Lubrication for the auger?

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RKS130

RKS130

Minister of Fire
Oct 14, 2011
601
Lower Hudson Valley, NY
I seem to recall reading a few threads here on the subject of additives to the pellet hopper to lubricate the auger. I think one poster used cooking oil, another graphite (powdered I presume).

My auger seems to labor just a bit on startup this year, so it brought the idea to mind. Any thoughts on the subject by those in the know?
 
Make sure to clean the fines box on the feed mechanism of your stove. That said I wouldn't use cooking oil in the hopper, seems like it could be a fire hazard to me. Graphite powder or dry molybdenum should be fine.
 
Couple manufactures expressly state to not add oil etc to pellets. I use graphite paint to augers with good success and powder is recommended with kernel burners long feed auger but application of graphite paint is more effective lasting years.
 
Thanks for the insight. I will clean the fines box and perhaps get some graphite as well.
 
I had the same issue with my Accentra. I too emptied the fines box, but the problem of a stiff auger persisted. My solution? 1. empty hopper; vacuum it clean; 2. empty fines box; vacuum it clean; 3. remove chain drive from auger. Attempt to turn auger by hand (mine was really tight). Place vacuum in hopper, vacuum while turning auger by hand (clockwise and counter-clockwise). Continue to turn auger while moving your vacuum from fines box, to hopper to burn pot. When done, the auger should spin freely.

On my stove, eventually, whatever was built up or around the auger came loose and was sucked out by the vacuum. The auger on my stove was so stiff that I was concerned the motor would burn out or sprockets would be stripped.

This is now part of my regular maintenance.
 
fedtime said:
I had the same issue with my Accentra. I too emptied the fines box, but the problem of a stiff auger persisted. My solution? 1. empty hopper; vacuum it clean; 2. empty fines box; vacuum it clean; 3. remove chain drive from auger. Attempt to turn auger by hand (mine was really tight). Place vacuum in hopper, vacuum while turning auger by hand (clockwise and counter-clockwise). Continue to turn auger while moving your vacuum from fines box, to hopper to burn pot. When done, the auger should spin freely.

On my stove, eventually, whatever was built up or around the auger came loose and was sucked out by the vacuum. The auger on my stove was so stiff that I was concerned the motor would burn out or sprockets would be stripped.

This is now part of my regular maintenance.
Click to expand...


Thanks. I will give it a try. Did you turn the auger from the burn pot end?
 
RKS130 said:
Thanks. I will give it a try. Did you turn the auger from the burn pot end?
Click to expand...
No. I removed the chain drive and turned the sprocket - wearing a glove. I could barely turn the auger initially (hence the heavy glove), then by turning it back and forth and vacuuming, whatever was jammed (I suspect it was some foreign object) got sucked out and the auger would literally spin freely.
 
fedtime said:
No. I removed the chain drive and turned the sprocket - wearing a glove. I could barely turn the auger initially (hence the heavy glove), then by turning it back and forth and vacuuming, whatever was jammed (I suspect it was some foreign object) got sucked out and the auger would literally spin freely.
Click to expand...

Thanks
 
There was a thread on removing, removing burrs and lubricating augers last year, with great pictures of the process. After I read that, I removed my auger and put a heavy wire wheel to it, and made it look like new. Although, I did not have dry lube to finish the job it worked good.

Bill
 
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