Franco-Belge disassembly

I have a 10.1475 stove and before I tear the whole thing down to replace the oscillating grate I thought I'd ask for some pointers to take the thing apart? Do I need to tear all the way down? It doesn't look like the grate will come out without major surgery...am I correct?

No you are not correct it takes 10 min to get the grates out and requires no disassembly of the stove body, simply angle the hopper baffle plate out remove the backing plate they hold each other in then remove the cast iron ring around the grate area it just lifts out a low and behold angle the grates out.

Hi Chuck:

Don't feel so badly. I've been burning an F-B stove for years and you'd think by now I would have it all figured out; not so.
Getting ready for this heating season, I got the firebasket in, then the rear hopper plate, then the lower hopper, and then the upper hopper. All of the heaviest components were in. Then I picked up the grates; the items that should have gone in FIRST!
No harm done, only my ego was bruised.

Well...I attempted to get the grate out again and no luck...it looks like to need to take this thing apart. Maybe I'm missing something...does the grate that is at the back of the firebox move somehow? If I could move it out of the way I could get the oscillating grate out and the shaker grate would come with it?

Chuck:
When you say "the grate that is at the back of the firebox" are you referring to the firebasket?? That is the very heavy cast iron "ring" so to speak that has no top or bottom, it constitutes the front, back and sides of the firebox in which the coal burns. That fire basket must be removed in order for the bottom grates to be removed.

Pics? I have to see this.

I think most of my confusion is coming from 'Coalstoves' reply "simply angle the hopper baffle plate out remove the backing plate they hold each other in then remove the cast iron ring around the grate area it just lifts out a low and behold angle the grates out". It looks to me like the firebox has to be removed and I'm trying to avoid that. I'm afraid that after taking it all apart I might not put it back together well! Does lifting the firebox out require major dissambly...I can't find any instructions on the web anywhere!!!

Chuckinbath wrote: the cast iron ring around the grate area

The Fire Box, The Fire Basket .

LIFT IT OUT!!!

Chuck:
Check your PM. Step-by-step directions to remove fire basket.
John C.

Success! Thanks to Jersey Coal for all the help! I'm up and burning!

Chuck:

I'm happy to hear of your success but, don't thank me. Thank our Leader, Richard and everyone else on the forum.

I've learned more from this forum in 2 years than I learned in 20+ years of heating with coal and wood. All I did was share a little with you.

Congratulations!