Vermont Castings Defiant 1945 when shut down still heats up to 700 degrees on griddle

[Haltoni]

I have had the door glass gaskets replaced I replaced the door gasket, the grill lid gasket and the ash can gasket. . catalytic combuster is good. I only put in 3-4 split logs, they are not super dry. I close the damper at 300⁰ and thermostats handle at 400⁰-500⁰. The griddle thermometer still heats up to 700⁰. Any ideas would be grateful. Have had this stove for 20 years never had that problem.

 

[Haltoni]

Mistake in subject meant to put a griddle thermometer

 

[begreen]

Fixed that and moved to the main VC forum.

Is the thermostat closing properly once the stove has reached temperature? It might be sticking right at the point of closure.

 

[Haltoni]

Fixed that and moved to the main VC forum.

Is the thermostat closing properly once the stove has reached temperature? It might be sticking right at the point of closure.

I close it manually always have

 

[begreen]

I close it manually always have

But does the intake flapper actually fully close when you do this? It's worth checking.

 

[Haltoni]

But does the intake flapper actually fully close when you do this? It's worth checking.

Damper fully closes I cannot check the primary air valve assembly without a disassembly and all nuts and screws have been fired for 20 years and will likely break. Thanks for your help I appreciate it

 

[Haltoni]

But does the intake flapper actually fully close when you do this? It's worth checking.

Will check tomorrow fire is going just located primary intake it is covered with a metal heat sheild.. did not know it was there.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

Will check tomorrow fire is going just located primary intake it is covered with a metal heat sheild.. did not know it was there.

You should hear the metal flapper click cloesd when you turn your primary air all the way back. If you do not you should be able to adjust the cable

 

[Haltoni]

I have had the door glass gaskets replaced I replaced the door gasket, the grill lid gasket and the ash can gasket. . catalytic combuster is good. I only put in 3-4 split logs, they are not super dry. I close the damper at 300⁰ and thermostats handle at 400⁰-500⁰. The griddle thermometer still heats up to 700⁰. Any ideas would be grateful. Have had this stove for 20 years never had that problem.

Update 2 months later two Stove "pros" one from VC dealer said he never saw a stove like this and asked for a manual. Had no clue. Replaced damper gasket fromVC gasket kit instuctions that I gave him, dropped the griddle trying to close it and. Broke the knob. Said everything with the stove is good. I contacted the owner and said there is no difference stove still goes up to 700°. Owners answer put in less wood!!$360.00. 2nd person very nice found a gap in the stove door gaskets that were replaced by the dealer in2023. We thought that was the problem. $200.00 Still heats up to 700° called and talked to VC, extremely hard to contact them. Rep talked to tech said damper gasket or moisture content of wood. I replied gasket replaced and that I am a "seasoned" woodstove owner 50 years + have been harvesting wood in the forest have burned in this stove for 24 years and always burned between 500° -600° Vermont Castings had no idea what the problem is.
all totaled glass gaskets replaced screw from glass bracket drilled out and tapped, dealer visit and stove guy total over $900 and it still burns hot. I will contact 2 other dealers. WHAT A VERMONT CASTINGS NIGHTMARE to be continued

I have had the door glass gaskets replaced I replaced the door gasket, the grill lid gasket and the ash can gasket. . catalytic combuster is good. I only put in 3-4 split logs, they are not super dry. I close the damper at 300⁰ and thermostats handle at 400⁰-500⁰. The griddle thermometer still heats up to 700⁰. Any ideas would be grateful. Have had this stove for 20 years never had that problem.

 

[Haltoni]

Update 2 months later two Stove "pros" one from VC dealer said he never saw a stove like this and asked for a manual. Had no clue. Replaced damper gasket fromVC gasket kit instuctions that I gave him, dropped the griddle trying to close it and. Broke the knob. Said everything with the stove is good. I contacted the owner and said there is no difference stove still goes up to 700°. Owners answer put in less wood!!$360.00. 2nd person very nice found a gap in the stove door gaskets that were replaced by the dealer in2023. We thought that was the problem. $200.00 Still heats up to 700° called and talked to VC, extremely hard to contact them. Rep talked to tech said damper gasket or moisture content of wood. I replied gasket replaced and that I am a "seasoned" woodstove owner 50 years + have been harvesting wood in the forest have burned in this stove for 24 years and always burned between 500° -600° Vermont Castings had no idea what the problem is.
all totaled glass gaskets replaced screw from glass bracket drilled out and tapped, dealer visit and stove guy total over $900 and it still burns hot. I will contact 2 other dealers. WHAT A VERMONT CASTINGS NIGHTMARE to be continued

By the way chimney is fine and I did the smoke test. Both people said the primary and secondary valves are working as they should and the ash door and gasket are good.

 

[bigealta]

Have you double checked the thermometer? Maybe it's lost accuracy.

 

[Woodsplitter67]

The first this I would do is .. With a cold stove.. build a small fire.. wait only a couple minutes and turn the air all the way back.. the flames should die off.. If so you have no leak, Then let the stove warm up some then turn the air back again, if the flames dont die back your probably drafting to hard.

If on the first one the flames did die back and you feel you have an air leak. Take a small shopvac put the hose on the discharge side and make a blower out of it. With the damper closed take the shopvac and put it on the primary air intake and blow air into the stove.. you should see if its leaking

 

[bholler]

It's possible the stove is starting to leak through the seams at this point