RAILROAD POTBELLY STOVE
Model PB65XL Owners Manual

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read all instructions carefully.

1. The installation of this stove must comply with your local building code rulings.  Please observe the clearances to combustibles.  (See Fig. 2, Fig.3 and Fig. 4) 
2. DO NOT install this stove in a mobile home or trailer.  (NO EXCEPTIONS)
3. Always connect this stove to a chimney and vent to the outside.  Never vent to another room or inside a building.
4. DO NOT CONNECT a wood burning stove to an aluminum Type B gas vent. This is not safe. Use approved masonry or a UL 103 HT Listed Residential Type and Building Heating Appliance Chimney.  Use a 6” diameter chimney or larger, that is high enough to give a good draft (see specifics).
5. Be sure that your chimney is safely constructed and in good repair.  Have the chimney inspected by the fire department or a qualified inspector.  Your insurance company may be able to recommend a qualified inspector.
6. Creosote or soot may build up in the chimney connector and chimney and cause a house/building fire.  Inspect the chimney connector and chimney twice monthly during the heating season and clean if necessary.  (See Chimney Maintenance)
7. To prevent injury, do not allow anyone to use this stove who is unfamiliar with the correct operation of the stove.
8. Do not operate stove while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
9. For further information on using your stove safely, obtain a copy of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publication “Using Coal and Wood Stoves Safely” NFPA No. HS-10-1978.  The address of the NFPA is Batterymarch Park, MA 02269.
10. Ashes should not be allowed to accumulate higher that the ash pan. Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a tight fitting lid.  Keep the closed container on a non-combustible floor or on the ground, well away from all combustible materials.  Keep the ashes in the closed container until all cinders have thoroughly cooled.  The ashes may be buried in the ground or picked up by a refuse collector.
11. The paint used on your stove may give off smoke and/or odor during the first fires. This may occur during the first 12 to 15 fires until the paint has cured. After the paint has cured this will end and not reoccur. Persons with lung conditions or owners of susceptible domestic pets (such as birds) should take prudent precautions. Open windows and doors as needed to clear smoke and odor. If the stove is overfired, paint discoloration will occur.
12. This stove has a painted surface which is durable but it will not stand rough handling or abuse.  When installing your stove, please use care in handling.  Clean with soap and warm water when stove is not hot.  Do not use any acids or scouring soap, as these will wear and dull the finish.
13. While stove is in operation, all persons, especially young children, should be alerted to the hazards from high surface temperatures and should be kept away to avoid burns or clothing ignition.  During operation small children should be carefully supervised when they are in the same room with the stove.
14. Keep stove area clear and free from all combustible materials such as gasoline and/or other flammable vapors and liquids.
15. To prevent burns, always wear protective clothing, leather hearth gloves and eye protection, while tending the fire.
16. While in operation, keep the feed door closed at all times except while tending the fire.
17. Do not overfire the stove. Overfiring will occur if the feed door or ash clean-out cover are left open during operation. Such actions will result in very dangerous operating conditions.
18. If small children will be in the same room as the stove during operation, provide a sturdy barrier to keep them at a safe distance from the stove. NEVER LEAVE SMALL CHILDREN UNSUPERVISED when they are in the same room as the stove.

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
 

1. Uncrate the stove and remove all protective packing materials and protective poly bag. (Save cardboard carton for further assembly.)
2. Remove parts from inside of stove. Parts include: one lid (#1), one lid lifter (#2), one ash door (#16) with one slide draft (#17), one ash drawer (#19), four legs (#15), hardware pack (#21), draft damper (#20), and one Spring Handle (#9) from inside the firebox.
3. Place flattened carton on floor and carefully turn stove over onto carton.
4. Securely attach all four (4) legs to base of stove with stove bolts.
5. Carefully lift stove upright position and place in desired location (See locating stove from combustible materials).
6. Place lid (# 1) in position on top plate.
7. Place ash drawer (#19) into lower chamber (#13). Position ash door (#16) with slide draft(#17) on front of lower chamber (#13).
8. Place shaker grate (# 12) in lower chamber.
9. Install flue pipe draft damper (#20) into the top end of the first straight section of stove pipe (see Fig. 1) exiting the stove before the stove is used.
   1. Drill two 1/4" holes centered on either side of the pipe section 6" from the top end of the pipe (see Fig. 1).
   2. Remove the handle from the damper then slide the damper into the pipe.
   3. Align the damper with the holes drilled in step 9a and insert the handle through the holes and the damper.

   NOTE: THIS DAMPER IS NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE STOVE AND TO MEET EPA EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR HEATING APPLIANCES. IT MUST BE IN-STALLED BEFORE USE. (NO EXCEPTIONS)

10. Attach stove piping (See instructions).

LOCATING STOVE

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Proper clearances must be maintained for adequate air circulation. Adequate ventilation must be provided while operating this stove.

1. The stove must be placed on solid concrete, solid masonry, or when installed on a combustible floor, on a listed floor protector, such as Hy-C or Jackes-Evans Model UL 3654BK or equivalent. Two or more floor protectors may be required to meet protection requirements. If more than one floor protector is used, tightly butt edges together and fasten to the floor. Seal the seam with aluminum tape
   or metal strip. The base must extend at least 18” beyond the front, rear and sides of the stove, and must extend under the stove pipe if it is elbowed towards a wall (see Fig. 5 and consult local building codes and fire protection ordinances.)
2. The stove must have its own flue. DO NOT CONNECT THIS UNIT TO A CHIMNEY FLUE SERVING OTHER APPLIANCES.
3. After observing the clearances to combustible materials (See Fig. 2, Fig.3 and Fig. 4), locate your floor
   protector accordingly (Fig. 2) and carefully place the stove in your selected location. Install stove pipe, elbows, and thimble asrequired, utilizing either a recently cleaned and inspected 6” masonry chimney or a 6” i.d. listed chimney. Maximum 64 square inches.
4. Use 6” round black stove pipe, not galvanized stove pipe. Secure pipe sections with three (3) sheet metal screws in each stove pipe and/or elbow joint to firmly hold the pipe sections together. DO NOT CONNECT THIS STOVE TO ANY AIR DISTRIBUTION OR DUCT SYSTEM.
5. Recheck clearances from the stove, connector stove pipe, and corner clearances using the illustrations (See Fig. 2, Fig.3 and Fig. 4) and your local building codes or fire protection ordinances.
   NOTE: Drywall faced with brick or stone should be considered a combustible surface.
6. DO NOT INSTALL THIS STOVE IN A MOBILE HOME OR TRAILER. (NO EXCEPTIONS)
7. The clearances provided are minimum dimensions. Installation of this stove must comply with your local building code rulings.
8. This stove is NOT a UL listed stove.

Unit to Sidewall ........................................... 36 inches Unit to Backwall ........................................... 36 inches Unit Corner to Wall ....................................... 36 inches Pipe Connector to Backwall...........................38 inches Pipe Connector to Ceiling ............................ 18 inches CAUTION: Keep furnishings and other combustible materials away form the stove.

Fig. 4

PIPE INSTALLATION

The smooth end of the stovepipe fits over the cast iron flue collar at top rear of stove (fig. 5). Crimped end of pipe must be away from stove. Hand form lower end (fig. 6) of stove pipe to oval shape (fig. 7) and slide over flue outlet collar as shown in figure 5. Secure stove pipe to flue collar with at least three (3) sheet metal screws and seal with stove cement. Horizontal pipe runs must slope upwards towards the chimney at least 1/4” per foot of horizontal run. You must have at least 18 inches of clearance between any horizontal piping and the ceiling. The pipe cannot extend into the chimney flue figure 8). Secure pipe/elbow sections with three (3) sheet metal screws at each joint to make the piping rigid. It is recommended that no more than two (2) 90° bends be used in the stovepipe installation. The use of more than two 90° bends may decrease the amount of draw and possibly cause smoke spillage. Where possible, use only corrugated (nonadjustable) elbows. These provide a better seal. The chimney connector must not pass through an attic or roof space, closet, or any concealed space, or floor, ceiling, wall or combustible construction.

Fig. 5 Flue outlet Collar Fig. 6  Hand-form pipe to oval shape - Fig. 7   NOTE: Stove pipe is NOT INCLUDED. To purchase pipe, visit your local hardware, HOME or building center. See Locating Stove for additional specifications.

As of April 1, 1987 all wood stoves should be installed using a factory built chimney that meets the "Type HT" requirement of UL 103 (when using a factory built chimney).

Note, your stove does not create draft. Draft is a function of the chimney. A minimum of 0.05 w.c., (measured in water column) is required for proper drafting to prevent back-puffing, smoke spillage, and to maximize performance. (Gauges to measure chimney draft are readily available at stove shops and are economical to purchase or rent.)

IMPORTANT Installation Points

1. Size the chimney flue to the stove pipe. (6" pipe = 6" chimney flue. Max. 64 sq. inches)

2. Use elbows only as necessary. Elbows reduce draft, no more than two should be used in any chimney run.

3. Make sure all horizontal runs of connector pipe have a minimum outward rise of 1/4" per horizontal foot. This allows any condensation or creosote buildup to run back into the firebox.

Fireplace Installation

Directly connecting the stovepipe into the existing masonry chimney (see Fig. 13 "Type A" fireplace conversion) of the fireplace is the only approved method of installation. This is a complicated and involved process and to insure safety should only by done by a qualified installer.

1. An entry hole must be cut through the masonry and tile liner with minimal damage to the liner. At least 8" of liner must remain below the entry position. When locating the stove and stovepipe, all minimum clearances must be observed from combustible surfaces including mantels, combustible trimwork, ceilings and walls. Positioning the center of the stove pipe entry into the chimney 24" below the ceiling should insure proper clearance for a 6" stovepipe. 

2. Install a metal or fire clay (5/8" minimum thickness) thimble. Make sure the thimble is flush with the inner surface of the chimney liner and does not protrude into the flue (see Fig. 8).

3. Secure the thimble with refractory mortar. The thimble should be surrounded by 8" of solid unit masonry brickwork or 24" of stone.

4. Install the stovepipe into the thimble as far as possible without extending past the flue lining (see Fig. 8 & Fig. 9).

5. A small airspace (about 1/2") should remain between the stovepipe and thimble to allow for expansion of the pipe. Seal this airspace with high-temperature caulking or ceramic wool.

6. Secure and seal the damper in the closed position using high-temp caulking, ceramic wool, or furnace cement. Also check to see if the chimney has a cleanout. If it does, make sure it is closed and sealed as well. A leaky cleanout will greatly reduce draft efficiency.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
 

MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE HINTS

ASH DISPOSAL:  Do not allow ashes to accumulate higher than the grate. Dispose of
properly. (See Safety Instructions)

CHIMNEY DRAFT: Draft is a function of the chimney, not the stove — do not expect the stove to draw. Smoke spillage into the house or excessive buildup of condensation or creosote in the chimney are warnings that the chimney is NOT functioning properly. Correct the problem before using the stove. Following are some possible causes for improper draft.

1. The connector stovepipe may be pushed into the chimney too far, stopping the draft.

2. If the chimney temperature is too cool, water will condense in the chimney and run back into the stove. Creosote formation will be rapid and may block the chimney. Operate the stove at a fire level high enough to keep the chimney warm to prevent condensation from forming.

3. If the fire burns well but sometimes creates excess smoke or burns slowly, it may be caused by the chimney top being lower than another part of the house or a nearby tree. The wind blowing over a house or tree, falls on top of the chimney like water over a dam, beating down the smoke. The top of the chimney should be at least three (3) feet above the roof and be at least two (2) feet higher than any point of the roof within ten (10) feet.

CREOSOTE FORMATION and REMOVAL:  Slow-burning wood produces tar and other organic vapors which combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. Creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire. As a result, creosote residue accumulates on the flue lining. If ignited, this creosote creates an extremely hot fire which may ignite surrounding materials resulting in a building fire.

If creosote has accumulated, it should be removed. Failure to remove creosote may result in ignition and may cause a house/building fire. Creosote may be removed using a chimney brush or other commonly available materials from your local hardware retailer.

CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS:  The chimney connector and chimney should be inspected at the beginning of and at least twice a month during the heating season to determine if a creosote buildup has occurred.

Chimney fires burn very hot. If the chimney connector should glow red, reduce the fire by
closing the damper and spin draft control and immediately call the fire department.
 

A fire in the stove may be smothered by pouring a large quantity of coarse salt, baking soda, or cool ashes on top of the fire.

STOVE JOINTS:  Required Tune-up.
This stove is manufactured with cast iron components. It does not have welded seams. Periodic "tune up" may be required by refilling and/or replacing the cement/joint mortar along the seams where the cast iron components meet.

Order replacement parts for the PF65XL Railroad Potbelly Stove

Wood stove accessories

This Vogelzang heating appliance is safe when installed properly and will provide you with years of service. However, always exercise good judgment when you are using this stove. You are dealing with FIRE! Fire is inherently dangerous and must be treated with respect. Stay warm and in good health!

Respectfully yours,

Steve Vogelzang

Proprietor

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