Decided to get everything ready to go today. Picked up a new gasket yesterday, it got beat up pretty bad from coals spilling out on some of those cold days last winter. Going back together with everything and I decided to finally widen the right rear baffle screw slot. It's been tight since new and finally bent the screw last season (luckily came out without issue) - of course as I'm dropping the baffle a second time my thumb slipped and the baffle broken in two. Then again its times like these I'm glad I take all these screws out and anti-seize them every year, and never tighten ANYTHING snug only. Those little Phillips pan heads that hold the baffle clips were a PITA to get loosened the first time. First few pics: soapstone removed, a couple of pics of the flue with the baffle removed, ladder setup - ready for the climb
Next few pictures: Brush tied up, I throw a wire brush and screwdriver for the cap in my cargo shorts. Cap prior to cleaning - black snot and cobwebs, most of it bangs off easy Two shots down the liner - typical of all my clean outs, 10-12" of creosote right near the cap the rest light brown powder Cap removed and cleaned A shot down the liner after brushing Two different pics of what came out of the liner
Looks like you're all set to burn besides the baffle, take a deep breath, ain't no hill for a climber.
It really didn't phase me too much, ordered a new one ~$100 including shipping. The original had some dings from the poker and the occasional log crammed in there. Just one of those times when your mind slips into getting something done and forgetting to be gentle
Before I got the 30NC, I wondered why people would gripe about banging up their baffles.......I get it now. Looks like the worst of it was in the cap, and even that wasn't too bad.
Its not as bad as you think, I lift mine with the burn tubes an have done so ~5-6 times. My thumb slipped inside the glove The edges of the baffle actually were very delicate this time - might just be getting to that point 5 burn seasons, I broke even 2 years ago. $100 worth of Propane might have kept the chill off for the month of October
If I did all that work and only broke one baffle, i'de consider it a good day. I tend to break things... often.
