After cleaning the chimney last week, I began to wire brush the stove top....to touch up paint. I noticed 2 cracke on the top, front and back, but not affecting the cook plate(the oval bit meant for cooking on) Will try for pics later. A new one ordered from Preston Trading Post, a little over $400....shipped from Maine. Anyone experience the same on their stove of J 500?
So far it is just the top. Its not even the whole top...just the inner portion. Front looks good. Ran well the other day. Also looking for someone to weld that up....would like to keep it handy....
I could be mistaken but didn’t you say at one point that you keep a large stockpot on the stove for extended periods?
Typically a 6qt day to day. I have put a 5G up there (hot water for each drain in the house 1x/yr). But that pot was 18" around, overhanging the stove front and back. Im pretty sure it wasnt cracked end of year.
Im pretty sure the whole thing is cast. The top is, not sure I've seen any bits NOT cast. Maybe the liner inside the small door.
Cast can be a bugger to weld, at least and make it hold up...many shops don't like to fool with it, so if you do have it repaired, make sure they are VERY familiar with cast iron repairs, and aren't just another yeah I can "weld" that yahoo
Well, there are two others here, a lot less careful than I. Perhaps nothing nefarious. But thats why I was wondering if anyone else had similar experiences....
Same as my dad said, possible with someone who KNOWS what they are doing. Id love to have a spare top around.
So what do you think caused the cracks? What do the innards look like? Maybe a leak somewhere causing an overfire? I’d hate to see your new top do the same thing.
I'd hate to loose another top too. We've run it 3 years no issues, I dont think our behavior has changed too much. I've had it plenty toasty, but its never gone nuclear. I tend to think someone put something on it (ive stood on it perhaps to access the flu) years ago. It's taken some use.... The only leak I know of is where the stove pipe meets the stove. I keep forgetting to do something about that. Otherwise, we're more than likely to under fire.....the family is not as diligent as I. Im still going with something heavy set down on it....maybe hard. Almost dont want to replace till a couple people leave here. No fractures anywhere else on the stove, just part of the top, not even the whole top. MikeInMa I checked front and back, door etc.
