Broken grate in Locke 120

I went to shake down this morning. Slid the grate one way. It seemed to have more resistance then usual tried bringing it back. No go. The whole stove about slid an inch on the hearth when I pulled back. I was hoping there was a rock stuck somewhere. Got the flashlight out and found a break in the round grate. It looks like I’m going on a search for a Locke 120 grate if anyone has any leads.

Any luck with the grate?

Appliance factory parts dot com has one for $126.

Break like a crack? Or a chunk out of it? You think it could be welded? I'd hate to see tom out of commission.

I have a replacement in the works. I just have to go pick it up. Yeh it’s a clean break.

A few weeks ago I fell asleep after loading with the ash vent wide open. I normally set my phone alarm for ten minutes while I’m waiting but I forgot this time.

The magnetic thermometer fell off the stove and that’s what woke me up. The fire inside was white hot. Toms three round windows looked like laser beams. The roaring noise it was making was very surprising. Nothing was glowing red on the outside fortunately. It was 97 degrees in the room the stove is in.

As it was cooling down I heard a peculiar pop. I thought one of the windows had cracked. The next morning I shook the grates and they worked normally. All seemed fine for a while. I thought I escaped unscathed until I didn’t.

I suspect the grate must have cracked and that’s the pop I heard. Then it finally turned into a clean break. Maybe something hard got in there and helped the crack break while I was shaking.

Welding cast iron is tricky to be done correctly and the results are hit or miss. To be done right it has to be preheated to a certain temperature, welded with the high nickel alloy and the most critical part is the cooling process. It has to cool down very slowly. Ideally this is done in a heat treat oven where the temperature can be lowered very slowly at a specific rate over a long period of time. I have access to one but unfortunately the grate is too big for it. Alternatively it can wrapped in a weld blanket and left to cool or buried in sand but this is hit or miss. It still can cool too quickly.

Then there’s the application to be considered. This is something that is going to be in a constant heat cycle and the welded area will always be the stress point.

If I hadn’t found another grate I definitely would have given it a shot.

Tom will soon be resurrected.

If the new grate works out, save the broken grate. Tomahawk Foundry can often cast new grates from the broken ones. And sometimes for less cost than some places that are selling replacements.

Paul

Yup! Recast and save the next guy too!
Some say to “season” a new grate with multiple small short fires gradually hotter and longer before put in to heavy service. Even heard of “seasoning” in mama’s oven.

McGiever wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 12:21 pm

Yup! Recast and save the next guy too!
Some say to “season” a new grate with multiple small short fires gradually hotter and longer before put in to heavy service. Even heard of “seasoning” in mama’s oven.

There's debate about if that helps. However, I figure it can't hurt to do some heat cycles to help relieve any casting stresses in the metal, so I do that with new grates.

I know some manufactures (Dewalt for one) used to let their large cast iron parts heat-cycle "age" outdoors for about a year, or some heat-cycle them in large ovens ( some race engine builders), before they start machining them.

Paul

Tomahawk is going to be 12 weeks turn around. Will set you back about $150.+

mntbugy wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 12:44 pm

Tomahawk is going to be 12 weeks turn around. Will set you back about $150.+

What changed?

Every time I've used Tomahawk I'd get an email that my parts are done and on the way to me just two weeks after I shipped them the patterns/parts to recast. Always took less time and less cost than Al quoted me in his emails.

Paul

McGiever wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 12:21 pm

Yup! Recast and save the next guy too!
Some say to “season” a new grate with multiple small short fires gradually hotter and longer before put in to heavy service. Even heard of “seasoning” in mama’s oven.

Yup! I consider that great advice, Larry.

I’ve heard numerous old timers long passed, that would be well over 100 years old if they were still alive, give that same advice. Many of them offered me that same sage advice for the first firing each year of a wood stove and/or fireplace to drive moisture out of the masonry slowly. Also, to heat clay liners slowly because of expansion and contraction.

Quality is going down hill.

The other foundry is 8 weeks turn around.

Next "other" foundry is 4 weeks.

"Other" nickel plating place, not doing so well.

mntbugy wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 3:50 pm

Quality is going down hill.

The other foundry is 8 weeks turn around.

Next "other" foundry is 4 weeks.

"Other" nickel plating place, not doing so well.

Who are, "other".

Paul

Sunny Boy wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 15, 2022 1:51 pm

What changed?

Every time I've used Tomahawk I'd get an email that my parts are done and on the way to me just two weeks after I shipped them the patterns/parts to recast. Always took less time and less cost than Al quoted me in his emails.

Paul

Paul, between the vid, no help and supply chain everything has quadrupled in time frame. I tried to order a simple K81A hydrant from Kennedy and it’s 14-18 weeks.

TOM’s three windows looked like laser beams and the roar………

Yea, I know those manifestations. Knowing what I do about the installation you are probably the only one who wouldn’t burn the house down with that stove but melting the smoke pipe off the back would be an issue