My Big E shuts down at least once a day with bridged pellets. I am burning Prestologs and they are not large at all. Any tips or tricks? I stir the hopper every time I walk by. I have an idea similar to the design of the auger in my walk behind seed spreader. It has an agitator pin attached to it so when it spins, this pin also spins with it helping to eliminate the same issue. Wondering if I can add this to the Big E auger...
Big E & Bridging
- Thread starter bonesy
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Tony K
Member
jmbones said:
JM,
I have a Big E (7 years now and counting) and so far have never had auger problems, passing all different lenths through it (and who knows what else!! a joke from a previous post). How old is the stove? wondering if the auger motor is getting weak? I know people who have had similar problems and changed the auger and it solved their problem, a guy I work with had like problems on a brand new stove and had the auger motor replaced and it solved his problem. I've never had to stir the hopper. You might want to try a different brand of pellets first, then have the motor checked. The auger motor in my Big E is one of two original parts still working, you just never know! probably just jinxed myself! Jay will probably be on sometime today and give his expert opinion, he has helped me a lot.
smwilliamson
The Stove Guy
IF you notice that your pellets are long...try dropping the bag on the floor from chest height before you load them in.
jtakeman
Minister of Fire
Good question. I can't answer that. When I notice it shuts off, the only thing I do is take the scraper tool and push the skinny end down into the pellets a few times and I can hear them dropping into the auger. So it's one or the other. Before my first use, I did use wax paper on the inside of the hopper in the hopes of making them slide down easier. Maybe time for another "buffing". My hopper is usually never below half or 3/4 full so I am not really able to see anything.j-takeman said:
titanracer
Feeling the Heat
j-takeman said:
You may need to spray the inside of the hopper with a dry film grahite spray & let dry, before loading pellets back in your hopper. Spray also what ever you can see of the auger, this will help or even solve your problem. Make sure to clean any dust (vacuum) from the hopper area before spraying.
Tailrace
New Member
I had the same problem the first few times I ran my pellet stove 5 years ago when it was new. Someone on here told me to "sand" the hopper sides smooth with one of those green scrubby pads. Then once a week I would sprinkle powdered graphite inside the hopper when it was empty. I did the graphite for my first burning season, haven't done it since, and I've never had another problem with the pellets bridging. Hope this helps!
mischinski
Member
Big E owner here. Have not had this problem to date - 3rd year running. Might be pellets or machine malfunction. Best of luck going forward.
titanracer
Feeling the Heat
Can I use spray graphite dry lubricant or does it need to be powder? or are they one in the same? reason I ask is because this stuff is extremely flammable.
Ie: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Ie: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
titanracer
Feeling the Heat
[quote author="jmbones" date="1323993968"]Can I use spray graphite dry lubricant or does it need to be powder? or are they one in the same? reason I ask is because this stuff is extremely flammable.
Ie: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053[/quote
I used the spray graphite dry lubricant. It's not flamable after it has dried. Don't use anything that would stay wet to the touch. That would make one heck of a mess with pellet dust sticking to it. I know what the powder is also but never have used it. I don't know if it would stick or just slide right on down in the hopper.
Ie: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053[/quote
I used the spray graphite dry lubricant. It's not flamable after it has dried. Don't use anything that would stay wet to the touch. That would make one heck of a mess with pellet dust sticking to it. I know what the powder is also but never have used it. I don't know if it would stick or just slide right on down in the hopper.
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