Harman XXV - auger screeching - how do I remove it?

Hi, I've had a Harman XXV for about 6 weeks now. I'm not new to pellet stoves, had 2 before at previous houses. But, this is my first problem like this. Two days ago, the auger started making a horrid high-pitched screeching sound each time it turns. I've thoroughly cleaned the stove, and I see no sign of the auger scraping the sides of the tube, at least in front (not 100% sure about in back). The noise is loudest out the back of the stove, and it goes away while I am pressing my hand against the back of the auger motor, only to start immediately again once I release my hand. It is quite unbearable, makes my ears hurt within a few minutes.

The local pellet stove store is booked up for appointments, and this was intended to be my primary source of heat. Its not some novelty item that I can merrily wait around for over a week for someone to show up. I've been trying to fix the noise, and also have been making several trips to/from the pellet stove shop to discuss this with them.

I'm thinking that either the auger isn't aligned properly in the tube, or there's a pellet wedged against the back end of the auger that is scraping. (Although if that's the case, wouldn't friction wear out the wedged pellet and sound go away? It is getting louder.) I opened up the panel that lets me clean out the fines that collect back there, and vacuumed them out. From what I can see, it looks fine in there but my visibility is terrible so I can't be sure.

So, I've been trying to remove the motor and then the auger. I have a corner installation. I haven't been able to get a tool properly onto the set screw for the auger motor well enough that I can apply sufficient force to budge it. There's hardly any room at all the work back there. I've tried socket extensions, including a flexible one. I've tried the auger in different positions to move the set screw to different places to try to reach from other directions. I'm stumped! I have no idea how to get this thing off. What do people do?

Assuming I can get that off, then how would I reach the two bolts that hold on the flange? I can see them, barely, but that's about it. They look even more inaccessible than the set screw. What would people recommend?

One more thing, here's a video that perfectly demonstrates what the noise sounds like. This is not my video, just something I found on youtube. The sound is identical in every way (and he hasn't solved his yet either):

It's clean, that isn't the problem. The burn pot and the coal-like carbon deposits are thoroughly scraped off of it, not merely swept off like people often make the mistake of doing. The tube (the part I can see from the front) had nothing in it other than discoloring. I understand everyone likes to say clean it since lack of proper cleaning is a common mistake. But, that isn't what is going on here.

Feed setting is at 4; that does not matter, it screeches at any setting. The year of the stove is October (this year). I have only burned about 30 bags of pellets so far.

Pressing on the motor stops the noise; any thoughts on what that might indicate? I don't see the auger shifting position at all when I do this, but the motor itself wobbles a little bit, maybe 1/8". I have no idea if this is normal though for it to move a bit.

My attempts to get the motor and auger out were hopeless... I can't figure out how you can get back there, especially when the stove is located in a corner. I suspect it is a little less painful to deal with this if you're against a side wall instead of a corner. Best would be out in the open, of course.

Good news though, I managed to get the guy to come over from the pellet stove store today. As I suspected, it was clean. The loud noise was coming from the auger; it has tiny burrs along the blades, plus Harman designs them so that the tolerances are too tight. If anything is even the slightest out of whack, that's enough for the auger to brush the inside of the tube back in there. Much to my surprise, he replaced it with an auger that had been modified at the shop -- they had cut down the diameter of the auger at their shop so that it has more clearance in the tube. (I bet they must see this problem a lot. I have no idea how many other stores out there do this... I was surprised that they'd do anything other than replace with an identical auger from the factory.)

I didn't mention this in my original post, but yesterday I noticed the motor made an odd buzzing sound too. This sound is only audible when the rear cover is off. I wasn't sure if it was normal or not. Pellet stove guy says its not normal. So, he replaced the motor too, and now that noise is gone.

So far, all looks well. Meanwhile, Harman should get a better handle on how their stoves work out in the real word and tweak their designs to be more robust.