Cracked Baffle on Mount Vernon AE

[Macrovertigo]

Yes this crack is probably continuous (even if just a hairline) right to the vent opening at the top, and only held together by the "hood shape" and the rest of it above the vent opening. I called my seller/installer and left a message about this with the receptionist (HB Plumbing in Springfield VT). They called back a while later to let me know that they didn't skip a beat but went ahead and ordered me a replacement baffle as soon as they read the description - they will bring it by to swap it out in about a week, they are a great company. I will wait to clean behind it 'til then, don't want to chance having it break in two before then - just my luck that it would not want to cooperate and fit togther again, lol.

 

[Macrovertigo]

about splitting and falling into the glass, it looks solid enough to remain in place if I leave it alone until replacement is ready. As a matter of fact, I tried releasing the baffle by using a flat-head screw driver in the groove in either of the 2 side supports, but that space is not ideal for any screwdriver to fit into and I couldn't get purchase enough to make anything budge anyway (a good thing now that I think about it), and I will wait and see how the technician does it.

 

[jtp10181]

You have never removed your baffle? No wonder its cracked.... prob so much junk back there its over heating. You just take a flat screwdriver and put it in the clip on the top corner and pull it down. It will rotate off and become loose. Baffle is easy to remove from there.

 

[Macrovertigo]

Update on one cracked baffle - I was reluctant to remove the cracked baffle to get behind it even though, as has been pointed out, it needed cleaning behind. The two holders were pretty stiff and since I had never done it before I thought that I might push the wrong way and finish the crack or otherwise send a piece of metal or the tool into the glass. But, since the new baffle will be here any day, I figured "what the hell" and went to it. In order to contain chaos, I used a short slim chisel instead of a screwdriver (so that I could control the tool better). Sure enough, the metal baffle came apart easily after the "seal" was broken, those two holders didn't want to move at first, the baffle did not finish cracking and no glass was broken. Behind, it was very full of ash, new shop vac with hepa filter did a good job cleaning, and the unit burns like when it was brand new. Now to try the leaf blower from the outside - I did the leaf blower trick in January, but since the pellet stove was not installed and running until mid-December there was little accumulation no doubt, and at the time I thought that I didn't get it right since I saw no gunk flying out. This time, I expect to see a raft of ash fly out since there must be as much deep inside as there was in the parts that I could reach. Thanks to the members and to hearth.com for helping me brain it out!

 

[mntgirl]

I checked after reading this and, sure enough I have a crack too. Called the dealer (I bought it last March)and they are sending another, no problem....

 

[Macrovertigo]

I was too busy not dropping a tool or the baffle into the glass, but I was not able to see the crack on the back of the baffle - light was dark, diffuse, and everything was black or grey, and I just wanted to ream everything and put it back together.
By the way, I tried the leaf blower clean-out method again (last time I had not run the stove long enough to have build-up, so it was not clear if it worked or not). This time, a fine great black cloud presented. I will have the sony on record next time to post a video clip of the blast, LOL.