Mt Vernon Quadrafire issues again and again and again!!!!!

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Smokey, this is a pic zoomed out if the right side panel. Then a closer image. You can see the two wires removed from snap disc 3 and obviously the vacuum hose is removed just so you see the snap disc.
 

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I have a question and it may seem out of place but did you adjust your flame height when you started that batch of pellets?
 
Adjust the flame height? I adjusted the pellet slide inside the hopper. I opened it a bit more since the pellets are longer. But flame height?

That is what Quadrafire refers to that process.in a large number of its manuals, the rest of the world knows it as adjusting the fuel to air ratio and it must be done at a particular heat range to have been properly adjusted so the controller can maintain things between each heat range setting.

Ask Kap all about it. A stove that isn't properly adjusted can exhibit all kinds of problems some of which I believe you have already encountered.
 
Can you get a few bags of good pellets.

The pellet adjustment slide bar is supposed to be set so you have a 6" flame height while the stove is on Quad. Any such adjustment is almost not worthwhile when dealing with very long pellets as they will not feed correctly with getting over/under the proper amount dropped into your burn pot or none at all. Seperated issue from your stove not starting.

Am I confusing you with another member in that you shorted out the control box while jumpering the 3 snap disc?

Do you know anyone that could help you check things out with a meter? It would help to know what is good or bad without just replacing it. If a meter was put on the breaker you would know if it was a source of your stove not starting and a meter would also tell you if the snap disc is bad or not. Any buddies from work that might be able to help you with a meter? I know kinda grasping at straws but am trying to help you from just replacing parts.

If your snap disc is broken it will stop your stove from turning on. Me, from what you have said, I'd replace it. Make sure it's a resettable one either manual or automatic which is more money.
 
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Cheap multimeters abound. They are frequently under $5, in fact HF frequently gives them away just for coming into the store.
You can use it in resistance (Ohms) mode to safely check contacts, switches, circuit breakers and igniters while disconnected from the AC mains. Your trouble shooting will go a lot faster, and you will probably save it's cost on some part that you really didn't need to replace.
 
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I would run to sears and get a volt -ohm meter for $15 and stop trying to guess at some of these issues. No home owner that has electricity should really be without one.
 
If #3 snap disc is bad or poor connection, there is no power to stove. This disc shuts power down to whole stove if there is a fire backing up the drop chute.
 
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Can you get a few bags of good pellets.

The pellet adjustment slide bar is supposed to be set so you have a 6" flame height while the stove is on Quad. Any such adjustment is almost not worthwhile when dealing with very long pellets as they will not feed correctly with getting over/under the proper amount dropped into your burn pot or none at all. Seperated issue from your stove not starting.

Am I confusing you with another member in that you shorted out the control box while jumpering the 3 snap disc?

Do you know anyone that could help you check things out with a meter? It would help to know what is good or bad without just replacing it. If a meter was put on the breaker you would know if it was a source of your stove not starting and a meter would also tell you if the snap disc is bad or not. Any buddies from work that might be able to help you with a meter? I know kinda grasping at straws but am trying to help you from just replacing parts.

If your snap disc is broken it will stop your stove from turning on. Me, from what you have said, I'd replace it. Make sure it's a resettable one either manual or automatic which is more money.


With large clumps of fuel hitting at once the fire is very rich and you are going from under to over firing the stove and can like bad gaskets end up with a pile up and resultant issues including burn back which will cause not so funny things that you really don't want to deal with. Hi limit/fuel interrupter systems that do not indicate their state or auto reset are a nuisance inflicted upon the stove world.
 
Hi there,
This may be complete jibberish and I might be completely out of line but I have the same stove , more to the point, the same vacuum switch. The plastic box on/in the switch that the connectors are melted into is loose on mine and occasionally, for no apparent reason, the stove will shut down and will not start again. If I move the plastic box with the connectors slightly into the silver vacuum switch, hit reset multiple times, sometimes unplug the stove for a few minutes, turn the thermostat down then up again it has started up again. Often, I must hit the reset button once a minute for 4-5 minutes, but she does start up again. Other times, just hitting the reset once works. Ignore this if your connections are not loose in the vacuum switch, but if they are, might be worth a try... Sorry for my two cents worth, now that the penny has been phased out... And I'm sorry about all your troubles. Good luck
 
image.jpg So after testing the snap disc #3 and getting no power, I replaced it. Stove has been working fine since. I also used image.jpg all the crappy Pellets and got some stove chow which is burning great! No issues since! Thanks for all the help and advice. Here's a couple pics of the bad snap disc
 

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Glad it didn't end up being a board. Who did you get to check the disc?
 
Glad it was a cheap fix, and you are up and running. Stay warm. kap
 
I just jumped out the disc and the stove turned on, so I replaced it and voila. It runs fine now although its been off for 2 days since the temp has been warm! But its good to know if it drops again, at least I have the pellet stove back! Thanks guys
 
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