Service manual

Replacing An Element
Paragon replacement elements are stretched to the
proper length for the Caldera at the factory. However, a little
stretching or compressing may be necessary for a perfect fit.
It is safe to bend and stretch new elements before they have
been fired, but once fired and allowed to cool, elements be
-
come brittle and will break if bent.
1 UNPLUG the kiln and allow to cool to room temper
-
ature. Remove the top. Lift the kiln off the bottom
and place the kiln on a table.
2 Remove the screws on
the sides of the switch
box that hold it to the
kiln. Gently lift the box
away from the kiln.
3 Remove the screws in
the element connectors
that hold the element
lead wires to the ele
-
ment you are replac
-
ing.
4 On the same connec-
tors, loosen the screws
that hold the element
and throw old connec-
tors away. Always use
the new connectors
furnished with the new element.
5 Remove and save the porcelain insulators that were
behind element connectors.
6 Remove the old element carefully to prevent breaking
the lip of the element grooves.
If the old element burned out due to contact with foreign
materials, there will probably be a melted, glazed spot in the
element groove. Glazed spots left in the grooves may ruin the
new element, so dig out any of these spots. The small hole
left in the groove will not affect the new element. Small
pieces of firebrick in the grooves should be removed with a
vacuum cleaner.
7 Thread the new ele
-
ment into the upper
element hole.
8 The element must
fit all the way into the
back of each corner.
Making a bend in the
element at the cor
-
ner will help hold the
element in place during firing. Start by pushing the
element into the first corner. Hold the element
against the back of the corner with a screwdriver or
pliers. Then gently pull the free end of the element
toward you. The ele
-
ment will bend where
the screwdriver
presses against it.
Note: Remember, if
you do not push the el
-
ement fully to the
back side of each cor
-
ner, the element will
not stay in the grooves
when fired!
9 If the element is
slightly too long
when you reach the
second firebrick
hole, you can com
-
press the element
with long-nose pli
-
ers. If the element is
several inches too
long, it was not
pushed all the way to
the back of each cor
-
ner and should be rethreaded. If the element is too
short to reach the firebrick hole, unthread some of
the element. Gently stretch it in your hands. Avoid
stretching only a short portion of the element. It is
better to distribute the stretch over a longer section.
10 Press element down into the lower part of the groove
with a plastic comb or wooden tongue depressor.
11 Reinstall the porcelain insulators. Push them flush
against the heat shield. They protect the element
from contact with the stainless steel kiln case and
heat shield, so they must not work their way out after
the element connector is tightened into place.
12 Sandpaper the eyelet of the element lead wires until
bright and clean of all oxidation. (Install new lead
wires if insulation on old ones is brittle.) Use the
brass screw to connect lead wire eyelets to the new el
-
ement connectors. Before tightening screw, adjust
eyelet to where it will be tilted away from heat shield
when connector is attached to element. Then hold
connector with locking pliers and tighten brass screw
securely with a
1
4
” nutdriver.
13 Pull end of element tight and install new element
connectors snugly against porcelain insulators to
prevent insulators from slipping away from brick
wall.
Use stainless screw in the element connector to hold the
element. (The brass screw holds the lead wire eyelet.) Hold
connector with locking pliers as you tighten the screw with
the
1
4
” nutdriver. Tighten the screw to 30 inch pounds
(about 1
1
4
turns past the point of firm resistance).
/19
Hold the element connector with
locking pliers when removing and in-
stalling the connector.
Inserting the new element into the fire
-
brick hole.
Bending the element at the corner.
Use a screwdriver or pliers to hold the
element while you pull it.
If the element is too long, squeeze the
coils together slightly.