Accentra isn't lighting!!

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glockshooter

Member
Jan 2, 2010
81
Wilkes-Barre PA
Hey guys, I need your help and wisdom. A few nights ago, I noticed my accentra didn't light when we turned it on when we got home. I shut it down, restarted it and we were good. Then last night it won't light at all. I cleaned the burnpot pretty well, a good scrape and vacuum, all the holes look clear. I cleared out the ignitor and fines from there. Still no luck. I put in a new ignitor tonight.
First cycle went for 7-8 minutes with no smoke or flame. I shut it down and opened it up. The burnpot was warm, I didn't really grab it long enough to see how hot. I cleared the pellets out and tried again. This cycle went 13 minutes before I had enough. No smoke, I did have an ember or two pop, but no ignition.
During the cycles, the ignitor light was on, it was feeding and blowing. I'm using Cheat River pellets. A little dirtier than I would like, but so far they've been burning.
Any suggestions on a next step?
 
Hey guys, I need your help and wisdom. A few nights ago, I noticed my accentra didn't light when we turned it on when we got home. I shut it down, restarted it and we were good. Then last night it won't light at all. I cleaned the burnpot pretty well, a good scrape and vacuum, all the holes look clear. I cleared out the ignitor and fines from there. Still no luck. I put in a new ignitor tonight.
First cycle went for 7-8 minutes with no smoke or flame. I shut it down and opened it up. The burnpot was warm, I didn't really grab it long enough to see how hot. I cleared the pellets out and tried again. This cycle went 13 minutes before I had enough. No smoke, I did have an ember or two pop, but no ignition.
During the cycles, the ignitor light was on, it was feeding and blowing. I'm using Cheat River pellets. A little dirtier than I would like, but so far they've been burning.
Any suggestions on a next step?


Wondering are you getting enough pellets in the burn pot? I have changed my dip switches to add more time for pellets to move in the burn pot.
 
Unfortunately, the pellets are pushing over the lip into the ash pan. I'm going to reinstall the new ignitor tonight or tomorrow, just in case I fouled something up. Otherwise, it looks like a service call.
And according to the meter at work, I have an open in the old ignitor. Guess that was one issue at least.
 
Open, not good. Good luck
 
make sure the fines are not built up on the igniter. Do not mess with the dip switch settings.

Eric
 
The ignitor in it is new, i'll check it tonight to make sure everything is ok. Didn't even know I had dip switches, definitely not fooling with them.
 
make sure the fines are not built up on the igniter. Do not mess with the dip switch settings.

Eric

The op put in a new igniter and still no luck. I'm very interested in this thread as I have the same stove may help me down the road . As always Thanks Eric for your helping us trouble shoot.
 
Next check the holes in the burn pot. Next make sure the ports behind the firebox panels are not plugged. They are located on the lower right and left sides of the rear portion of the rear firewall. If there is an air flow blockage this will not allow the proper amount of air to pass the igniter.

***my bad I was thinking an insert***


Eric
 
Next check the holes in the burn pot. Next make sure the ports behind the firebox panels are not plugged. They are located on the lower right and left sides of the rear portion of the rear firewall. If there is an air flow blockage this will not allow the proper amount of air to pass the igniter.

***my bad I was thinking an insert***


Eric

Thanks I'm getting ready to clean my stove taking advantage of the near 50::F temps now I got something to check out. Hopefully when the OP gets back on you can get him up and running.

I should have read your post more clearly my bad
 
Next check the holes in the burn pot. Next make sure the ports behind the firebox panels are not plugged. They are located on the lower right and left sides of the rear portion of the rear firewall. If there is an air flow blockage this will not allow the proper amount of air to pass the igniter.

***my bad I was thinking an insert***


Eric

I'll check that tonight Eric. So when I look into the burnpot, I see the rows of holes in the very top/front. As it slopes down, I don't see anything. Right in front of the auger there is a row of a few. Is that what we're talking about?
 
Make sure all the burn pot holes are clear. The exhaust ports I was chatting about are on the insert not free stander.
 
understood. I really cleaned out the back while I had everything apart last night, seemed to really increase the air flow into the burnpot. I haven't seen pellets dancing in a while. I'm hoping it's just a pinched wire or something. There is no polarity on the ignitor, right? Didn't see anything indicative when I took it out, and both connections were the same.
 
understood. I really cleaned out the back while I had everything apart last night, seemed to really increase the air flow into the burnpot. I haven't seen pellets dancing in a while. I'm hoping it's just a pinched wire or something. There is no polarity on the ignitor, right? Didn't see anything indicative when I took it out, and both connections were the same.


Correct on polarity. a clean stove is a happy stoves.

Eric
 
Ok guys, here's where we stand now. I took everything apart again tonight, pulled the new ignitor and opened up the burnpot. Found that one of the little tabs on the ignitor basket cover broke off, letting the ignitor make a less than optimal position. I'm guessing I need a new basket, the old one doesn't seem to be reusable. Right now I've got it burning. Tried some copper wire to wrap the ignitor into the basket and at least make sure everything else is correct.
Is it normal to need a new basket with every ignitor? That little metal tab seems like a pretty weak design.
 
Ok guys, here's where we stand now. I took everything apart again tonight, pulled the new ignitor and opened up the burnpot. Found that one of the little tabs on the ignitor basket cover broke off, letting the ignitor make a less than optimal position. I'm guessing I need a new basket, the old one doesn't seem to be reusable. Right now I've got it burning. Tried some copper wire to wrap the ignitor into the basket and at least make sure everything else is correct.
Is it normal to need a new basket with every ignitor? That little metal tab seems like a pretty weak design.
That tab should only need a little twist to be removed. I have replaced a couple of ignitors using the same holder with no issues.
 
I have an insert vs. a freestanding, but they had to replace the "cradle" which holds the igniter as it was not holding it close enough to the burn pot. Since this change I have had no issues with the stove lighting.
Just thought I would share.
 
sometimes its simply the "cradle" cover not on the right way- there was actually a Harman bulletin on this a couple years back.....there hasnt been any new cradle designs....ever.....originals are just like current- calling "foul" on that above one....most likely the cradle cover on wrong....
 
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