Question About Surdiac Damper/Thermostat

I did a search but can't find the answer. My MCK508 Surdiac stove damper does not fully close. When at it's lowest setting the damper stays open slightly. When I turn the knob up to higher settings the damper opens wider. Nothing looks bent. Is this normal? I'm hoping to get this stove fired up for the first time this winter, and if the damper needs to close fully I would like to fix it before I try to use the stove.

I don't know anything about these units ... but just a guess that it's probably not designed to shut completely, due to the possible risk of CO escaping with no air coming in and a hot fire burning.

Like I said though - just a guess.

For information and parts for a Surdiac coal stove try myersfurniturepa.com and click on the Surdiac coal stove accessories link.

I would agree with what Smitty said about that being a fail safe to not cut off completely and put out the fire?

Also is it adjustable as in could you adjust it to close fully if you wanted too? Not saying to do this, just asking if that's possible. If it's not, then they did it for a reason as in having a minimum setting to maintain a fire. Looking at the pix, it seems like you could adjust it to close completely. If the stove is very air tight, then they left that slightly open to maintain a minimum fire without choking it out.

With a little heat in the stove I believe it will close right up.

Thanks folks. I had wondered if maybe some heat would make it close the rest of the way. I don't think it can be adjusted any further closed than it is now, the screw is fully extended. I appreciate your help with this, I'd worried I could end up with an overfired stove if the damper failed to close more completely.

franco b wrote:With a little heat in the stove I believe it will close right up.

Good call Richard, That makes sense.

Hello my friends om the other side of the big pond.

The small gap is suposed to be.
According the manual of my new Efel Bastogne , should it be 5mm. (0.2")open when the stove is cold.
For adjusting bend it till its ok.

with regards Peter.

I had thought to dip the bulb into hot water to see if it made the damper close more just to check on this. I'll give it a measure tomorrow.

I'm still amazed I found this stove, unused since purchase in 1979 or 1980. The couple who owned it had a larger Surdiac in their living room, and bought this little one to install in their walk-out basement. Then they never installed it. The stove just sat in the (thankfully dry) basement with a heavy horse blanket over it for over thirty years.

Looking forward to getting this hooked up soon.

Thanks for the help!
Josh

Keep us posted Josh.