Hole in my CB 1400

Vtmac72 · May 22, 2012, 09:51:46 PM

I bought the new CB 1400 three years ago, it worked great for two years with no problems. Two months into my third season I noticed a small drip in the reaction chamber. I took apart the bottom of the fire box to reaction chamber (just like I did every year to clean it) and found a two inch diameter area that burned and rotted through the water jacket. I did everything and more to maintain this unit and still had problems and they tell me it's my fault and will cost over two thousand dollars to fix. So much for an American company standing behind their product, read the fine print on your warrantys. Please let me know if you have had problems with your e-classics.

AsaG · May 23, 2012, 06:42:35 AM

If yours looks like the pics in topic linked below, you aren't alone.....

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,56307.0.html

CB sent me a repair part to fix it but, by the time, they fabricated it, I had already made my own. As ugly as that hole is, the repair is surprisingly painless. If you have the ignition option installed, it will need to be updated the latest version; CB will cover that too. Feel free to shoot me a message if you need more info. It may take me a few days to get back to you since, at this point in the season, "busy" is an understatement.

Edit to add:

I missed the part about yours rotting through the water jacket. I caught mine before the damage got that far. Regardless, it was the same problem and I have quite a few pictures of before and after should you need them. Don't let anyone pull the "we've never heard of this" trick! Best of luck to you.

thecfarm · May 23, 2012, 07:38:10 AM

I hate to see a thread like this. Good luck to you. Sorry to hear of your problem.

Roger2561 · May 27, 2012, 10:52:34 AM

Quote from: Vtmac72 on May 22, 2012, 09:51:46 PM
I bought the new CB 1400 three years ago, it worked great for two years with no problems. Two months into my third season I noticed a small drip in the reaction chamber. I took apart the bottom of the fire box to reaction chamber (just like I did every year to clean it) and found a two inch diameter area that burned and rotted through the water jacket. I did everything and more to maintain this unit and still had problems and they tell me it's my fault and will cost over two thousand dollars to fix. So much for an American company standing behind their product, read the fine print on your warrantys. Please let me know if you have had problems with your e-classics.

Was that hole located under the refractory panel? I have an eclassic 1400, first year with it, so I'm very much interested in this topic. When I removed the refractory on mine, each side was broke in half. I had thought of fixing them with a refractory compound of some type but now I wonder if I should replace them instead. Did CB have any ideas what caused it? When i cleaned mine, I put a coat of oil over everything, including the area under the refractory panels. Did you do the same? Sorry this happened to you but thanks for sharing. Roger

boilerman101 · May 28, 2012, 08:13:17 PM

There are many long term Eclassic users on this forum. Doc B, Dean, myself and we have not had the corrosion issue mentioned. I do think that daily wall scraping, maintenence and keeping operating temperatures up is extremely important on any brand gasser as the upper wood burn chamber burns cooler and more damp creosote is present as the intense gasification flame burns downword. The corners seem to build the most creosote, so I pay extra attention to not allowing it to build there. The refractory in the bottom of the firebox could crack from the intense heat or dropping wood chunks on it. I don't think it should affect the operation of the furnace. Roger sounds like you take great care of your unit like I do. Shop vac out everything, cap chimney and wipe firebox down with oil...I use clean new motor oil on a sponge mop with handle, works great.

Logging logginglogging · August 14, 2012, 09:19:24 AM

I have an e-classic 2300, I also clean and oil in the spring..... but what is this about removing refactory panels? How do they come out and what exactly are they? I am not clear on how one would remover the concreat looking half moon shaped part from the bottom of the firebox?
Also, Has anyone with a 23-00 tried removing the valves on the back and sticking the shop vac hose in there to suck out the ash that way?

doctorb · August 14, 2012, 09:49:44 AM

Yes, logloglog....

I remove the solenoid hose connections at the back, especially the upper left one, clean out the creosote in these channels and use both a blow through and suck out maneuver with my shop-vac to clean the ash out of the rear air channels. You'll find chunks of creosote that are larger than the air channel holes that need to be morselized a bit before you can remove them. I find my 2300 works much better with clear air channels and work hard at this during my spring shut-down. I have never done this during the heating season.

Logging logginglogging · August 14, 2012, 03:52:21 PM

same as I did during shutdown....
I got it pretty darn clean like this....
I am intrested how one person on another thread cut a 3.5 inch hole to aid cleaning..... Gutsy but probally works well.
Dr, You saw this thread also as you replied to him, but I dont know how it worked out for him in the long term..

Roger2561 · August 14, 2012, 04:56:10 PM

Quote from: Logginglogginglogging on August 14, 2012, 09:19:24 AM
I have an e-classic 2300, I also clean and oil in the spring..... but what is this about removing refactory panels? How do they come out and what exactly are they? I am not clear on how one would remover the concreat looking half moon shaped part from the bottom of the firebox?
Also, Has anyone with a 23-00 tried removing the valves on the back and sticking the shop vac hose in there to suck out the ash that way?

My owners manual shows how to remove and clean under the refractory panels as well as the combustion chamber. I figured if I'm going to spend at the very least 2 hours thoroughly cleaning it this spring, I might as well go all the way and clean EVERYTHING. The only issue I've had so far is the refractory panels were split completely through. I've been so busy here at work and at home that I haven't had the chance to my CB dealer if I should replace the panels or investigate the availability of a repair kit of some kind.

The only design I do not like about Eclassic 1400 is the air holes. I understand the newer 1450's (the sister model of the 1400) have removable panels, especially in the corners so everything cleans rather easily. I've had to modify a perfectly good screw driver to get into the holes especially the corners. The creosote really gathers there. When I call my CB dealer, I'll inquire whether CB has an upgrade kit for removable panels. A friend of mine is a master welder so I'm considering calling him to get some ideas for modification if CB doesn't have an upgrade available.

upsnake · August 14, 2012, 08:32:53 PM

Roger,
Deff let us know if you ever find out about an upgrade. haha

It is a pain to get that spot clean. :-\

Vtmac72 · August 19, 2012, 09:59:43 PM

Well just to let you all know, Cb has done nothing for me except show me how many ways they can weasel out of something. My friend bought a new 2400 after my recommendation and after four months he noticed he had some cracking on the sides of the fire box. He thought no big deal, he bought it with the understanding that if anything happened in the first year it would be replaced no questions asked. Well come to find out, Cb's 25 yr warranty is as good as the one year one, not as good as the paper that it's written on. Disgracfull!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mrwood · August 21, 2012, 02:51:40 AM

I am curious what are they telling you when you call? I have not personally had any issues with my cb. But a friend of mine developed a whole In his 5648. He called his dealer, they called cb. Cb sent out a welder, welder said no good. In the end my fiend had to submit water samples. They wanted to make sure he was keeping up on his chemicals. Water tested fine so within 2 weeks a brand new 6048 was delivered. No charge, no hassles.

Logging logginglogging · August 21, 2012, 07:38:44 AM

I don't have a owners manual, I bought mine used. This old guy had it for 1 season and decided he dident like lifting wood... So sold it to me for half price. So I got a bran new stove on the cheap. I have had it for a season, and once i figured the thing out it burned *DanG good.

Jack72 · September 03, 2012, 07:44:24 AM

Quote from: Vtmac72 on May 22, 2012, 09:51:46 PM
I bought the new CB 1400 three years ago, it worked great for two years with no problems. Two months into my third season I noticed a small drip in the reaction chamber. I took apart the bottom of the fire box to reaction chamber (just like I did every year to clean it) and found a two inch diameter area that burned and rotted through the water jacket. I did everything and more to maintain this unit and still had problems and they tell me it's my fault and will cost over two thousand dollars to fix. So much for an American company standing behind their product, read the fine print on your warrantys. Please let me know if you have had problems with your e-classics.

Hello VTMac
Is their any changes on your situation is Central Boiler still saying its you're fault???? Just curious Thanks Jack

superwd6 · September 03, 2012, 08:22:11 PM

Central Boiler was great with my door issue. Post some pictures of the hole CB won't warranty.

Roger2561 · September 12, 2012, 12:48:45 PM

Quote from: upsnake on August 14, 2012, 08:32:53 PM
Roger,
Deff let us know if you ever find out about an upgrade. haha

It is a pain to get that spot clean. :-\

About a week ago I finally had the time to contact my CB dealer and ask about an upgrade kit to aid in the cleaning the air holes, specifically those in the corners. CB does not have an upgrade for the classic 1400's. Roger

Jack72 · October 21, 2012, 09:07:18 AM

Quote from: Vtmac72 on May 22, 2012, 09:51:46 PM
I bought the new CB 1400 three years ago, it worked great for two years with no problems. Two months into my third season I noticed a small drip in the reaction chamber. I took apart the bottom of the fire box to reaction chamber (just like I did every year to clean it) and found a two inch diameter area that burned and rotted through the water jacket. I did everything and more to maintain this unit and still had problems and they tell me it's my fault and will cost over two thousand dollars to fix. So much for an American company standing behind their product, read the fine print on your warrantys. Please let me know if you have had problems with your e-classics.

y

Can you give us a update. VT

Vtmac72 · October 21, 2012, 10:33:56 AM

Sorry I'm not fluent in running this site, and I'm not on here much so I hope you can all read this. Cb did nothing for me, they just wanted more money from me while a friend of mine got his fire box replaced for $500 this summer. They wanted $2500 from me. So anyways I had a welder/fabricator rebuild my boiler. We had to cut out the bottom of the firebox, then the three sides of the rectangular hole to the reaction chamber. This steel is suppose to be 1/4" in this area, well when they built my stove they used 1/8", that is according to Cb people saying it is 1/4", I will try to put some pics on too. So it was all removed and replaced with 1/2" steel, new brick, and new stainless steel tube. Never seen stainless rot like that. But it is running good now, been burning for two weeks, hopefully no oil this winter for this guy. I did have to replace the Fire star control box Friday, they will see if Cb will warranty it but when they see its me they will send me a bill for $300 for the refurbished one they gave me. Hope you all have good luck with yours this year, hope my problems are over. Sorry it won't let me upload the photos, I'll see if I can change the format.