On 06/02/2021 16:28, David wrote:
On Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:16:30 +0000, David wrote:

I'm trying to work out why the secondary air jets which are supposed to
help the clean burn aren't currently working.

I've got as far as this.

The air jets are in a plate in the back of the stove.

They are in an area which is just below the baffle plate across the top
of the inside of the stove which draws the exhaust gasses to the front
of the stove before they flow over the baffle plate and into the flue.

This seems to be a reasonable design for a clean burn, and usually seems
to clean the glass (more or less).

However there are secondary air jets at the back and I am struggling to
work out what might be blocking the air flow to these.

Diagram is shown within
https://www.stovax.com/appliance/sto...s/buying-wood-
burning-stove/how-a-stove-works/
under the heading "Stovax Cleanburn System".

I've removed the baffle plate but I'm...errr...baffled how to confirm
there is an air flow from the base of the stove (where I can feel the
inlet) up the back and out through the air jets at the top.

There was a bit of crud there (but that may have come from the baffle as
it was removed) and I have vacuumed it out but I can't seem to feel any
obvious opening for the air to come up through. No sign of any crud
dropping out through the bottom of the rear vent either.

The parts breakdown shoes that the rear metal plate (behind which magic
happens) is a replaceable part but that seems like very major surgery,
and I so far haven't found any instructions on how to remove and replace
it.

So I am asking if anyone else has got their hands dirty with the Stovax
Stockton range and has any light to shed.

Updated to say:

Further detailed investigation (OK scrabbling about inside) showed that
the secondary air supply didn't go anywhere near the baffle but came up
inside the hollow fire back.

I did have some fun with my Aldi endoscope thing which I had forgotten
about and which is good for investigating inside stuff.

So no real idea what is going on.

I do have a much clearer idea about how the whole thing is supposed to
work, though.

I've put it all back together and just lit the fire so we shall see if it
has made any difference.

I could possible use a smoke source (recently extinguished candle?) to see
if any air is being drawn in through the bottom vent, I suppose.

A smoke pellet would probably choke the room up with smoke.

Still looking for anyone who has experience with the Stockton range.

Cheers

It's almost certainly not Stockton unique. I have a Scan Andersen 4-5,
which, from the webpage you linked to would seem to have an identical
mode of action. Its manual also mentions Cleanburn, and has an airwash
to keep the glass clean (it's a multifuel stove). I can't answer your
question, but would be interested if anyone can explain why logs are
said to burn best on a bed of ash - with no air flow from beneath - but
solid fuel needs to have a grate to burn well.

I can't understand how wood is supposed to burn well when air is
introduced only from above. It makes no sense to me, especially as that
Stovax webpage said the heat output of wood and solid fuel is basically
identical. From my experience, it is very difficult to get added logs
burning well unless the door is left ajar for a short while. And it
seems very important to keep the chimney warm so there is a good
convection flow to draw air in.

Usually the stove works well, but sometimes it seems to have a mind of
its own and is difficult to keep alight. I might have to add kindling to
get it going again.

--

Jeff