OSBURN 45 combex fan making noise

I installed this stove 12-4-2008 and on the first burn I got the exhaust fan scraping something metal. I removed the clean-out plate and can see the fan clearly. it is not hitting anything. So i push the electric motors fan shaft and it goes in about an 1/8th inch (this is normal for a electric motor) and spin the fan by hand. noise is gone. when i pull out the noise returns. So it looks like the fan and motor assembly will have to be removed to see actually where the noise is coming from.

I did check all the screws and all was tight.

If anybody else has had this problem, I would like to know if they sent you a new fan assembly or if they sent a tech out. (probably to grind something off which i could and prefer to do myself as so it will not void the warranty and i know everything is sealed back up again.)

I have been reading these forums for about 4 months and this brand does not seem to be a popular one.

At first mine made the noise only on start up and cool down when i turned it off. I guessed it was going thru a temp. change, but the next day it did it continuiosly. I looked inside the exhaust fan chamber and there is no pellets or ashes. It is almost impossible for pellets to get inside there. here is a link of a pic showing the air circulation inside the burn area. The pellets would have to go up top by the heat exchanger and bypass the stainless steel plate up top. I would look into it more if I were you, but i hope you have no problems.

I am going to call tomorrow. I will let you know what they do for me. thanks
This is pdf format and go to page 20.

http://www.fireplacesbymario.com/pdfs/Osburn_products.pdf

to pete, the drolet and osburn is made by SBI. INC which makes 2 other models. they also us the combex technology. mine might just be a rare problem. "I HOPE"

here is a link to manufactures.

http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/RES/tax/docs/RETC_WoodStoves.pdf