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Caution: This way lies MADNESS!
Once you open that baby up, plan on a month or two or full restoration, costing much, much more than $90. Whatever you do, don't pop those panels off to get at the springs. Live with that heavy door, you'll get used to it. Trust me.
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Thought it a shame to clutter treatmaker's nice history project.
The manual makes it look fairly simple so I wonder if you advising that it is more difficult than it looks or suggesting that it will lead to a desire to do more.
Probably, I'll never get around to it anyway. I bought everything to rebuild the light two months ago and it still sits in the store bag on the basement steps.
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It is simple to do, but yes once you see the gunk and rust that is in there, you won't be able to button it back up without wanting to do a full restore...
Which is fun but maddening...
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As Lowracer put it...fun but maddening!! Is very true.
When I received Big Bertha, we intitially were planning on just having her stovetop reporcelian. We learned quickly we had to disasemble the whole stove to get that piece off.
It was at that time, Hubby decided since she was all apart he wanted to repair, replace and restore. Time consuming?? Yes Maddening?? Yes Fun?? Yes Worth it?? A big Yes!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
Here's Big Bertha's journey.
Here's another post I did on what we used, where we got replacement parts, etc......
You have come to the right place for sources, help and advice. Welcome!!
Good luck!!
Berlyn
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As long as it's simple, the only motivation I need to avoid turning it into a full restore is the fact that we have no alternative cook top. Even for a Chambers, I won't live out of the microwave for weeks or months on end. Been there, done that!
I seem to recall a post from way-back that had some specifics on the springs, but I can't seem to find it again (Anyone? Anyone?). If I want my wife to continue to accept The Leviathan in our kitchen I have to make the door easier to use.
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Once you get the front panel off you'll probably find more than just a broken spring. Rust around the oven seal, baked on grease, etc.
Matty had one of her springs broken. Took the "good" spring to the local hardware and matched as close as possible. I've got 5/8" x 6" X .091" utility comp spring. We probably need a 5" spring but we'll be able to trim it off.
Century Spring Corp web www.centuryspring.com
phone 1-800-237-5225
Hope this helps.
Have you considered buying a garage sale stove for a few bucks while you rebuild your Chambers?
Ron
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New Chambers Guy, what model of stove do you have?
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If I tear it down and do the full restore with chroming and everything it defeats the original purpose to save money. With three kids running around (diaper changes anyone? I've got three in 'em) I don't have the opportunity to disappear into the basement or wherever to do the job anyway. Repairs are one thing, a restore is something else. A good cleaning is all it's needed so far. Now that the holidays are over I think I can take it out of service for a Saturday to replace the springs and rebuild the light. That will be the extent of the restoration, but it works like a charm and has been a conversation piece with the various family events here.
Robbiequest, it's the 90C.
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Well, I'm a little fuzzy on how the door operates with the Model C. If it were the Model B, I coulda been more precise. With what little I remember about the C door mechanism, it might not be just a simple one-day task. You might want to work out a deal with your wife that you will do the oven cooking until the kids are out of diapers. :-)
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Do what my hubby does when he's out "piddling on projects". He puts the grandson in a swing or takes the playpen to the room. But with 3, I can simply understand your dilemma! But it will take a little effort on your part. Just keep it simple
and remember to "bag/tag/number the screws, bolts, etc.. Take digital pics for reference. Your main problem is finding "quality time" to spend with your Chambers. If I was closer, I'd lend a hand or send hubby over to your house.
Cause down the road you'll appreciate the features of your Chambers with 3 small kids.
And don't get us starter with that.
They don't make'em like they use too!!
Berlyn
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"Mrs Lowracer" and I are expecting our first dirty-diaper-generator in late July, so I can empathize!
This also means my own Chambers restoration has a hard and fast deadline. Actually I hope to get it done by the end of January. The door spring wasn't a big deal, but it did require removing all the porcelain panels, the duracrome top, plus the cast iron oven door assembly. That's a lot of work to fix a spring.
The service manual is your best resource at this point.
