Open old cast iron door in chimney

[Borken1]

Hello,

I would like to access my chimney where the old oil burner was located. There is a cast iron door with a screw, see picture. I can remove the screw, but the door still won't open. I've tried rust remover, etc., but it won't budge.

Then I noticed that it looks like there are two screws screwed from the other side (in the actual trench). Has anyone seen something similar and know how to open the door?

 

[jonaserik]

Where are the other screws? Then removing the cover and it's like it's stuck, could be due to a lot of soot in the tracks. Tap on it with a hammer, while pulling on the handle, could be like a guide behind it and it should move upwards, to unhook.

 

[Borken1]

Should you pull it straight out or is there a hatch?

Looks like two screws in the ear, but screwed in from the inside.

 

[jonaserik]

Should you pull it straight out or is it a hatch?

Looks like two screws on the ear, but screwed in from the inside.

It's a hatch that, """ now I'm saying maybe pulled straight up """, on some there are claws on the inside sides that hook into the frame. You need to mark on your photo where the screws you mention are located. No screws are likely for the hatch from the inside, it's probably more of a soot hatch today. Has the boiler been connected to the chimney there, do you think? Usually not so, but a bit up, above the hatch. It can be visible if something has been bricked up. Is there a stove/fireplace one floor up that is on the same flue perhaps, are there soot hatches one floor up then.

 

[Borken1]

It's a hatch that, """ now I might say pulls straight up """, on some there are claws on the inside of the sides that latch onto the frame. You need to mark in your photo where the screws you mention are located. No screws are likely for the hatch from the inside, it's probably more of a soot hatch today. Has the boiler been connected to the chimney there you think? Usually not like that, but a bit up, above the hatch. It may be visible if something has been bricked up. Is there a stove/fireplace one floor up that is on the same flue perhaps, are there soot hatches one floor up then.

You can quite clearly see that a hole just above the soot hatch has been bricked up. Attaching an image of the screws. Might need to try pulling upwards more. It's almost impossible to pull it straight out, because the actual handle has soft edges so you can't get a grip.

 

[jonaserik]

Yep, then there has been a soot hatch for the furnace. As I mentioned earlier. There's probably a lot of soot that has compacted against the hatch and the shelves. So tap on the hatch while pushing it upwards. If it's difficult, take a bar positioned on the floor and another bar that fits in the handle/ear and lever it upwards; it then becomes a lever that's stronger than your fingers. But you'll probably have to tap for a long time for it to release. No need for strong blows, just moderately so, so it doesn't crack.
Do you get what I mean by lever?

 

[TorpAnders]

Test and tap with a hammer from below, the hatch should only be lifted upwards to detach.