Vermon Casting Defiant Encore 2550 primary air mechanism fix

[storyhill]

I have purchase a cabin and this stove came with it. The primary air mechanism was not functioning. I removed the 2 screws holding in the primary air frame on the rear bottom of the stove. The first picture is what came out. As you can see the wire was not connected to the thermostat assembly as it should. I also took off the thermostat handle on the outside and the thermostat assembly on the inside. That is the second picture. The third picture is just a close up of the thermostat assembly. I am having trouble figuring out how this should go back in properly and what went wrong. I was expecting to see a broken wire and I would just get a new wire. I don't see that it broke. The end of the wire that connects to the primary air frame door has a stiff metal part that is similar to what is on the thermostat assembly but I'm not sure. The end of the wire that is connected to the thermostat assembly is just a flexible wire cord that shows no signs of being broken.

-- Do these two parts connect somehow? Any direction or tips for me?

-- I also realized that my thermostat assembly does not have a spring that I think should be there. I am wondering if the spring fell down in the stove at one point by a previous owner? There is a space on the side that I can't access but if I took up the "Primary air tube cover plate" I think I could see if it is under that. I took out both of the bolts on the part but it is not coming out easy. Is that cemented in ? When I removed the phillips head bolts one of them broke in half so I think I need to remove this to replace that bolt. Anyone have any tips on how I can remove this?

-- I do have the manual for this stove and that does help but I still don't get the whole story. I wonder if I have all the correct parts for this thermostat assembly. Currently I just have these parts. Thermostat handle (not pictured), thermostat assembly (pictured), and the primary air frame/door (pictured). I think I am missing a spring and maybe a washer? anybody know and if so, what order does it go in? I am guessing you put a spring on the end of the thermostat assembly that contacts the inside of the stove and the hand connects to the assembly on the outside of the stove. Is there a washer somewhere in there?

Thanks for any help. This forum has already helped me this far from older posts. I appreciate it.

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[30WCF]

That looks to be the spring coil. I couldn’t tell what it was based off the picture you had.

 

[storyhill]

Thanks for your response. Yes that is what the part is. In my manual they call it "thermostat assembly". The question I have is how does that connect to the other part that i have pictured (manual calls it "primary air regulatory system") that is on the rear bottom of the stove?

 

[storyhill]

I did find a pic online at a parts store website with this picture. The wire is actually configured differently than mine was when I took it out. This one has the wire going from the door up through the larger hole and down through the smaller hole. Mine looks like it's the opposite. Anyone sure which way is right. The manual does mention how to do it but it is a little confusing.

Also, is the end of this supposed to be crimped into a loop and then attached to the Thermostat coil (thermostat assembly)that is attached to the thermostat handle?

 

[30WCF]

Not much help, but I found this one too.

 

[30WCF]

VC Encore w/cat Primary Air Cable Broke - how to fix?

Yesterday the stove just stopped working. Just didn't want to burn. Crack the front door open and it starts fine. Shut the door and it just smolders, not hot enough to engage the cat. I did some investigating tonight and found the primary air door close, moving the handle does nothing to...

www.hearth.com

 

[30WCF]

Maybe there is a little spring between the assembly and plate.

 

[storyhill]

Maybe there is a little spring between the assembly and plate.

Hey that is a pretty good video. Yeah a spring is there. I also see a washer at the start of the video but it doesn't show where that goes back

Not much help, but I found this one too.

View attachment 328315

Actually I did see this picture from my own research but did not notice that you can see a washer that is there. So I think I got that end figured out how it should be on that end. Still not sure why my set up had 2 separate cables in there. Thanks.
.

 

[30WCF]

Maybe someone with experience with one will chime in. Thats about all I could find other than the manuals you already have.

 

[storyhill]

Maybe someone with experience with one will chime in. Thats about all I could find other than the manuals you already have.

Thanks for sharing what you know. Yes, hopefully this will catch the eye of someone. I will hopefully periodically update also.

 

[storyhill]

When looking at the middle picture. There is the "primary air tube cover plate". You can see the phillips head bolt that is holding that area down. I actually broke that one getting it out. It didn't strip but my hammer drill just broke it about half way down. It looks like there is two bolts holding this. I got both off and thought I could get this part off. It is semi loose but is still firmly in. Is there cement that is holding this down still? I have both side plates off and the fire back lower/upper. The refractory is out also. I've tried hitting it with a hammer a few times if it was just cement holding it but that didn't help. Any help to get that piece out? THanks.

 

[30WCF]

Not sure if this is relevant.

 

[storyhill]

Not sure if this is relevant.

I did see this video earlier and it did let me know realize that my "combustion throat hood" was quite warped so I will need do get a replacement. But in the video he does not remove the bottom part of the stove. I am going to try and post this on the "vermont Casting" manufacturer specific page. I just found that. Hopefully there are some more people familiar with this stove over there.

 

[30WCF]

It’s also a slow time of year. There is more traffic in the winter. I’m sure there are plenty of folks here that have the answer. Just none are on here in July.

 

[30WCF]

Did you email VC? It’s hit or miss, but I have gotten replies from them in the past. They are usually, I don’t want to say rude, but direct and short with their replies, rather than customer service oriented, but you should be able to get a reply.