You just completed the most difficult task of your rebuild, we hope! Chances are the rest will be easier. Enjoy. Brad
Congrats in 2 ways: You've got it apart w/o further damage. Related to that, your: "...Ive tried to bend it but scared to put too much force on it tbh." Congrats for having the "*sense/feel" not to apply too much force. What a shame that would have been if it is presently not misaligned. *This is not common sense. A skilled hand is becoming more rare each year. For an increasing portion of society all they know to resolve a problem is a keyboard (buy cheap replacement) and may never own hand tools of any sort. We all know folks that are clueless in this regard. The brass on our old stoves can at times be as unforgiving as it gets. Repairs require patience, a very close eye, extra care not to apply too much force and some tricks of the trade (most found in CCS search results). I wish you continued success. ----------------------------------- To what extent stoves are repaired by members varies widely from: A. do minimum to get it functional to B. complete like new restore. Veterans have advised complete A first. A fatal flaw discovered during A and there's no need for B (further optional steps).
Well im still waiting for the seals, so thought i would set up an electrolysis bath for the rusted 8R case. I used a old chisel as the sacrifice and a car battery charge for the power. I left it in soak for 24 hours and afterwards gave it a good scrub in the sink much to my wifes annoyance. The results were amazing, the case is in fairly good condition, okay it has some heavy pitting in places and a few dents on the base to sort out but really pleased. Just wanting the seals to arrive so i can fire it up. Then its repaint the case and then im going to have a bash at nickel plating the heatshield.
The new seals arrived today thanks to felttlebox so as soon as i got home i threw some fuel in it and fired it up. IT LIVES!!! I dont think the fuel was the greatest as it was sputtering abit but it fires up and works, needs abit of adjusting tho. Anyway one final test that ive read that everyone does on here so... Tea up anyone? The tin still needs painted and the heat shield needs replated and a matybe I'll make some new potstands. I'm loving this stove!