2021-2022 BK everything thread

[Raoul]

How can I test whether the thermostat on my AF 25 insert is working?

I can clearly see the metal flapper up front move open and close when I operate the lever. However, I have never seen that flapper be anywhere other than where I have set it.

I have probably read it somewhere on this forum in the past but I can’t seem to find it.

 

[BKVP]

So long as there are no obstructions it's 99.9% working. You can put it in the high position, start a fire of small size splits and as the fire becomes aggressive, the blade will close slowly....

 

[kennyp2339]

How can I test whether the thermostat on my AF 25 insert is working?

I've experimented with my T-stat and what I've done was like what @BKVP said, set the setting to the max, make a fire let it get ripping, let the cat probe hit the active area and close the by-pass, let the fire get situated with the cat engaged then turn the T stat setting to half way, you should see the flames die down fairly quick (within a minute from doing that) let that go for a few min and then reset the air setting back to max, the fire should re-establish itself with 10min.

 

[Raoul]

I've experimented with my T-stat and what I've done was like what @BKVP said, set the setting to the max, make a fire let it get ripping, let the cat probe hit the active area and close the by-pass, let the fire get situated with the cat engaged then turn the T stat setting to half way, you should see the flames die down fairly quick (within a minute from doing that) let that go for a few min and then reset the air setting back to max, the fire should re-establish itself with 10min.

Thank you both for the responses.

I absolutely have full control of the fire with the T stat lever. I guess maybe I am confused as to it’s capabilities. I thought it also changed the air flow based on temps. What I am saying is I see no independent movement of the airflow flap.

 

[Highbeam]

Thank you both for the responses.

I absolutely have full control of the fire with the T stat lever. I guess maybe I am confused as to it’s capabilities. I thought it also changed the air flow based on temps. What I am saying is I see no independent movement of the airflow flap.

It is supposed to change the airflow based on stove temperatures. I can watch my fire be automatically increased and decreased as the stat opens and closes.

Can you hear the throttle plate click open or click closed as you turn the dial? The dial settings corresponding to the click full open and click full closed will change depending on stove temperature.

 

[Raoul]

It is supposed to change the airflow based on stove temperatures. I can watch my fire be automatically increased and decreased as the stat opens and closes.

Can you hear the throttle plate click open or click closed as you turn the dial? The dial settings corresponding to the click full open and click full closed will change depending on stove temperature.

Yep. I can hear it and see it.

It sounds like I just don’t understand how it works.

I start the fire with bypass open and throttle wide open. Once bypass is closed (reach proper temp on gauge and fire going well), I leave the airflow set to max as it adjusts to the bypass being closed. Then I set the air to where I’d like it. Typically 3 o clock. It is fully closed at 2:30 ish.

What I thought was supposed to happen is I set to desired airflow and the flap would open/ close to maintain approximate temp.

I was thinking I would get advice like “Point a heat gun here…” or a “hairdryer” there and you should see flap move.

Edit: ok. I reread your post. When it hits it “close” may be different based on stove temp. That will be something I’ll have to monitor when burning season begins.

Appreciate the feedback.

 

[BKVP]

Yep. I can hear it and see it.

It sounds like I just don’t understand how it works.

I start the fire with bypass open and throttle wide open. Once bypass is closed (reach proper temp on gauge and fire going well), I leave the airflow set to max as it adjusts to the bypass being closed. Then I set the air to where I’d like it. Typically 3 o clock. It is fully closed at 2:30 ish.

What I thought was supposed to happen is I set to desired airflow and the flap would open/ close to maintain approximate temp.

I was thinking I would get advice like “Point a heat gun here…” or a “hairdryer” there and you should see flap move.

Edit: ok. I reread your post. When it hits it “close” may be different based on stove temp. That will be something I’ll have to monitor when burning season begins.

Appreciate the feedback.

You can not reach the thermostat spring in the AF25/SC25 to test with heat gun...unless you remove it from the stove itself.

 

[Highbeam]

Yep. I can hear it and see it.

It sounds like I just don’t understand how it works.

I start the fire with bypass open and throttle wide open. Once bypass is closed (reach proper temp on gauge and fire going well), I leave the airflow set to max as it adjusts to the bypass being closed. Then I set the air to where I’d like it. Typically 3 o clock. It is fully closed at 2:30 ish.

What I thought was supposed to happen is I set to desired airflow and the flap would open/ close to maintain approximate temp.

I was thinking I would get advice like “Point a heat gun here…” or a “hairdryer” there and you should see flap move.

Edit: ok. I reread your post. When it hits it “close” may be different based on stove temp. That will be something I’ll have to monitor when burning season begins.

Appreciate the feedback.

Your dial setting is a desired stove temperature setting, not a desired airflow setting. The thermostat will do its best to match your desired stove temperature setting by automatically regulating airflow.

Think cruise control on a car driving down a slightly rolling road.

Once at equilibrium (up to temp) the actual throttle opening changes very little to maintain the stove temp until the fuel runs low.

The big benefit is at warm up and cool down where the thermostat makes life much easier.

 

[Dieselhead]

A little stove maintenance yesterday. I had bought this cat at the beginning of last season as I knew mine was on its way out, but I limped the old one along one last season. Popped the new one in the old showed some signs of minor crumbling and some definite ash build up. Looking forward to the new cat glow when this takes off for the first time this season.

 

[Highbeam]

A little stove maintenance yesterday. I had bought this cat at the beginning of last season as I knew mine was on its way out, but I limped the old one along one last season. Popped the new one in the old showed some signs of minor crumbling and some definite ash build up. Looking forward to the new cat glow when this takes off for the first time this season.

View attachment 281425 View attachment 281426 View attachment 281427 View attachment 281428 View attachment 281429 View attachment 281430 View attachment 281431

I get that brown color and surface fuzz when they’re worn out too. Normally a grey up to the dying stages.

 

[Dieselhead]

It had a good run 4 seasons through it, burning pretty much 24/7 Nov-March. Still held active on low burn right up to the end and still threw a nice shade of orange when getting settled down for the low and slow 18hr reloads.

 

[Highbeam]

It had a good run 4 seasons through it, burning pretty much 24/7 Nov-March. Still held active on low burn right up to the end and still threw a nice shade of orange when getting settled down for the low and slow 18hr reloads.

It’s better to not push your luck to get every last bit of possible half activity out of these things. Get your efficiency, long burns, and clean burning back.

 

[Dieselhead]

The way I look at it, a fresh cat every few years beats paying the electric or propane companies!

 

[stoveliker]

It had a good run 4 seasons through it, burning pretty much 24/7 Nov-March. Still held active on low burn right up to the end and still threw a nice shade of orange when getting settled down for the low and slow 18hr reloads.

That's a nice 14000 hrs!

 

[kennyp2339]

About 10 more weeks and I'll be burning again, seems like summer flew by again here.

 

[MTASH]

About 10 more weeks and I'll be burning again, seems like summer flew by again here.

I know what you mean. It's quite possible the ground will turn white and I will be burning in the next 4-6 weeks.

 

[Poindexter]

Your dial setting is a desired stove temperature setting, not a desired airflow setting. The thermostat will do its best to match your desired stove temperature setting by automatically regulating airflow.

Think cruise control on a car driving down a slightly rolling road.

Once at equilibrium (up to temp) the actual throttle opening changes very little to maintain the stove temp until the fuel runs low.

The big benefit is at warm up and cool down where the thermostat makes life much easier.

What highbeam said. I think of the thermostat knob, the throttle, as the temperature I want the house to stay at. Once you have a few cords through it you can look at the weather forecast for overnight low, what clothes your wife is wearing right now, and select the throttle setting that will meet your overnight needs with no further fooling around with the stove.

 

[MTASH]

What highbeam said. I think of the thermostat knob, the throttle, as the temperature I want the house to stay at. Once you have a few cords through it you can look at the weather forecast for overnight low, what clothes your wife is wearing right now, and select the throttle setting that will meet your overnight needs with no further fooling around with the stove.

And choosing a correct thermostat setting may lead to further fooling around with the wife, amiright?

 

[Sailrmike]

And choosing a correct thermostat setting may lead to further fooling around with the wife, amiright?

I thought that's what you guys were referring to when stating "riding the hole" of your thermostat operation

 

[moresnow]

Oh my

 

[shgRUSS]

My Princess is no longer a virgin, it was like a classic movie: The Good , Bad and Ugly. Had a cool, rainy, breezy day last week and decided it was time for a test run. Followed the Instructions in the manual and all worked perfectly starting With no smoke spillage in the house GOOD. Anticipating the paint cure I had a couple windows open in the rooms around the Stove and boy was the cure process under stated in the manual. I had every window open and fan going to clear out the curing paint haze along with the smoke detectors all testing good(BAD). The stove worked perfectly and was as advertised in operation so very happy with that. The ugly was later that day I took my 5 yr old boy to the dentist, he was nervous but did good the whole time. Got back home and was helping him out of the truck, and He puked all over me. What a day!

 

[Nealm66]

Will be fun to hear your clock learning

 

[shgRUSS]

Tinkered a little: full clockwise rotation “high” is 6oclock. Room temp before stove started I could hear plate close at 130. After my 20 min burn in, turned the stove down twice, once to 430 then 300, temp probe stayed half way in active at 300

 

[ohlongarm]

Drawing closer I'm ready with the beast for anything.

 

[stoveliker]

me too... I do a daily walk by my wood stacks now. Loaded a bunch in my garage. But I think I'll have to wait till November :-(

The cold black block in the basement is mocking me...

First year I'm looking forward to (NY, ok, LI - but still often quite some snow for this previous East TN dweller) winter