2 · By: **grizzly2** On: Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:13 pm

Ashcat,

If it was under waranty I would definately let Hitzer buy me a new frame. If it was not under waranty, I would use my new grider to grind the welds and get the lip off, then go to a welder preferably a decent hobby welder (free or cheap) and have him tack a new one on. I'll do it for you if you want to bring it to Whippleville. :lol:

Keepaeyeonit · By: **Keepaeyeonit** On: Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:55 pm

Ashcat,keep that diamond blade for brick or stone and just get a standard abrasive wheel to grind off the weld there are cheaper and work better for that kind of thing.Keepaeyeonit

Ashcat · By: **Ashcat** On: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:34 pm

grizzly2 wrote:Ashcat,

If it was under waranty I would definately let Hitzer buy me a new frame. If it was not under waranty, I would use my new grider to grind the welds and get the lip off, then go to a welder preferably a decent hobby welder (free or cheap) and have him tack a new one on. I'll do it for you if you want to bring it to Whippleville.

Thanks Grizzly--I'll bring it with me next time I'm going to Whippleville

I have a call in to my dealer but haven't heard back yet. I believe the warranty period is five (5) years, but only on components Hitzer manufactures. Exclusions include castings such as grates themselves, cast fill door, etc and even gaskets. But they almost certainly make the grate frame, so that shouldn't be excluded.

Keepaeyeonit wrote:Ashcat,keep that diamond blade for brick or stone and just get a standard abrasive wheel to grind off the weld there are cheaper and work better for that kind of thing.Keepaeyeonit

Thanks for the advice. At least I'll have a good tool for cutting firebrick.

davidmcbeth3 · By: **davidmcbeth3** On: Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:35 pm

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Ahhh, you cursed me...lol

Shut down my 503 & had similar issues ... I contacted my Hitzer dealer about warranty & costs .. will post back once obtained ...

davidmcbeth3 · By: **davidmcbeth3** On: Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:36 pm

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second pic

Ashcat · By: **Ashcat** On: Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:24 pm

A bit of follow-up: I spoke to my dealer today, who reports that he spoke to Hitzer and was informed that the grate frame is NOT covered under warranty. I have seen a PDF of the Hitzer warranty that a stove shop had posted online, and it did specifically disclaim any part that was not manufactured by Hitzer themselves, including grates. I had assumed that the grate frame was manufactured at Hitzer, but apparently this is not the case.

I didn't even ask him the cost of replacing the entire grate frame itself because I don't want this problem to come back in another three or four years. I'm going to look into getting a piece of 1/4 inch sheet, of the same height and length to replace the 1/8 inch thickness of the original, welded at a local welder--depending on cost, I may instead just buy a cheap arc welder and do the job myself.

Rob R. · By: **Rob R.** On: Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:35 pm

There is no reason to think a replacement grate frame would last any longer than the first. I think your idea of building your own is a good idea.

You can often find a Lincoln AC welder on craiglist for $200 or less. I have a really old one that came from an estate sale, works like it is new.

grizzly2 · By: **grizzly2** On: Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:58 pm

Ashcat, be sure to ask an experienced professional welder what grade of steel to buy. Poor quality steel could last for a shorter length of time than the original did. :idea:

Repair Question--Hitzer 983 Grate Frame

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