2022/23 VC Owner thread

[Willcgt77]

I did not really understand the mechanism until I rebuilt my stove. Once I saw it I thought it was pretty clever how they combined the cable with a looped lever and hinge to get the action and no sliding along the cable that could wear through.

I have noticed mine on occasion will hang up the very last little bit, if I pull the cable I can see and hear it pop full closed. But it is not much....

A couple years ago I thought maybe my bimetal was failed, I found the pocket clip from a mechanical pencil fits perfectly over the screw that clamps the cable. I attached it as a pointer so I could just ho much movement there was rom hot to cold. It is quite a bit, more than I expected, as you said.

Sticking wide open is not good..... never had that happen.

 

[Willcgt77]

It’s clever for sure, just seems way over engineered with to many things that can go wrong. But Im a little Biased because all the problems I’ve had with It.

 

[arnermd]

It’s clever for sure, just seems way over engineered with to many things that can go wrong. But Im a little Biased because all the problems I’ve had with It.

understandable... Now that I think about it.... I spent some time de-burring and cleaning up the hinge points and frame on my first rebuild to make sure I did not have a problem. It has been pretty good since. But sometimes it does hang open just a tiny crack....

 

[Willcgt77]

understandable... Now that I think about it.... I spent some time de-burring and cleaning up the hinge points and frame on my first rebuild to make sure I did not have a problem. It has been pretty good since. But sometimes it does hang open just a tiny crack....Its

 

[Willcgt77]

It’s finicky, but what isn’t on this stove. I really feel bad for the folks that are not savvy with problem solving. My dealer continues to tell me that this is one of the easiest stoves on the market to operate…Set it and forget it type stove. I disagree.

 

[GrumpyDad]

It’s finicky, but what isn’t on this stove. I really feel bad for the folks that are not savvy with problem solving. My dealer continues to tell me that this is one of the easiest stoves on the market to operate…Set it and forget it type stove. I disagree.

Oh I love people that say something is super easy and try to blame the user. Engineer by trade through various spans, if it ain't easy for me it ain't easy.

 

[GrumpyDad]

It’s clever for sure, just seems way over engineered with to many things that can go wrong. But Im a little Biased because all the problems I’ve had with It.

Curious what stoves you all have. And if a newer or older design.
Once I had the flap stick open on me so easier and soon into the ownership, my mind immediately goes to poor qc, poor workmanship or the most dreaded...poor design! I can't say I've had a wide open stick before but I am curious if my micro adjustments are working. I can pretty much see a difference in the behavior of the flames and the stove when I adjust air control now though.
I do not get a fully closed flapper when the stove is cold. I'll have to grab a picture and see if I can get something to measure inside.

This may not be "the" problem people are having but it may be a problem that people aren't considering as they go about their effort to troubleshoot or get the most out of their stove.

If I woke up to black glass every day and most of the run cycle I'd get rid of the stove.
Or if I had overheats with the air on low. I wouldn't be comfortable owning that any longer and I was darn close to that point.

 

[arnermd]

Last nights burn, A little better?

• 80% load of all oak (15% MC), Key damper full closed all the time
• Cat took off really fast
• Throttled air down in step to 20% and left it
• Cat temps a little lower than previous, still pretty high, >1500 for 2 hours
• A lot of coals left in the morning, opened air up and got a lot more heat out of the load.
  • Makes me think I am runing primary air too low....

Next:

• Inspect refractory, verify all air holes are clear
• Full load of ash this weekend sometime
• Run 40% primary air with key damper closed?

When is winter going to show up?

 

[GrumpyDad]

Last nights burn, A little better?

• 80% load of all oak (15% MC), Key damper full closed all the time
• Cat took off really fast
• Throttled air down in step to 20% and left it
• Cat temps a little lower than previous, still pretty high, >1500 for 2 hours
• A lot of coals left in the morning, opened air up and got a lot more heat out of the load.
  • Makes me think I am runing primary air too low....

Next:

• Inspect refractory, verify all air holes are clear
• Full load of ash this weekend sometime
• Run 40% primary air with key damper closed?

When is winter going to show up?


View attachment 308629

we are renaming winter to fall 2.0

 

[NewGuy132]

6 or 7 weeks worth not horrible, but more than I’d like to see. Took me about an hour this time but I had to stop in the middle and send a few emails for work. After all I’m supposed to be working from home

 

[arnermd]

Refractory pics from today.
- This refractory was installed in Jan 2021. I have put about 8 cord through it. Condition is pretty good.
- Cat was installed new in Nov 2022, it has seen about 2 cord. Conditions is..... abused....

 

[Willcgt77]

Oh I love people that say something is super easy and try to blame the user. Engineer by trade through various spans, if it ain't easy for me it ain't easy.

Oh I love people that say something is super easy and try to blame the user. Engineer by trade through various spans, if it ain't easy for me it ain't easy.A

Agreed! It ain’t easy!

 

[Willcgt77]

Curious what stoves you all have. And if a newer or older design.
Once I had the flap stick open on me so easier and soon into the ownership, my mind immediately goes to poor qc, poor workmanship or the most dreaded...poor design! I can't say I've had a wide open stick before but I am curious if my micro adjustments are working. I can pretty much see a difference in the behavior of the flames and the stove when I adjust air control now though.
I do not get a fully closed flapper when the stove is cold. I'll have to grab a picture and see if I can get something to measure inside.

This may not be "the" problem people are having but it may be a problem that people aren't considering as they go about their effort to troubleshoot or get the most out of their stove.

If I woke up to black glass every day and most of the run cycle I'd get rid of the stove.
Or if I had overheats with the air on low. I wouldn't be comfortable owning that any longer and I was darn close to that point.

My Stove is a 5 month old Encore 2040 Cat C. The Flap has been a problem from day one. Add in a bad griddle gasket, damper Gasket and questionable chimney height it makes it hard to dial in the stove correctly. Honestly its Hard to say if the Stove itself is a Turd since Im still working on ironing out the problems. Would be nice to find a base line and pick up from there,

 

[arnermd]

My Stove is a 5 month old Encore 2040 Cat C. The Flap has been a problem from day one. Add in a bad griddle gasket, damper Gasket and questionable chimney height it makes it hard to dial in the stove correctly. Honestly its Hard to say if the Stove itself is a Turd since Im still working on ironing out the problems. Would be nice to find a base line and pick up from there,

10 years (40 cord) in on a Defiant model 1975....still searching for a baseline....

 

[arnermd]

Thought this might take me ten minutes to sketch up, 3 hours later..... There are no ten minute jobs.

I think this is functionally correct for Encore / Defiant 2n1 models, NOT the older ones with secondary air control. If you see any errors let me know.

 

[Willcgt77]

Thought this might take me ten minutes to sketch up, 3 hours later..... There are no ten minute jobs.

I think this is functionally correct for Encore / Defiant 2n1 models, NOT the older ones with secondary air control. If you see any errors let me know.

View attachment 308731

Great mock up. I here talk about EPA air holes near front legs of Encore 2040. These holes apparently allow air into the firebox as Well. Makes me wonder about the guys not emptying the ash pan, are they blocking that extra air thus getting a more controllable burn. I’ve been unable to locate the holes.

 

[Mreif]

Great mock up. I here talk about EPA air holes near front legs of Encore 2040. These holes apparently allow air into the firebox as Well. Makes me wonder about the guys not emptying the ash pan, are they blocking that extra air thus getting a more controllable burn. I’ve been unable to locate the holes.

If you have encore 2040 cat c, that are on either side of your primary air inlet. Two 1/4 inch holes I have both of mine blocked with 2 small round magnets . Make a huge difference no more whistle sound(blow torch) when in cat mode. If your stove is hard to get behind use a mirror you will see them

 

[Willcgt77]

If you have encore 2040 cat c, that are on either side of your primary air inlet. Two 1/4 inch holes I have both of mine blocked with 2 small round magnets . Make a huge difference no more whistle sound(blow torch) when in cat mode. If your stove is hard to get behind use a mirror you will see them

 

[Willcgt77]

If you have encore 2040 cat c, that are on either side of your primary air inlet. Two 1/4 inch holes I have both of mine blocked with 2 small round magnets . Make a huge difference no more whistle sound(blow torch) when in cat mode. If your stove is hard to get behind use a mirror you will see them

I don't see them

 

[Prometeo]

hi, sorry for the intrusion, I have a jotul f500 eco, in a small apartment 750 sq ft but need another stove for another 1500 sq ft apartment.
I'm studying stoves if someone can better explain the differences to me, I see that VC has no baffle and no secondary burn but it gains efficiency by drawing smoke from below. It's a different concept than most stoves (seems to me). Thanks if anyone wants to add comments or thanks anyway.

 

[Eman85]

hi, sorry for the intrusion, I have a jotul f500 eco, in a small apartment 750 sq ft but need another stove for another 1500 sq ft apartment.
I'm studying stoves if someone can better explain the differences to me, I see that VC has no baffle and no secondary burn but it gains efficiency by drawing smoke from below. It's a different concept than most stoves (seems to me). Thanks if anyone wants to add comments or thanks anyway.

The one comment I have is there is very little customer product support with VC. If you call them or send them an email they will direct you to the dealer network and that's it. As far as the stove goes I've had mine for 35 years so it's the only cat/EPA stove I know and it's different than the newer models in some ways.

 

[Mreif]

I don't see them

View attachment 308757

 

[Mreif]

I don't see them

View attachment 308757

Bottom side of primary air inlet

 

[Prometeo]

The one comment I have is there is very little customer product support with VC. If you call them or send them an email they will direct you to the dealer network and that's it. As far as the stove goes I've had mine for 35 years so it's the only cat/EPA stove I know and it's different than the newer models in some ways.

thank you very much, wow 35 years the same stove, the choice was right!

 

[JohnDaileyNH]

Great mock up. I here talk about EPA air holes near front legs of Encore 2040. These holes apparently allow air into the firebox as Well. Makes me wonder about the guys not emptying the ash pan, are they blocking that extra air thus getting a more controllable burn. I’ve been unable to locate the hoholes.

I have a full ash pan and a bunch of ash in the stove. Wouldn't doubt if I have blocked some air flow. Every week or 10 days a take a couple scoops of ash out of the firebox that's it. Been running pretty smooth. Actually excited for next weekend have some of my good wood set aside for the cold snap