Got out to my stove last evening, which has been running very well through this 2 week arctic freeze, and noticed the access cap for the chimney clean-out was missing. No fire, minimal smoke, the boiler was at 192 degrees and idling at that time. It was dark and I couldn't find the cap! Fortunately, with snow still covering the ground here, I located it some 30 feet away from the back of the stove. It is very slightly downhill, so it coiuld have rolled some, but I saw no evidence of that.
Has anyone else ever had this cap blow off the back of their chimney before? I am in my 5th year with my 2300 and have never had this problem. After my yearly cleaning of the chimney area, I replace the cap and use a couple of small set screws, partially inserted, to "lock" the access cap in place. To insert these screws, the holes in the cap must line up with the holes in the chimney, so I know the cap was aligned properly. Apparently these wiggled out prior to the launch.
Never had that issue with my 2300 also now in my 5th season. Would have loved to see it happen. Ran like a trooper through the "polar vortex".
Glad it all worked out and found cap.
Haven't opened mine in awhile but if I remember correctly, doesn't the cap twist and "lock" in place and then the screws are inserted ?
If so, it really must have wiggled quite a bit to prepare for launch.
Check for distortion in the screw area, my money is on blunt force popping screws and all.
Glad you were able to find your chimney cap, Doc.
It seems that some folks on the edge between fantasy and reality get accused of having a 'loose screw'. Apparently Doc has two loose screws. :D
Norm
My buddy had this happen also on his e- classic same vintage. I have noticed on my 2300 that once in a great while when the furnace is starting up after some idle time there will be a small explosion out through the stack, no damage but lots of black smoke and then the furnace runs fine. I'm thinking the gasses have accumulated and when the fan comes on the gasses ignite.
It's happened to me before and what Stratford just explained was also what my dealer told me. Not a big deal. Glad you found the cleanout cap! Mine was just laying below the chimney tee.
My furnace did 3 small puffs this morning while I was standing by the chimney cleanout cap. Some of the smoke came through the cap and the rest vented through the stack. I'm wondering if coals and ash cover the inlet opening to the reaction chamber after the last burn and with a tight door seal once the fan builds enough pressure it puffs through the stack. just a thought.
Same thing happened to me a few nights ago. I loaded up my 2300 and started walking away. Got about 30' when I heard a loud boom and saw a puff of soot come out of the stack. Wasn't enough to knock the cap off.
Happened to my eclassic 2300 last year. it landed only a few feet away. I don't use the cap screws.
Ed
I do now!
I don't use those screws either, I do sometimes get a jet engine type flame out the top when I am filling the stove. I like it as I know its cleaning out the pipe when it does this.
I have had that experience too. I domwhen there's snow everywhere or it's raining really hard.
@ 6:00 am after 12 hours of burn time on a clean furnace it had an explosion enough to shake the snow off the top of the furnace. It pushed smoke out the front door gasket and the clean out cap and there was black smoke coming out the stack. This is the loudest explosion I've seen in 5 years of operation. It startled me to say the least.
I'm on the 3rd or 4th(?) season of operating an E-2300 that I bought used and reconditioned by CB. It came with a stainless snap-on ring that goes around the cover, and connects to the end pipe. I always wondered why it was there, now I guess I know! Glad you found the cap.