P61 Issues

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I don't see anything wrong at all. Many Harman owners scrape the burnpot once ot twice a day. The soot buildup on the glass is exactly the same pattern that it builds up on mine. Now that it's getting warmer and the stove is on and off a lot, it will build up quicker. So all and all. I don't see a problem.
From what I see you don't have a problem at all.....except for the Greene Teams. VERY high ash the past couple of years. The reason the flame gets lazy is the holes in the burnpot get restricted by the ash. As soon as as you move the ash from the holes, I trust the flame gets better?
 
I dunno, but the outside pipe certainly doesnt look like simpson, tho maybe I am wrong...

That Vent Termination cap is Simpsons Pellet vent Pro cap. Its there standard Pro Cap.

My only comment is the color?? Looks like that vent has been VERY HOT!! Those colors are indicative of Overfire? IMO.

Here is my Cap for my Quad. 5 seasons..


2013-03-09_17-46-50_143.jpg
 
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Does the flame look the same after clearing all that ash from the burn pot? (Mentioned in another post) We clean that ash 2 or more times every day. Our pellets are a bit on Ashy side.

How about the seal on the hopper door?

Were the door gaskets changed recently? Looks like they were. Looks like the same gasket
material was used for both the glass seal and door seal. Issue with that, not sure.
Our gasket for the glass is smaller in diameter and looks like a different material/color.
***Can see your glass gasket from outside.**??

The flame should change quite a bit door open vs closed. If yours does not, air leak for sure.
Your outside venting with 45 deg drop looks just like ours. Our install is straight out and no
more than 6 ft in length. No problems

Other members have already covered pipe cleaning.

Good Luck, and keep us posted...

Pictures attached. This is our 5th Winter. Original gaskets but going to change them this Summer. Evidence of glass seal leaking. Saw that on yours also. Trying to help!!
 
My only comment is the color?? Looks like that vent has been VERY HOT!! Those colors are indicative of Overfire? IMO.

The test date on the stove is March 1998. I bought the stove used September 2012, the vent pipe came with the stove, I only added a 1 foot section from the back of the stove. So I really don't know about how it was ran, all I know is that it works.
Could water dripping down from the roof cause that color?
 
Does the flame look the same after clearing all that ash from the burn pot? (Mentioned in another post) We clean that ash 2 or more times every day. Our pellets are a bit on Ashy side. How about the seal on the hopper door? Were the door gaskets changed recently? Looks like they were. Looks like the same gasket material was used for both the glass seal and door seal. Issue with that, not sure. Our gasket for the glass is smaller in diameter and looks like a different material/color. ***Can see your glass gasket from outside.**??


Let me first say thanks for all that have responded.

The stove was bought used and the door gasket was clearly redone, I actually changed the gasket that seals the door to the stove. The previous owner had a very thick heavy gasket on the door. I have a Harman dealer close by and asked him for a door gasket for a Harman P61, I have not touched the gasket for the window on the door. I have replaced the gasket for the air wash but that small problem still persists..

I have done a thorough cleaning yesterday even pulled out the blower and removed all the crud that would accumulate after all those years of service. I even did the leaf blower to the vent pipe and pulled out the ESP and wiped that down. The flame is very active it only became lazy with the ash build up in the front of the burn pot. 20130310_082639.jpg
 
Seems fine to me... I have the same build-up, and scrape daily to avoid it.

A video of your flame normal then your lazy flame is best way to ensure you are not just being paranoid.

Open your door a inch or more, and see how a lazy a flame can be.
 
Make sure to clean the area behind the exhaust fan. It can be a bit of a pain to pull the fan off, but ash can really build up behind it and restrict airflow. I also get the ash build up. I usually scrape the pot when I fill the stove.

No need to pull the fan. Think dollar store 1.5-2" paint brushes. They get behind the fan nicely and you don't care about damaging the brush.
 
Another couple of places to clean. Did not see them mentioned above:
1) Remove wing nuts on front of burn pot. Remove plate. Clean ash/fines etc
which fall through the holes in the burn pot. Ignitor location.

2) Clean the infamous "Fines Box" located rear right side under cover.
There are a couple of threads which go over this.

Glad to see the flame looking normal!
Enjoy the stove! We are closing in on 20 tons burned. Love it!
 
No need to pull the fan. Think dollar store 1.5-2" paint brushes. They get behind the fan nicely and you don't care about damaging the brush.

The 1.5" works well for cleaning the ESP probe without pulling it as well.
 
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To the OP: I get that same flame after ash buildup from certain pellets. More so from a low medium overnight burn. This morning the MWP soft has my burn pot and flame looking exactly the same as the original picture. A quick clean of the pot and all is OK again.

Also my stove had a deep cleaning including venting 8 days ago and a quick upper firebox vac on Saterday so it is no air flow related in that sense.

No worries on this its all good.
 
I suspect it's just the angle at which the photo was taken, but as I look at the picture showing the inside portion of your venting behind your stove, the spot where the first and second straight pieces come together looks a bit bent, like the pipe isn't properly seated and connected correctly. Is it possible you have a leak in that spot? I'm not sure that would be your problem but it does appear as though that connection in your venting looks a bit off.
 
Another couple of places to clean. Did not see them mentioned above: 1) Remove wing nuts on front of burn pot. Remove plate. Clean ash/fines etc which fall through the holes in the burn pot. Ignitor location. 2) Clean the infamous "Fines Box" located rear right side under cover. There are a couple of threads which go over this.

The trap door under the burn pot is cleaned every chance I get, and the Fines Box (auger box) has been vacuumed of fines too.
 
I suspect it's just the angle at which the photo was taken, but as I look at the picture showing the inside portion of your venting behind your stove, the spot where the first and second straight pieces come together looks a bit bent, like the pipe isn't properly seated and connected correctly. Is it possible you have a leak in that spot? I'm not sure that would be your problem but it does appear as though that connection in your venting looks a bit off.

Thank you, I will look into that it was sealed with silicone from the previous owner, I never took it apart when I installed it. Never saw any soot coming from that connection
 
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