Cab50 Vibration

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J

James Hunt

New Member
Oct 17, 2013
7
Muskegon MI
I just installed my CAB50 last week and overall am very impressed with the unit. However, it has a strange querk which I can't figure out. As it starts its cycle of dropping pellets, igniting them and raising to temperature it will suddenly make a vibrating noise like a train just went by the window. You can see flame get smaller while its doing this. I pulled both side cover, heat grates, etc looking for a loose part to no avail. Any Ideas? I can't see anything obviously wrong.

1 45' angle , 1 two ft pipe, and end cap out side of house so its not a long stretch of 3 inch pipe, (or is it 4 inch)
 
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I just installed my CAB50 two weeks ago, and this has happened to me too! It sounds almost like air over a bottle, but very deep in tone. Like a low train horn, kinda?
It's only happened a couple of times, but I'd like to know what it is too.
 
yup like a train. You would think the stove would vibrate across the floor with the sound it makes. Got me stumped. I just slightly opened a window because i want to see if its air starvation causing it as I do not vent out for fresh air
 
Mine only makes (made) the sound when I was on LOW output. Is this the same with your unit?
 
nope, does it on medium and high, especially on high. What surprises me is that you can see the flame get smaller when the vibration starts. Sometimes just a low hum and other times I am sure its going to walk across the floor but if you feel unit you can't feel it vibrate but it sure gets a hum going.
 
try popping the door open real quick and see if that disrupts the resonance.
 
Did that right away and yes it does. Have had window open last 10 minutes and just now the vibration started so its not air starvation. I wonder if combustion motor fan is slipping or something as the flame does get smaller when resonance starts
 
wow. i only rarely get this effect.
if your set up allows, you could try rotating your termination cap a little.
could change the dynamics causing the note.
 
There has been problems like this on a few Englander stoves in the past. Mike Holton recommended placing a piece of duct tape over about 1/3 of the air intake.....that solved the resonance in most cases. Maybe try something like that with yours....it might work.

If it does, try slowly enlarging the opening until it starts making the sound, and put that piece back on.
 
Mine comes and gos. The manual actually mentions the "train noise".
 
MommyOf4 said:
Mine only makes this noise when the stove first starts.
Click to expand...


Sorry. That's what I meant. It comes and goes at startup, never when running.

The faq in the manual addresses it.
 
My unit sounds like a freight train at times what can
be done to eliminate this?
This is referred to as Rumbling. Maintenance may be
needed see “Maintaining and Servicing appliance” in
the owner’s manual. Decrease fuel flow see “Feed rate
adjustment” under Operating Instructions”.

This is what shows in the manual. I have reduced the feed rate to see if this corrects my problem Will let everyone know
 
I reported earlier that it's only happened on LOW. well, the stove was SET to low, but it's during startup when the combustion blower is running full tilt.
So I guess it's the same as everybody else's.

Thanks, James, for the info. Somehow I missed the reference in the manual!
 
I just received an official reply to an email sent to manufacturer and here it is

The vibration you are experiencing may be remedied by making a
slight fuel adjustment but moving the feed rate adjustment rod inside the
hopper down (to close off a portion of the feed tube). The vibration can be
caused when too much fuel is introduced into the firepot during the startup

I have adjusted the feed rate and the sound is definately going away. Note to self read manual!
 
Well that's good news. An easy fix!
I've looked through my manual AGAIN, and still can't find any reference to this sound or vibration.... (doh!)
I'm glad you let us know.
I see in your signature line that you used to have a window-unit pellet stove. Did you have any luck with it? What is your experience?
 
the window pellet unit was just too small for the area it had to heat. I ran it 24/7 and finally the chamber developed cracks in it. the ignitor went out, etc. As it was under warranty I called mfg and believe it or not they sent me a brand new unit out this april. As it wasn't big enough I traded it in for the CAB50 at my local Family Farm and Home. Boy was I happy. Window unit could not accept a thermostat so was a real pain to use. Overall would never recommend one to anyone. Heat output is just too low for the price. A real specialized unit if you ask me
 
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Howdy,

My Heatilator PS50 does the same thing with the rumble, which is funny that you mentioned the train because I have a train(s) that pass my house everyday and the sound is damn near the same :) After looking the unit over and making sure it was tip top, I came to the conclusion the rumble was air turbulence in the system. I tested this by blocking/cutting off the air coming into the unit and the exhaust. I found partially blocking the intake, the sound went away.

I have also adjust/closed the feed gate alittle with the same result.

I choose to leave the feed gate open (feed more into the pot fort a larger/hotter flame) and ignore the sound (I grew up to the sound of passing trains, lol)
 
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Shut the feed gate I the hopper. If it continues close the flap under the Ashland slightly.

Eric
 
Under the ash pan there is a little metal flap held down by a screw and a square cut out which the manual calls the 'combustion air damper', loosen the little flap and cover part of the cut out, keep adjusting until the rumbling stops. The manual says to do this, but it is buried in the middle and the damper is not shown on the parts diagrams. Seems to cut down on fly ash and does a more complete burn of pellets.
 
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