MFP Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 Olympic kilns have adjustable screws on the back to tighten the bands over time. But my question is.....how do you know when that is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 Check them every few months if you're firing regularly. Loose bands allow the bricks to shift, shortening their life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 So...is the way you determine if they are "loose" is by tightening the screws? Or is there some other way to know they are "loose". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 Yup. Just keep them tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 Tighten sequential, so if there are thee in a band, top, then middle, then bottom, then back to top, etc... the bands will bind and appear tight so moving through them in sequence will allow you to snug them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2019 Neil, During this cone 6 fire, the front of this lid lifted up at least a half inch. It was flush in the back and gradually raised up more and more until it was open a half inch under the handle. Does this imply that it might be too tight or too loose? I looked at it and it did not appear to be doming as we had thought previously. It did achieve cone 6. I put a cone on the shelf to see what temp it was on the shelf. Have not opened it yet. I put a cone 4-6 glaze on that shelf just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 20, 2019 Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 6 hours ago, MFP said: Neil, During this cone 6 fire, the front of this lid lifted up at least a half inch. It was flush in the back and gradually raised up more and more until it was open a half inch under the handle. Does this imply that it might be too tight or too loose? I looked at it and it did not appear to be doming as we had thought previously. It did achieve cone 6. I put a cone on the shelf to see what temp it was on the shelf. Have not opened it yet. I put a cone 4-6 glaze on that shelf just in case. Lids do lift, but 1/2" is a little more than I'd expect. You can put a latch on the front of the lid to help keep it down. Also make sure it's sitting evenly all the way around. If the hinge has dropped down a little bit, there's more pressure back there and the front will raise more. If the hinge itself isn't adjustable, then you can loosen the body band and move it up a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 Yes....cone 6 was just starting to bend in the top whereas it was fully down on the lower shelves. How do I put a latch on it? It has that typical Olympic lid arrangement with the three rods---I was wondering if I removed the center rod during the firing if that would help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 20, 2019 Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 15 hours ago, MFP said: Yes....cone 6 was just starting to bend in the top whereas it was fully down on the lower shelves. How do I put a latch on it? It has that typical Olympic lid arrangement with the three rods---I was wondering if I removed the center rod during the firing if that would help? Use one of THESE. You can get them at the hardware store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 So don't remove the center rod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 20, 2019 Report Share Posted August 20, 2019 If you remove the hinge rod, the lid won't lift in the front, because there won't be a pivot point any more. It will likely lift more or less evenly all around. What actually happens is that the bricks in the center expand more than the bricks at the edge, and the center bricks expand downward, which forces the edge bricks upward. You get a contact lens type shape. You can do that or latch it. I think pulling the rod will be a pain in the long run, whereas the latch is quick and easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Removing the rod only only involves removing a cotter pin. It's too heavy to go anywhere right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 10 hours ago, MFP said: Removing the rod only only involves removing a cotter pin. It's too heavy to go anywhere right? Right, it won't go anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 MFP, when the lid breaks because you have removed the rod, remember that Neil repairs kilns, hope he is close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 I contacted Olympic They sent me the troubleshooting page for this problem. When the kiln is hot, you loosen the screws on the hinges of the lid until the lid fits flush again. Then you tighten them up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Contacted Olympic....they sent me their PDF for this problem. When it is hot, you loosen the screws in the lid hinges until it lays flat and then tighten them again. Since they have it in their troubleshooting manual, it must be a fairly common problem. It's on page 56. It's too big to upload here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Sweet Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 MPF- Do you mind sharing that pdf? Others might be interested. If you do share it, my thanks! Regards, Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 I don't mind sharing at all. The entire manual is too large to upload....I already tried. I am trying to figure out how to save this single page to my desktop so I can just upload that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Got it downloaded...but this site does not upload pdf files It also won't copy and paste. I don't have the conversion program. You can download the entire manual directing from the Olympic site. It is on page 56 of the trouble shooting section. They just have one generic manual for all their kiln. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Sweet Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 I just sent a pm to Neil asking if there was a way to do that and maybe put it and similar things in s “pinned folder” within the forum. In the mean time, was it something that there was a link to, in which case can you post the link? Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFP Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 http://www.greatkilns.com/resources/operating-manuals.html This is all the manuals available: It is in the electric kiln one. If you click on any of the below, it takes you right to the pdf. Kiln Sitter Manual LT3K Kiln Sitter Manual P&K 3 Key Manual RTC-1000 Control Manual Electric Kilns Operating Manual Standard 3 Key Cone Fire Manual Orton Auto-Cone Manual Orton VentMaster Manual V6CF Manual V6CF 700 Series Olympic Gas Kilns Manual High Limit Controller for Gas Kilns Manual Gas Blower Burner Glass & Heat Treating Kilns Manual Genesis Manual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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