I posted a while ago about my problems replacing the door gasket in my Tribute-- ie, the new gasket material was so thick that it took considerable force to get the stove door closed and latched. That got better over the next few days of opening and closing the door, but then the door popped back open a couple of times after I thought I had it latched. Long story short, Friday morning the door would not latch at all. Luckily, I discovered this before I got the morning's first fire going.
I'm now pretty sure but not positive that the tip of the latch broke off under the pressure of holding the door closed against the new gasket. At least I'm hoping that's what the problem is. I never looked closely at the latch before I started having problems with it, so can't tell if it's shorter than it was before or how finished the tip of it is supposed to be. If it broke, it's a very clean break.
The other possibility is that the catch on the doorframe has worn down over time, which will be very expensive to replace since the company won't send out a frame without a new door, since they say old doors never fit properly to a new frame. And the warranty doesn't apply because I bought this stove second-hand from my neighbors. Grrrrr.
It's pretty unnerving that the gasket thickness specified for this stove resulted in the latch breaking, if that's what happened. I have no idea how to avoid or even lessen that risk the next time I need to replace it. At least one lesson learned, I guess, is not to fiddle with gaskets or anything else if you don't absolutely have to in heating season but do it in the summertime.
The stove shop sent me a new handle/latch on Friday and it should get here today or tomorrow. Problem now is I can't figure out how to get the old handle off the door. There are no visible screws, it doesn't seem to want to screw off, nor have I been able to pry it off. I hope the new handle will include instructions for replacing it, or that the guy at the stove shop can talk me through it.
I had to call for an emergency oil delivery and turn my boiler back on, which is far less financially painful than it would have been last year. But still, I miss my stove fire and I'm really eager to be back in business.
While I wait for the part, is there a standard way these door handles are usually attached? Has anybody done this, particularly on a Hearthstone stove?
I'm now pretty sure but not positive that the tip of the latch broke off under the pressure of holding the door closed against the new gasket. At least I'm hoping that's what the problem is. I never looked closely at the latch before I started having problems with it, so can't tell if it's shorter than it was before or how finished the tip of it is supposed to be. If it broke, it's a very clean break.
The other possibility is that the catch on the doorframe has worn down over time, which will be very expensive to replace since the company won't send out a frame without a new door, since they say old doors never fit properly to a new frame. And the warranty doesn't apply because I bought this stove second-hand from my neighbors. Grrrrr.
It's pretty unnerving that the gasket thickness specified for this stove resulted in the latch breaking, if that's what happened. I have no idea how to avoid or even lessen that risk the next time I need to replace it. At least one lesson learned, I guess, is not to fiddle with gaskets or anything else if you don't absolutely have to in heating season but do it in the summertime.
The stove shop sent me a new handle/latch on Friday and it should get here today or tomorrow. Problem now is I can't figure out how to get the old handle off the door. There are no visible screws, it doesn't seem to want to screw off, nor have I been able to pry it off. I hope the new handle will include instructions for replacing it, or that the guy at the stove shop can talk me through it.
I had to call for an emergency oil delivery and turn my boiler back on, which is far less financially painful than it would have been last year. But still, I miss my stove fire and I'm really eager to be back in business.
While I wait for the part, is there a standard way these door handles are usually attached? Has anybody done this, particularly on a Hearthstone stove?