Slant/fin vsl-160 thermal insulator changeout?

WardWeathers

Question regards a Slant/Fin VSL-160 (and its Cosmogas siblings Embassy Onex OX160 / Peerless PC160/ HB Smith GC160). The vermiculite thermal insulator beneath the Fecralloy burner has cracked into three pieces. How does this assembly come apart? I don’t want to damage the burner head, which is expensive. Thanks

109A_5

The manual, at least the Peerless PC160 version I looked at has an exploded diagram and parts list, maybe that will help. Can you get the part ? No replacement part, I would not worry about taking it apart.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/product_files/Peerless-00127-Replacement-Parts.pdf

WardWeathers

Thanks. I had looked at the diagram, but I guess I did not look closely enough. To me it looks like there is a 38mm long screw that holds the aluminum extrusion in place, and that the burner head slips over the extrusion.

I do have the part on order.

It had occurred to me that it may be possible to repair the insulator with a high temperature rated cement. Something like this: https://rutland.com/collections/cements-amp-mortars/products/e-z-spread-fiberglass-stove-gasket-cement

WardWeathers

The part arrived. The pack of hardened goo is a mystery… weighted shipping filler? It’s on the label…

109A_5

I don't know, some kind or sealant that prematurely hardened ? Or a sealant that needs to be mixed with something before being applied ? No instructions ?

It does not look like a desiccant pack.

WardWeathers

Well, my unspoken , hinted at concern that the hardened mystery goo was some sort of sealant has now gained spoken status. I opened the duct, removed the 38mm screw that holds the burner to the duct, and found a hardened, brittle, white sealant. It seems that if the yellow goo in the fill-air type pack were the (different colored) sealant, it has aged beyond usefulness. The packaging is rather strange though if that goo really was sealant. See photo previous post.

No instructions with the part, and no instructions in the manual. What sealant should be used here? Obviously high temp. I am guessing it is a refractory cement like I thought about using for insulator repair. I also included a photo of inside the duct, with a little corrosion at the end. No doubt that’s from the massive concentric vent cross contamination this thing saw due to contractor installation error (a long story I’ll share later).

Experienced advice welcome.

WardWeathers

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1825427#Comment_1825427

ahh, I didn’t view your post until just now! Thanks. It must have been posted as I was writing up my last post.

I guess it had to be sealant. I agree desiccant isn’t likely with an air sealed bag.

No instructions, unfortunately.

WardWeathers

I just ordered a second thermal insulator, after confirming with the supply house that the product they would ship has a sealant that hasn’t prematurely cured.