How often do you dust your cat?

Fox Ive got to ask why didnt you take it out of the metal box? Also I was having trouble with mine early on this year and I called woodstock about it and also mentioned that when I shook the cat it seemed loose they sent me a new gasket for it and I took it out gave it a vinegar bath then put in the new gasket and a few pieces of the old in order to get it nice and tight in there. That worked like a charm I think the biggest problem was that there wasnt enough gasket in there to begin with.

 

How does this soaking effect the cat gasket? I think I would replace it, they are very fragile.

 

Its the original cat on a 2012 refurb. Second winter.

 

Every time u pull one u have to regasket. There expanding and ruined once removed.

 

I left it in the frame because I dont have any gasket material. I didnt think it would hurt the cast or the gasket. I noticed the cat does rattle in the housing. If the wash brings it back to life I'll re-gasket it.

 

Give WS a call they will get one to you pretty quick not sure how much theyll charge but judging from their track record it will be little to nothing. I would go ahead and replace the gasket after it soaking like that they are pretty fragile.

 

Todd are you still using a cat probe on your KS? I'm thinking about getting one to take the guess work out.

 

Yes, I drilled a hole right above the flue collar through the 7" to 6" reducer then installed an 8" probe and put a couple bends in it til it sits right in front of the cat below that heat shield.

 

On Condar's site, 6.5" (1.5" dial) is the longest probe listed, do you think this is the one you have? I called Condar and asked about bending the probe. The person I talked to said not to bend it, then he said it was 1/4" and he didn't think I could get it bent but it was "probably" ok to cut it off.?

 

Hmm....I just spoke to Ron at WS (they do offer an 8" probe). He asked his Condar vendor rep about bending/cutting thermo probes. The rep advised against bending the probe and said it could carefully be cut to length, avoid kinking.
I think I'm going to drill the stone and go in through the top. I need to do some measuring to determine probe length.

 

I got my probe from WS and I have also contacted Condar about bending the probe and they told me you can bend it and it will still work but will void the warranty.
I don't think if your top venting the Keystone that you can drill through the top stone and get where you need to. I've measured and the heat shield is in the way that's why I went through the reducer with the bends. The edge of the cat is almost directly below that front edge of the flue collar.

If you can rear vent you can drill through that top plate and stone then drop a probe right in front of the cat. I did it this way in my previous basement installed KS.

The good thing about going through the reducer is the visibility, I can see the probe from my living room recliner.

 

I am top vented. The center of the cat measures 1" in front of the cast flue collar assembly. I see what you mean about the heat shield. I would have to drill through it also. I'll take a few pics.

 

Heat shield romoved. Bolt marks the center of the cat.
Heat shield installed.

 

Todd what holds the end of your probe in place?

 

Correction Washer is the center of the cat. Green edge is the front of the cat.

 

Nothing holds it in, it just rests on the edge of the flue collar. I used to have a bit of furnace cement to help hold it but found it was not really needed.

I also cut off a half inch from the probe because it bottomed out and I wanted the probe end exactly half way between the cat frame and shield.

I wouldn't recommend drilling through the heat shield. It may give a high reading being too close to the cat and also the trapped heat under the shield.

 

I also found my probe was reading 75 degrees cool. I calibrated it at 500 with my Primo smoker/grill thermocouple. I wish I could find out if it's accurate at higher temps but my thermocouple only goes up to 550.

 

I was referring the other end of the probe, at the cat.
I was thinking, between the cat and the shield would give the most accurate cat temp reading, before the gasses can cool any.?

 

Oh, the end of the probe just hangs there half way between the cat frame and heat shield. So it sits right next to the exhaust stream.

 

Thanks Todd. As best I can measure, from the top of the stone to the surface of the cat is 2 7/16 where I plan to drill. So I need a 2" probe, can't find one
I guess I'll order a 2 1/2" and cut it off.
Anyone know if the newest combustor with the stainless frame uses the heat shield?