Rayburn flue access plate

[reb78]

The stainless steel access plate just pinged off of the Rayburn flue on the left side of the plate. I have secured it with copper wire for now.

I cant put a screw in as the plate the screw tightens into has rotted away. They look as below (different pipe).

Any solutions that dont involve replacing the full elbow (£120 plus)?? And can also be done with the fire on?

 

[reb78]

Can I drill straight into the flue and put a self tapper in? Other systems use it and it would self seal?

 

[tom2207]

would a rivi nut go in ,, dish slightly so it sits flush afterwards

 

[tom2207]

weld a nut to a plate , line it up with the back of the hole then pop rivet it in place ,

 

[Kayos]

I'd put a bigger screw in, the flue draws up, you will not get POCs spilling out

 

[tom2207]

suppose two big jubilee clips is out of the question ,,,

 

[reb78]

would a rivi nut go in ,, dish slightly so it sits flush afterwards

Wanted to avoid riv nuts. By nature of where it is, any bolt will end up seized and the whole think will be a sod to get apart!

 

[reb78]

suppose two big jubilee clips is out of the question ,,,

Haha. Yep. Would bug me somewhat!

 

[reb78]

I'd put a bigger screw in, the flue draws up, you will not get POCs spilling out

This is the way i am heading. Afterall its not exactly sealed in the flue chamber below that plate. Plenty of gaps there. I just wondered why Rayburn/ Aga didnt do that in the first place. Need to find a self tapper with a large head now and will do the other side at the same time

 

[BarrieJ]

My mate had exactly the same issue with their AGA/Rayburn, he cut the side out of a cheap stainless steel saucepan leaving a tab on either side. Drilled holes through the tabs and used self tappers to fasten it to the flue. As far as I'm aware it's been like that for at least 2 years.

 

[tom2207]

Wanted to avoid riv nuts. By nature of where it is, any bolt will end up seized and the whole think will be a sod to get apart!

brass bolts and tungsten disulphide as an assembly paste

 

[waddycall]

Self tappers straight through is fine and is how some cheaper flue pipes are made. Use stainless steel. Local flue places/stove shops often sell replacement covers with self tappers. As @Kayos said any slight leakage should only result in a bit of air going up the flue, otherwise the room would already be full of smoke.
And yes you can do it with the fire on. Just make sure its a small fire and if you take the cover off use a match to check the flue is pulling into the hole rather than spilling flue gasses out. If you need to leave it off for any length of time check again every now and then. A large leak into the flue could cause issues.

 

[reb78]

Can anyone recommend a good online source for good quality stainless steel self tappers?

 

[Agroshield]

Can anyone recommend a good online source for good quality stainless steel self tappers?

I have never had much success with stainless self tappers into drilled holes as they are not hard enough to self-tap. I always put a steel self-tapper in initially and then remove it and put the stainless one in once the threads are established.

Screwfix have them (Easydrive PZ pan) if nowhere else.

 

[armalites]

If the holes are through holes I'd probably make up plates/bars with bolts through and welded to them and stick through from the inside and use some dome nuts on the outside to hold the plate. I would look ok,be more durable and worst case you snap the stud/bolt and have to fit a new one.

There will obviously be a good chance they will drop off when you remove the plate but they aren't going far, but a bit of fire cement or high temp RTV would set them in place but make them replaceable

 

[reb78]

If the holes are through holes I'd probably make up plates/bars with bolts through and welded to them and stick through from the inside and use some dome nuts on the outside to hold the plate. I would look ok,be more durable and worst case you snap the stud/bolt and have to fit a new one.

There will obviously be a good chance they will drop off when you remove the plate but they aren't going far, but a bit of fire cement or high temp RTV would set them in place but make them replaceable

Thanks. What they seem to have done is dome the flue in under the fixing so its not a hole under that threaded plate in the second photo. I think i an going to go with self tappers for now. Can always enlarge and go for other options if they fail then!