Profile 20 auger bushing question

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oneshot37

New Member
Dec 28, 2015
5
port townsend wa
Does the nylatron auger bushing on a Whitfield profile 20 wear out? Seems like I have a lot of play if I push up on my auger motor, possibly as much as 1/4" Does anyone know what the measurements are for a new bushing? Seems like a common part, is it anything available at a local hardware store sold as something else, or do you have to pay $20.00 + shipping to get a new one? Thank you for any help! Mike
 
Does the nylatron auger bushing on a Whitfield profile 20 wear out? Seems like I have a lot of play if I push up on my auger motor, possibly as much as 1/4" Does anyone know what the measurements are for a new bushing? Seems like a common part, is it anything available at a local hardware store sold as something else, or do you have to pay $20.00 + shipping to get a new one? Thank you for any help! Mike
Hello
The answer is Yes they wear out after many, many years, they should be snug and no you cannot buy them at a hardware store. The good news is, there is an aftermarket nylatron bearing available that screws into your auger end plate. Part # PP4000.
Hope this helps
 

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1/4'' of play certainly indicates a worn out nylatron bushing. Another indication is all the sawdust leaking through the clearance inside of stove.
Some of the leaking sawdust will get sucked up by the convection blower and out in the room through the glowing heat exchanger tubes. Some members here on the forum have noticed sparks coming out from the heat exchanger, so this could be a potential fire hazard.

I suggest you replace the worn nylatron bushing as soon as possible.

When I bought my Whitfield stove in 2008 the nylatron bushing was also badly worn and a lot of sawdust was leaking inside the stove. I took a picture of it. The convection blower is removed and you can see sawdust everywhere. Note, how some sawdust has settled in the cavity under the blower mounting. Some of it must have entered the room through the heat exchanger tubes, but I never noticed any sparks. Very low humidity of pellets and room air may be contributing factors that could ignite the sawdust. And of course running the stove at the highest heat setting with a badly clogged room blower!!
DSC00871.JPG

$20 plus shipping for a new nylatron bushing is pricy, but this part could be considered a safety part, so the properties of the material must meet a certain standard as for strength and heat resistance. Safety first!
It is, however, possible to make the bushing yourself. I did back in 2008 and it is still working perfectly. So far the auger in my stove has transported around 10 metric tons with my homemade nylon bushing. You'll need a precision lathe and the right material to make the part. The material I used must have been up to standard, since it is still working after 10 metric tons. The internals of a garden hose connector was what I used. It took some trials at the lathe and some scrapped hose connectors until I got a perfect result. The green outer parts are not needed. If you don't have a lathe, I suggest you order an original $20 nylatron bushing in stead ;)
Garden hose connector.jpg
 
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