Harmon stove has cracked firebox

[rmihalek]

My Harman TL300 is starting to crack on the back corners of the top opening. This is the second Harman stove to have this problem. They have a lifetime warranty on the firebox, but the stove shop still charges $475 to remove the old one and install a new one. I did that once and I'm not doing it again. I'll do what I can to fix this stove and then switch brands when it comes time to replace the stove.

I'm wondering if there are other Harman stove users out there who have been having this problem on the stoves with a top-loading capability? I'm thinking I'll hire a welder come in and weld some gussets on each corner of the top opening to stop the cracks from spreading. Maybe I'll send the bill to Harman!

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

Bob

 

[ktmtigger]

I would definitely be drilling a small hole at the end of each crack then gouge the cracks out and weld everything with some nickel rod

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[anlrolfe]

Do you still have documentation from the first defect and swap?

Write a very detailed and tactful letter to the company.
Stick to the facts not feelings.
Make reference that you are filing an instance with Consumer Protection as a "Near Miss"

https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx

Make reference to potential issues with fire safety and CO exposure
If the original and replacement stove(s) were installed by an authorized dealer per manufacturers guidelines this gives your argument more credibility. Cite inferior materials, design and/or craftsmanship contributing to this reoccurring problem

 

[Be Stihl]

Do you still have documentation from the first defect and swap?

Write a very detailed and tactful letter to the company.
Stick to the facts not feelings.
Make reference that you are filing an instance with Consumer Protection as a "Near Miss"

https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx

Make reference to potential issues with fire safety and CO exposure
If the original and replacement stove(s) were installed by an authorized dealer per manufacturers guidelines this gives your argument more credibility. Cite inferior materials, design and/or craftsmanship contributing to this reoccurring problem

This!


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[rmihalek]

Do you still have documentation from the first defect and swap?

Write a very detailed and tactful letter to the company.
Stick to the facts not feelings.
Make reference that you are filing an instance with Consumer Protection as a "Near Miss"

https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx

Make reference to potential issues with fire safety and CO exposure
If the original and replacement stove(s) were installed by an authorized dealer per manufacturers guidelines this gives your argument more credibility. Cite inferior materials, design and/or craftsmanship contributing to this reoccurring problem

Thanks Andy! I have the documentation for the first replacement. The second stove started cracking after two seasons of use. I'm in the third year now and it's getting worse.

 

[anlrolfe]

By "Company" I mean Manufacturer not Installer.
I would hold no fault against the stove shop for substandard product. They're just trying to make a living and caught in the middle.
The Installer may be able to tell you if others have had similar issue and this could be helpful ammunition.

Is there an individual part that can be replaced? or is it all welded up??

 

[Jwilliams]

Please post pics if possible I have a tl300 and wondering if it’s somewhere I haven’t noticed

 

[aokpops]

About every wood heater I seen gets cracks . Not sure what the big deal is ? My grandpa potbelly stove had cracks in it was born in 1900 . This day an age of no cracks is not going to happen with low budget stoves . Even high budget not sure how they stop it ? The force on hot an cold on steel is really strong . I bought a wood furnace for 125.00 dollars had big bulge were it over heated . I beat back with a sledge hammer an used for about 20 years . To say there brunt out with a crack is a stretch . For a lot cheap stuff were it breaks build it better than new .I got stuff running better than new that's 30 40 years old .

 

[aokpops]

I seen were people thought there stove was burnt out with a crack . I would like to buy them on the cheep . Metal is made every day

 

[rmihalek]

By "Company" I mean Manufacturer not Installer.
I would hold no fault against the stove shop for substandard product. They're just trying to make a living and caught in the middle.
The Installer may be able to tell you if others have had similar issue and this could be helpful ammunition.

Is there an individual part that can be replaced? or is it all welded up??

View attachment 782420

In the schematic, the lid (part #7) lifts up with a handle (not pictured, on the left side of the stove). When that lid lifts up, there's a rectangular opening for loading logs. The two back corners of the rectangular opening is where the cracks are. It's all one big welded-up piece and can't be replaced separately.

 

[babybart]

Mine TL300 had minor cracks there as well but the gasket covered it. I took it out a couple years ago because it was just a pain to clean and parts are expensive, so the cracks never mattered.