Lopi Pioneer has a rattle.

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DMZX

Member
Aug 30, 2010
211
NE. Oregon
This is the third season with my Lopi Pioneer. It seems to have developed a rattle that is increasingly annoying. This began to develop at the end of the season last year, but it is worse this year.

The shroud around the convection blower rattles. It quits when I put tension on it with my finger.

I blew it out well last spring and put a drop of oil on the motor shaft where it is exposed.

I have checked to see if the mounts are tight and they are. I am wondering if the bearings in the motor are going bad and producing a high frequency vibration that is being transmitted to the shroud assembly?

Any ideas would be appreciated before I talk to the dealer.
 
The fan may be out of balance, or bent, or has an uneven coating of dirt/dust. Is the shroud properly secured?
My combustion blower was way out of balance, and it's much quieter since I balanced it.
 
The shroud and fan assembly is not solidly mounted, meaning I can move it back and forth just a few cm's. It is secured, at the bottom only, albeit, with rubber washers. I have shimmed it so that there is some tension on the shroud, hoping that it can no longer vibrate. I will see if that works when I fire the stove tomorrow morning.
 
The rubber washers are there to absorb vibration; perhaps the fan in vibrating excessively, due to worn bearings, or out-of-balance condition…? Your shimming the housing may be transferring the vibration to the stove, which could amplify the noise.
 
My thoughts were bearing wear setting up some sort of harmonics that are being transmitted to the shroud, hence a high pitched rattle .

Looks like I need to see the dealer about a new fan/motor assembly.
 
Is this were you put the oil to lube it? If you don't see these, they may be on the underside.....take the blower/fan assembly out and rotate the motor so the holes are facing up.

The hole may have plugs in them like pic #2.
 

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I talked to my dealer about it and he suggested possible bad bearing or a slightly bent louvre , just sloppy enough to cause some vibrations.

I asked about oiling either exhaust or convection fan and he said both units were sealed.

I started the stove tonight and my dampening shim seems to have cured the noise, but I maybe looking at replacing the convection fan/shroud assembly soon. $95.00.
 
I had a similar issue with my Lopi Liberty insert blower fans. Removed the fans and found that a lot of dog hair had collected on the blades, causing an unbalanced wobble. Have you checked for something similar.

Love my German Shepherd, but there are dog hair tumbleweeds blowing around the house at times.
 
I had a similar issue with my Lopi Liberty insert blower fans. Removed the fans and found that a lot of dog hair had collected on the blades, causing an unbalanced wobble. Have you checked for something similar.

Love my German Shepherd, but there are dog hair tumbleweeds blowing around the house at times.

I think my Lopi has the same fan. I did blow it off last spring and did see any dog furballs fly off, but you are right, GSD's shed year round. My shepherd is my constant companion and I have a good vacuum.
 
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