For a Friend

Friend bought a M55 same time as me.
Burns about the same as well...maybe 4 tons between this season as last so far.

His stove shuts down now after being fully cleaned with error; hopper over heated, code 4.

Installer says it time for the yearly service...
I suggested that we post this first to see what might be the problem, and maybe we could fix it.

Yearly service is $175.00....this is worth a shot.

libirm....$175 seems to be a fair price for an annual, but if you have your owner's manual, it will tell you everything that you would need to do for the maintenance. But I do not think the over heat code would be coming on just because it needs the annual. Whip out the manual and do the cleaning on it, especially the pipe. Report back to us.

Stove have all its shots? I mean does it have the latest updates install? There were at least 2 that could cause this. But the one I would put on top is the convection blower upgrade. The original blower didn't have enough power to properly cool it. Second update was the adjustable auger cover.

As for cleaning? I always clean mine around 50 to 75 bags. I have never pushed 4 tons through a stove without cleaning it. The venting could be getting plugged and that will also reduce its ability to keep itself cool. And if they have pets the convection blower could be clogged with pet hair. That will definetly effect the cooling

As CT says its about time and not that hard to clean them really. If you have the tools and patience.

Interesting...he has two dogs that sit in front of the stove...

JT, so if I go to my dealer he should install these for me & my friend?
I will ask him to see what he thinks.

Thanks for the help & information.

He is another thought- where could I find the proper procedure in during a yearly maintenance on stove, remember ours is a insert.

Your dealer will need to be contacted. Depends how old the stoves are. Might need to check the dates on them. Either way the dealer is the only one that can get the pieces for you. Dealers usually do the installation, Some might let the owner change the parts.

If your stove isn't faulting you could pay a service charge for the installation of the pieces. But I would make a lot of noise if they try to charge service fees.

Here is a clip out of the manual on cleaning the unit. On the last page you will see the rail kit. If you haven't ordered the kit you will need to or make something that the unit will slide out onto.

That is great thanks JT.!!

On second thought. If you have never done this? What I would do is pay the man to do one unit. When he gets there, Tell him you want to learn all you can about your stove and watch him like a hawk(to learn and to make sure he's doing everything that needs to be done). Ask him some questions as he goes. Offer to help if needed. And tip him if he does a nice job for you. After you've tipped him ask all the hard questions he will usually offer them up with a smile.

Then you and your friend can do your own after that. You'll be seasoned pro's. Well almost!

Great Suggestion!! I already told my friend to let me know when the guy is coming...I just happen to stop over my friends house for the "beer" he owes me.!

Seems like we will be buying the rails from the dealer any way, so he will get something out of it and a tip.

I would tell your friend to pull out the convection blower and see if it failed like mine. The motor was hanging at about 15 degrees off from parallel with the blower shaft, causing the blower to shift in the bracket. I had very little airflow and a slight rattle to accompany my overheating

Thanks Francis-

I love it when folks collect an audience at stove service time... Generally I'm against large crowds, unless they are hanging from my every word

Good Point- discretion is key- offering a beer after might help as well.

IMO,a good tech, like some of the fine peeps in this room , are rooting for you, the stove owner, so its great when you show an interest in being proactive in the stove ownership game. Most of the challenge is having the willingness to get involved...you don't need a whole lot of skills when you get into it, and there's really not a lot of special tool required (blasted torx drivers!) to do the job in a propper manner. look at me, I used to cut hair, and now....I can cut hair and fix stoves. go team!

UPDATE
ok Friend had stove clean by professional; STILL overheats......now what, besides call the pro up again...anything we could try now?

Thanks

Was this professional a stove dealer or some
one else?

Yes- the dealer that installed the stove...

did you remove and inspect the convection blower ?

Yes, completly cleaned including the chimney

My question of it having all it's shots. If this unit doesn't have the upgraded blower it still could have the over heat issue. I'd contact the dealer and get the ball rolling. They should be able to install the upgraded blower and the auger adjustable cover plate.

J- good question; My friemd is goimg to add that request to the dealer tommorrow - however my friend is concerned about the heat limiting switch...
He restet twice with the stove still going off.

your sure he removed the convection blower, not the combustion blower ? It looks like this

http://www.STOVE-PARTS-UNLIMITED.COM/Enviro_M55_and_VF55_Convection_Blower_80MM_p/50-2481.htm

If he is running the stove on a high setting he may have to turn it down lower until the plower is cleaned or new upgrade installed. Might have to use the dreaded backup heat to get by?