new Bosca Spirit 500 just installed. Not dropping pellets

[steedums]

I got a new Bosca Spirit 500 deluxe a few weeks ago and just installed it. I poured in a bag of pellets and was able to get it started and it ran for 30 minutes before burning out. Since then, I have tried restarting it several times, and nothing happens except for the fan blowing. No pellets drop. I've tried opening the top, pressing the door pin down and holding down the "Auger" button to feed pellets, but nothing seems to happen. Any ideas?

Picture of my install:

http://imgur.com/zgFEz

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

When you first started the stove and it ran what heat setting were you running it at?

 

[steedums]

It was running on setting 1 or 2 (out of 4). I wanted to start out with the lower settings. I'm using setting 2 right now.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

OK were there any flashing lights on the heat level bar?

That is where the stove tells you what is what in terms of errors.

You also need to understand that your stove needs to have the damper adjusted for a proper flame to prevent the fire from just burn out before pellets can be delivered to the burn pot in time.

I'm reading the manual for your stove at this time.

 

[Woody1911a1]

try putting a hand full of pellets in the pot . mine was stubborn when i first started . didn't want to load . i know to everyone here that it doesn't make sense but ....

 

[steedums]

It had light #3 flash. I looked through the "troubleshooting" in the manual. The damper was at 1/2. When it burned out, it was because there were no pellets in the burnpot. I want to say that the auger is not feeding. I started removing pellets. I guess I should empty the hopper and try to pull out the auger next.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Before you do that locate the wires going to the hopper lid switch and jumper them together. Stove unplugged please. Then plug it back in and turn it on.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

If that doesn't work empty to hooper and see if there is a jam in the auger system. The manual also mentions that the auger system may take up to three start cycles to fully prime (that is if the auger is allowed to turn or can turn).

ETA: I prime my auger if I've let the stove burn the last of the pellets in the hopper by using the auger feed button during the next start up.

This could be why woody had good results by putting a hand full of pellets in the burn pot while trying to figure out what was going on.

 

[gymrat0663]

If that doesn't work empty to hooper and see if there is a jam in the auger system. The manual also mentions that the auger system may take up to three start cycles to fully prime (that is if the auger is allowed to turn or can turn).

Agree with Smokey -- I've only experienced this with my Bosca once or twice, but it is usually caused by an extra long pellet jamming the auger. Since I've stopped using those pellets, I've not had any problems. Start with the easy stuff first.

 

[Woody1911a1]

I

This could be why woody had good results by putting a hand full of pellets in the burn pot while trying to figure out what was going on.

when i first installed my stove i sat there pushing my auger button with no happiness . then i remembered (since i'd been following this forum for months) and just threw a handful in the pot basically doing the same thing as pushing the auger button and voila from then the stove just caught up and i was off and running .

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Some auger feed buttons time out and have to be repressed. Those auger feed buttons can be quite dangerous. You can easily over fire the stove playing with it.

 

[Woody1911a1]

mine didn't do anything . think that's why hand loading and letting it then run worked .

 

[steedums]

I tossed in some pellets and emptied the hopper and started it up. The pot started to burn, but the auger would barely move. I could hear the auger motor struggle. After 3 cycles and an hour, the Auger had not moved a noticeable amount. I took the auger motor off the back. I wish the instructions were a bit more detailed.

gymrat0663: What is the "auger shaft inspection plate"?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

One of the common places for a top feed stove is at the top of the auger flight where it meets the drop chute, you can normally clear a jam or bridge there by using a piece of stiff wire via the drop chute and poking at the pile up.

The other is where the hopper meats the auger, this is something you can see as you remove the pellets, frequently just removing the pellets from the hopper will clear a jam there.

If you are lucky and you stove has a removable auger flight cover you can get access to the entire auger flight by removing the cover. I didn't get to any exploded parts diagram in the manual so I don't know it that is the case on your stove.

 

[steedums]

I took a somewhat flexible plastic stick and got some of the pellets off the top of the auger and the bottom of it. It has 2 screws on the top of the auger cover in the hopper, but it seems that the whole thing is welded on.

Here is inside the stove looking at the hopper. The auger is on the left angle:

Here is the base of the auger shaft with the motor removed:

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Remove those screws and see if the end can then be lifted up.

ETA: If it can't be lifted put the screws back in and take the auger out by removing those four nuts and pulling it straight back.

You might also be able to attach pliers or such and work the auger by turning it via the coupling.

 

[imacman]

I took a somewhat flexible plastic stick and got some of the pellets off the top of the auger and the bottom of it. It has 2 screws on the top of the auger cover in the hopper, but it seems that the whole thing is welded on.

The auger flight cover w/ the 2 screws is probably sealed in place w/ hi temp silicone. Before removing it, try what smokey suggested and see if there is a way to manually turn the auger back & forth....if it's jammed, this might loosen it up enough. Or remove the 4 nuts, and remove the entire auger and back cover as Smokey suggested.

BTW, did you try putting 120v directly to the auger motor with a test power cord after you removed it? Just be careful to insulate bare connections if you do. This would confirm the auger motor is not to blame.

 

[steedums]

Smokey & Imacman: I removed the two screws, but the panel is not moveable. I'm not sure why there are screws. When I removed the motor, I put a screwdriver through the auger shaft, as there was a horizontal hole at the end, and tried to move it but it would not budge. The motor would torque slightly when the unit was on. The motor was getting power but the auger was totally jammed.

I was able to get enough pellets out of the top and back end of the auger so it started to turn very slowly. It sounded like it was cracking/smashing some pellets in the auger. After it had cleared the jam, it moved fine. I was using "Maine's Choice" pellets. I'll have to get some different pellets now.

Does anybody on here have a Bosca stove in Maine? If so, what pellets do you run?

Thanks for all the help! Jammed auger fixed!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Drop the bag of pellets on a hard surface before loading them in the hooper.

Find some MWP or something you can see into the bag to check the length of.

It is also possible that a higher torque auger motor would help matters out.

Jams do happen, normally the auger just cuts the longer pellets. Before the pellets are out of spec there has to be more than 1% of them longer than 1.5 inches.

 

[bollyRZ500]

can't help ya steedums.. when I was choosing between Ecoteck Francesca and Enviro Mini-A, for the small footprint... glad I never knew that make existed... that Bosca of yours sure is a looker of a pellet stove!!

curious what are they worth?

 

[steedums]

I've gone through ~5 bags of another brand, and no problems. I'm going to stay away from the Maine's Choice. Thank you all for the help.

Thanks for the compliment on the stove. I liked the "modern" design with the stainless steel sides. I got it from woodlanddirect.com. I'm pleased with it so far, outside of the auger jamming on that first set of pellets. I'm hoping to reduce the amount of oil I'm burning as oil heat is very expensive.