Pellet Insert Removal

For those of you with an insert, what is your favorite method for pulling it out for cleaning/repairs?

Currently, I remove the surround panels and set those aside, then walk the stove out by picking up one end and rotating it, switch to the other side and rotate, etc. I have a flex pipe that attaches from the combustion blower to the solid sleeve running up the chimney so I can get it out quite a bit before needed to unhook the two.

The whole "left foot, right foot" is slowly putting some nice scratches in the hearth stone. Any tips to make this less painful?

Well a wooden dowel worked like a charm. Rolled right out without any scraping noise - going to work on building a cart like mentioned above.

Man, I took the stove completely apart and cleaned the ever living hell out of it. I don't think the previous house owners ever cleaned it once, the whole backside behind the firebrick plate was full (to the top) of ash, and the side exhaust cleanouts were completely packed. I removed the vacuum hose line and blew it out, vacuumed out all the passage ways and cleaned and lubed all the motors.

Replaced the auger motor (pain in the ass to get the set collar to lock into the flat part of the spindle), but this stove ran like a champ. Have a new door gasket on the way and should be in tomorrow (can see a major draft entering in under the door) and hoping that will keep it from kicking off after the metal starts expanding.

But it is amazing how a deep clean really springs new life into these machines.