F500 V3 Oslo Issues

[hearthhelp123]

Free advice, so take it for what it is worth. I had a V2 and loved it. Sold the house and replaced with a V3. At some point during the burning season, it starts behaving like what you’re describing with your dad’s. I have figured out it is the catalyst blocked by fly ash.

I have only found one way to effectively clean. I run a hose from my compressor in the shop and gently blow out the ash. I open the front door to the stove and can see the front of the catalyst. I blow the ash from the front to the chimney.

If this works for you, then the bolts can wait.

Free advice…

I would be leary to use a compressor due to the strength of the air shooting thru the combustor, risky. also the ash buildup once it gets hardened sticks to the honeycomb material and the compressor air wouldnt be effective for that. I need to take out the combustor and thourougly clean it tapping it so the dirt falls out and also using a toothpick size piece of wood or something thin and actually clean each hole out this combustor is a problem

 

[hearthhelp123]

been having same problems as you. its the combustor if all other things are in place. Your combustor must be very clogged and the only way to thoroughly clean it is to take top plate off. those nuts are a groan especially once they have been heated up. after I loosened all the hardware to take off the top plate I do not rescrew it back on. the new V3F500 Oslos do not come with the combustor warranty. we bought ours in 2020 so we had a limited warranty which only covers 2 combustors after year 7, one has to pay full price.
the combustor from last year is warping. we only use firestarters and kindling. do not use newspapers to start the fire the ash will clog the combustor very quickly.

 

[begreen]

I would be leary to use a compressor due to the strength of the air shooting thru the combustor, risky. also the ash buildup once it gets hardened sticks to the honeycomb material and the compressor air wouldnt be effective for that. I need to take out the combustor and thourougly clean it tapping it so the dirt falls out and also using a toothpick size piece of wood or something thin and actually clean each hole out this combustor is a problem

The operative word is gently. Set the compressor pressure to <30 psi.

 

[nunyabinis]

I suggest blocking the ash pan holes. With the holes open, this stove runs at what I consider Wide Open all the time. (probably to pass the EPA efficiency Regulations) When I got mine the fire burned so vigorously that the Cat ran white-hot....even with the draft control set at minimum. Once I blocked those holes the stove became completely controllable. I usually set the draft control so that the Cat stays around 1000 degrees. This is our fourth winter with this stove and the Cat shows no signs of warpage. I use a pancake compressor to blow the fly ash through the Cat whenever it needs it. Works like a charm.

I screwed up last month thinking that I could get one more fire out of the stove before blowing the fly ash through the cat. I chose poorly. The cat was completely clogged and smoke started wafting from every crevice in the stove. I quickly opened the front doors and used my compressor to blow a small opening in the middle of the Cat just big enough to get the stove drafting again as smoke poured out the front with the doors open. I had to open a couple doors and turn the ceiling fan on to evacuate the smoke from the house. I won't make that mistake again.

Read this thread:

Jotul 500 v3 First Use