Maintenance - Vermont Castings Merrimack Homeowner's Installation And Operating Manual

keep your Merrimack Large Insert
Looking New and working Its best
care of the cast Iron Surface
An occasional dusting with a dry rag will keep the painted
cast iron of your Merrimack Large Insert looking new.
If the paint needs retouching, first allow the surface to cool
completely. Mask glass, trim parts and enamelled areas.
Wire-brush those areas to be painted. Touch-up with high
temperature stove paint available from your local dealer.
Apply the paint sparingly. Two light coats are better than
one heavy one.
care of the porcelain enamel Surface
Use a soft brush as necessary. Do not use water or other
liquids on your Merrimack Large Insert. Fingerprints usually
can be buffed off porcelain enamel with a dry, soft cloth.
If marks remain, allow the Merrimack Large Insert to cool
completely, then buff with a slightly damp, soft cloth. Dry
completely before starting a fire to avoid streaking.
Never use abrasives or harsh chemical cleaners on the
porcelain enamel finish; the enamel may scratch and
expose the cast iron, which can then stain or rust. If you
must remove spills or stains from porcelain surfaces,
make sure the fire is out and the Merrimack Large Insert
has cooled completely before cleaning. Use a kitchen
appliance cleaner and/or polish specifically formulated for
enamel surfaces. Apply the cleaner sparingly with a soft
cloth, and buff away all traces.
cleaning the glass
The Merrimack Large Insert glass system requires a
minimum amount of cleaning. Most carbon deposits that
accumulate will burn off during hot fires.
Ash residue that accumulates on the glass should be re-
moved periodically to prevent etching. To clean the glass,
use the following procedure.
•
Be sure the glass is completely cool.
•
Cleaning with water will work in most cases. Use a
glass cleaner especially made for this purpose only
if deposits are specially heavy. (If heavy deposits
are a frequent occurrence, however, evaluate your
operating techniques.) Do not use abrasive clean-
ers.
•
Rinse the glass thoroughly.
•
Dry the glass completely.
30004671

Maintenance

adjust the Door Latch periodically
The front door of the Merrimack Large Insert should close
securely to prevent accidental opening and should close
tightly to prevent air from leaking into the fire chamber.
The door handle will be positioned vertically when the
door is closed.
Over a period of time, the gasket around the door will
compress and the latch may need adjustment. To adjust
the handle, follow this procedure:
1. Remove and retain the lock nut with a 9/16" wrench.
(Fig. 13)
2. Loosen the set screw with a 1/8" Allen wrench.
3. Rotate the pawl 180°. Replace the lock nut. Tighten the
set screw.
4. Additional adjustment can be made by removing the flat
washer. Or any combination of washer removal and/or
pawl rotation.
Roller
Lock Nut
Fig. 13 Rotate pawl and/or remove flat washer to adjust latch.
Test the door seal. Close the door on a dollar bill and at-
tempt to pull it free. If the bill is freed with little resistance,
the gasket isn't snug enough at that spot. Continue to make
small adjustments until the setting is right.
If additional adjusting of the latch does not enable the door
to seal sufficiently in one area, try "adjusting" the gasket in
that area. Pack more cement or a smaller diameter gasket
into the channel beneath the gasket so the main gasket
is raised and makes contact with the door frame. If this
procedure doesn't solve the problem, replace the gasket.
Instructions for gasket replacement are given later in this
section.
Merrimack Large Insert
Shoulder Screw
Set Screw
Flat Washer
Handle Stub
ST1154
door pawl
ST1154
13