Resurrecting an old Enviro

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begreen

begreen

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Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
104,680
South Puget Sound, WA
I have a Enviro that I picked up for free a couple years ago, I think it is a Windsor, but not positive. I don't know how long since it has last run, probably 4-5 years I would guess. It sat on the previous owner's porch under a sloppy cover so that the pellet hopper is rusty. It had about 3" of water in it when I got the stove. I dried it out and it has been sitting in the shop for a year now.

This weekend I have started cleaning it up. I had to grind off the 4 screws of the auger cover. They were rusted solid. The auger is rusty, but free of pellets now. Under the hopper things look better. There were some cobwebs to clear out but the convection and exhaust blowers turn freely when manually spun. The burn chamber has some surface rust, but seems solid and paintable once cleaned up. The castiron looks great. No rusting at all there. It is all white enamel.

My question is how to proceed so that I don't damage anything? Has anyone resurrected an old stove like this? Are parts still available? Should I do a dry run with no pellets just to check basic operations or are pellets required?
 
The big worry is whether the electronic controls still work.

Look everything over good, plug it in and mess with it.

If the blowers work and the auger runs, then the next thing is to see if the controls work.

If the timing sequencer (controls) cycle the auger, then try adding some pellets to the hopper and building a fire in the beast and see what shakes.

Why was the stove let sit ??

Did it have issues ????

Snowy
 
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Someone must have some spare hair and time?:) I would make a pigtail power cord and separately power all the motors. Then try to do a dry run. See if you can download a manual Polish up the auger flights and tube and probably spray the flights with graphite paint or moly to limit friction etc. Clean and oil the fans and make new gaskets for the exhaust fan. Others I am sure can detail further.
 
If it is indeed a Windsor parts will be readily available through an Enviro dealer. The Windsor evolved into the Empress and the vast majority of the parts are the same.
 
OK, thanks for the tips. I have the manual. Not sure why the folks never installed the stove. I think they were given it by a friend and hubby never got around to setting it up. Shame really. The stove looks great. outside of the rusty areas mentioned. Once I get it back together I will take pics. Are all the motors on this unit 120V?
 
I did a check for parts and the motors all appear to be 110. Expensive at the site I looked.
 
I just checked eBay and thought the parts were expensive too.
 
Looks like I will need a burn pot liner. Before I order any parts for this stove how do I verify make/model? So far I haven't found any UL label on it.
 
Post some pictures and someone here should be able to properly ID it. I was a able to ID a Pellifier that has been out of business since before 86.
 
Nothing that a stay where they have no idea what a pellet stove is couldn't cure. We didnt make it to 20 as they thought.just some more snow and wind.
 
It is white enameled cast iron jacketed, though it looks like a steel box inside the cast. It's a little hard to give a good picture right now because I have it all apart, but it looks like the Windsor from the manual.

I got the combustion and auger motors working. Tried plugging it in, but found one of the fuses blown. Replaced that and she lit up and tried running for about 30 seconds. Then red light flashing indicating vacuum switch failure. Oh well at least the control board appears ok. I found the silicone tube off the vacuum switch just flopping around in the back of the stove. It has a tiny aluminum barb that is corroded shut. Where does the orange silicone vacuum tube and this barb normally connect to? I can't find any port where it looks like it would belong. The barb is tiny, maybe 3/4" long and ends with an orifice. This is the part - note the price!! And that is the best price I could find!! Crazzy parts prices for this stove.
http://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/Sherwood-Industries-Aluminum-Hose-Barb-p/ef-019.htm
 
begreen said:
It is white enameled cast iron jacketed, though it looks like a steel box inside the cast. It's a little hard to give a good picture right now because I have it all apart, but it looks like the Windsor from the manual.

I got the combustion and auger motors working. Tried plugging it in, but found one of the fuses blown. Replaced that and she lit up and tried running for about 30 seconds. Then red light flashing indicating vacuum switch failure. Oh well at least the control board appears ok. I found the silicone tube off the vacuum switch just flopping around in the back of the stove. It has a tiny aluminum barb that is corroded shut. Where does the orange silicone vacuum tube and this barb normally connect to? I can't find any port where it looks like it would belong. The barb is tiny, maybe 3/4" long and ends with an orifice. This is the part - note the price!! And that is the best price I could find!! Crazzy parts prices for this stove.
http://www.stove-parts-unlimited.com/Sherwood-Industries-Aluminum-Hose-Barb-p/ef-019.htm
Click to expand...

OEM Enviro parts are expensive but they are high quality parts.
You might find something at the local hardware or auto parts store that will also work.

You can jump out the vacuum switch for now just to see if you can get the stove running. Just pull the wires off it and connect them together. :)
 
This is at most a $2 barb, really and that is being generous. $35 is like govt. pricing. I know that for testing purposes I can jumper the switch out, but would never want to leave it that way. Do you know where the hose+barb connects to?
 
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begreen said:
This is at most a $2 barb, really and that is being generous. $35 is like govt. pricing. I know that for testing purposes I can jumper the switch out, but would never want to leave it that way. Do you know where the hose connects to?
Click to expand...

Yes, I like to replace older orange or red vacuum hoses with some nice new high temp clear silicone vacuum hose. I like the clear because it is easier to tell if it is dirty. Anyway, the hose usually connects to a barb type port on the exhuast plenum in the Enviro stoves.
 
Man I have been searching all over the exhaust plenum for such a port without success.
 
begreen said:
Man I have been searching all over the exhaust plenum for such a port without success.
Click to expand...

I have worked on quite a few Enviro Empress stoves. Their exhaust port can be seen when removing the right side panel. The hose goes from the vacuum switch in the back straight to the hose barb. I would think the Windor would be the same but you never know. Where is the vacuum switch located?
 
Same part # fits all.If was mine,brass hose barb adapter(auto parts or hardware store) hose to pie thread,2 min.on grinder,install with some sealer.Check front lower firebox,under door?
 
OK, I found the port. The barb appears to have corroded right off at the exhaust plenum. I'm not sure what even holds this barb in place. Appreciate the suggestion bob. I may end up going that route.
 
Great, sounds like the only way to do that is at the factory before the plenum is installed. But aren't you suggesting replacing it with a pipe threaded barb?
 
Yes but grind threads off to make press fit,however if you cannot get to it,thread it and replace every year.Or weld steel pipe in,if you can get to it.Post picture.Not tonight,going to bed.
 
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