England's Auger Motors

I started to have problems with the Lower auger motor on my 25-pvdc and I looked at the englander website. The motors they offer are an "MK motor", I found a company called Gleason Avery they make an Auger motor that is better built then the MK motor and is cheaper. I have had out in my stove for about 3 weeks and it works great and is quiet. I would highly recommend that motor.

Are you supposed to re-grease the gearbox on an auger motor?

ResQmedic121 said:

I started to have problems with the Lower auger motor on my 25-pvdc and I looked at the englander website. The motors they offer are an "MK motor", I found a company called Gleason Avery they make an Auger motor that is better built then the MK motor and is cheaper. I have had out in my stove for about 3 weeks and it works great and is quiet. I would highly recommend that motor.

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Which motor did you order?

OU812 said:

Are you supposed to re-grease the gearbox on an auger motor?

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I'd say no, the gearbox is sealed tight. The grease should be designed for high temp use and unless it's leaking out (at least one poster here has reported this), leave the box alone. I would put a drop of high temp light oil on those bronze 'bearings' at each end of the motor armature shaft though, once per season at normal cleaning/overhaul time. I have a quart of 'turbine oil' from an army surplus store, surely a lifetime supply, that I've kept for just such a use. My motors are the MK's in the Englander series. The motors in the 25PDVC are an easy removal, and the drop of oil would be best applied holding the motor so the oil will drain into the bearing/shaft, very hard to do with it in the stove.

And while we're on the subject, yesterday I got rid of an annoying 'grumble/buzzing' that the auger motors made, from time to time, which turned out to be the backing plate/rear cover making slight interrmittent contact with the edge of the motor winding plastic end pieces. I just pushed the motors in with my finger toward the front of the stove, and pulled the backing plate away from the motor. This will probably have to be repeated as they work their way backward and make contact again. When I do my annual cleaning, I'm going to modify some of the cut-outs in that plate, which are very sloppy and not a good fit around the incoming air tube and exhaust port, and work the metal around the back of the motor housings so it will clear them by 1/16" or so. That rear plate/cover is a huge steel sounding board that amplifies any vibration from contact.

I've noticed there are zerk fittings on the auger bearings... are we supposed to grease them?

Orange Crush CJ-7 said:

I've noticed there are zerk fittings on the auger bearings... are we supposed to grease them?

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I thought I read that they are greased at the factory and shouldn't require servicing for many years/tons, if ever. It's not like 1 RPM is going to load the bearing much. I plan to inspect mine 1/yr and if I see evidence of leakage, I'd put a shot of grease in, that is, if Englander would tell us what grease is recommended for use in this high temperature environment.