Wasn’t Like that in the Training Film!

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Icemanxxxv

Member
Oct 20, 2014
87
Smithville MO USA
After a short heating season last year I decided to clean my Harman Accentra Zero Clearance insert. I got it installed last February and burned maybe a bit over a ton but not much more then that. Mostly PureHeat hardwood from my local Menards here in Kansas City.
After a watching Harman’s and other videos I was pretty confident I could do it, after all it is only a stove. After cleaning everything I could through the front my confidence was brimming over as the videos were pretty much spot on.
On to removing the insert from the cabinet. Service stand adjusted and installed I unlatched the stove and slid it out from the cabinet. Surprise the back didn’t resemble anything like I saw in the videos. The fans were all squirrel cage types with no resemblance to the video. I spent a couple of minutes looking for the clean out to the feed system. Once I found it hidden behind the combustion fan motor the trick was getting to the wing nut to remove the cover. Thankfully 30+ years of fixing 737’s has thought me one thing. If I can see the fastener I can remove it or tighten it.
After snaking my hand through the bowels of this stove I was able to touch the nut and get it loose enough to remove the cover and snake the vacuum extension up to clean the fines and pellet bits from the clean out. I vacuumed out all the squirrel cages and any other areas.
On to the flue. Got my fleet shaft thingy and three inch brush up the flue hole with it. I could not believe the amount of stuff that came out and kept coming out. In out in out stuff kept falling out I scrubbed till no more came out. I did notice I couldn’t get past the 90 in the flue to the exterior wall. I didn’t want to push to hard so I went outside and tried to push past the 90 and still could not. Any suggestions on getting through that 90 would be greatly appreciated. I’m still a couple weeks away from operating the stove and would like to push through that 90.
I kept my vacuum outside when and ran the hose through the window. I ended up with about 2.5 inches of fines fly ash and ash in the bottom. I’m thinking this insert will have to be cleaned every 3/4 ton of pellets. From now on until further notice.



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After further review and inspection the 90 is as clean as a whistle. Cleaning from bottom up and top down is enough. Inspected with a mirror and light and all is well! Still wasn’t like that in the training film!


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That fines cover is a pain to get to - probably worse on an insert. However, once you've done it a couple times and figure out the path thru the wiring system, it gets easier and not a big deal. I started using using a Linteater last year. I attach it to my battery operated drill, set it on low speed. You have to go really slow, but it will eventually bend past the elbow (patience Grasshopper - something I do not excel at :confused:). However, I don't do the linteater thing every pipe cleaning - just at the end of the year and maybe in the middle of the season for the P61 which is the stove that goes thru 4/5 of the 5-6 tons I burn a year. I usually use the Leaf Blower Trick (LBT) though, and use it after the linteater too. Not sure how your set up is, so the LBT may not be practical if you go thru the roof although I know some people make that work.
 
I thank the lord I never got an insert..:cool:
I don't know Tony I can wheel my accentra right out into the middle of the livingroom on its tracks walk around it and I don't have to disconnect any exhaust pipes
 
I don't know Tony I can wheel my accentra right out into the middle of the livingroom on its tracks walk around it and I don't have to disconnect any exhaust pipes

I'd like to see that, the way your stove is connected, if its not too much trouble.
 
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I'd like to see that, the way your stove is connected, if its not too much trouble.
I won't be pulling it out anytime soon since its been cleaned but I will take pics the next time I do if you download an accentra installation manual you may get a good idea from there. I extended the track on the accentra by 5 feet to make it easier to clean and was very easy to do.
 
I don't know Tony I can wheel my accentra right out into the middle of the livingroom on its tracks walk around it and I don't have to disconnect any exhaust pipes

It is the non-disconnection of any pipes that has me flummoxed. I had no idea thee made exhaust pipe that could stretch out like that.
 
Hey b
It is the non-disconnection of any pipes that has me flummoxed. I had no idea thee made exhaust pipe that could stretch out like that.
hey bogieb there is a stationary frame installed on all accentra inserts the oak and exhaust are connected to the backside of this frame the accentra slides in an out of it. when the stove slides into this frame it has a foam looking seal on the stove side it pushes up against the frame and seals oak and exhaust. When you pull the stove for cleaning there's nothing to disconnect except power wires and thermostat and off down the tracks. The exhaust is easy to clean once the stove is out you just sent your rods right up through the frame and into the exhaust vent very easy to clean.
 
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interesting...
I have read posts concerning inserts being a pain to clean but I assume all Inserts are not alike in design or ease of maint..
 
interesting...
I have read posts concerning inserts being a pain to clean but I assume all Inserts are not alike in design or ease of maint..
Yeah I did a lot of homework before buying the accentra tony it was the best I could find I wanted to enjoy it not tinker.
 
Hey b

hey bogieb there is a stationary frame installed on all accentra inserts the oak and exhaust are connected to the backside of this frame the accentra slides in an out of it. when the stove slides into this frame it has a foam looking seal on the stove side it pushes up against the frame and seals oak and exhaust. When you pull the stove for cleaning there's nothing to disconnect except power wires and thermostat and off down the tracks. The exhaust is easy to clean once the stove is out you just sent your rods right up through the frame and into the exhaust vent very easy to clean.

That explains it then. The pipes are "disconnected", you just don't have to personally do it. Can you tell I've never been around an insert? ;)
 
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I think this stove is the bees knees been happy with it
One little piece of advice is to run the stove on high for a hour each week. This will help keep the unit clean longer. Its easy for a stove to plug up when its either fall or spring when these stoves are babied.
 
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After a short heating season last year I decided to clean my Harman Accentra Zero Clearance insert. I got it installed last February and burned maybe a bit over a ton but not much more then that. Mostly PureHeat hardwood from my local Menards here in Kansas City.
After a watching Harman’s and other videos I was pretty confident I could do it, after all it is only a stove. After cleaning everything I could through the front my confidence was brimming over as the videos were pretty much spot on.
On to removing the insert from the cabinet. Service stand adjusted and installed I unlatched the stove and slid it out from the cabinet. Surprise the back didn’t resemble anything like I saw in the videos. The fans were all squirrel cage types with no resemblance to the video. I spent a couple of minutes looking for the clean out to the feed system. Once I found it hidden behind the combustion fan motor the trick was getting to the wing nut to remove the cover. Thankfully 30+ years of fixing 737’s has thought me one thing. If I can see the fastener I can remove it or tighten it.
After snaking my hand through the bowels of this stove I was able to touch the nut and get it loose enough to remove the cover and snake the vacuum extension up to clean the fines and pellet bits from the clean out. I vacuumed out all the squirrel cages and any other areas.
On to the flue. Got my fleet shaft thingy and three inch brush up the flue hole with it. I could not believe the amount of stuff that came out and kept coming out. In out in out stuff kept falling out I scrubbed till no more came out. I did notice I couldn’t get past the 90 in the flue to the exterior wall. I didn’t want to push to hard so I went outside and tried to push past the 90 and still could not. Any suggestions on getting through that 90 would be greatly appreciated. I’m still a couple weeks away from operating the stove and would like to push through that 90.
I kept my vacuum outside when and ran the hose through the window. I ended up with about 2.5 inches of fines fly ash and ash in the bottom. I’m thinking this insert will have to be cleaned every 3/4 ton of pellets. From now on until further notice.



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I have the free standing model & yes it is hard to get to. I dropped my wing nut in the squirrel cage fan and I had to remove that to retrieve the wing nut what a pain in the a**!
 
One little piece of advice is to run the stove on high for a hour each week. This will help keep the unit clean longer. Its easy for a stove to plug up when its either fall or spring when these stoves are babied.
Now why didn't I think of that, I burn wood also I do that with wood furnace! Da!!
 
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I have the free standing model & yes it is hard to get to. I dropped my wing nut in the squirrel cage fan and I had to remove that to retrieve the wing nut what a pain in the a**!
I'm going to make a tool to get at that wing nut. Long 1/4 drive extension old socket with a cut through it welded to the extension. Maybe a magnet inside the socket to retain the nut in case I lefty loosy one to many times!

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I'm going to make a tool to get at that wing nut. Long 1/4 drive extension old socket with a cut through it welded to the extension. Maybe a magnet inside the socket to retain the nut in case I lefty loosy one to many times!

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Hey ice you don't have to take the wing nut the whole way off to remove the fines plate no need to make something to retrieve it just don't unscrew the whole way off problem solved
 
My mitts are to big to go straight at the nut. I have to do pellet stove yoga to get my skinners on it. 10 minutes in the shop and I will have a tool that will go in on a straight line loose the nut and retain it if I turn it a wee bit to much. Not a fan of yoga.


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Hey ice you don't have to take the wing nut the whole way off to remove the fines plate no need to make something to retrieve it just don't unscrew the whole way off problem solved
My mitts are to big to go straight at the nut. I have to do pellet stove yoga to get my skinners on it. 10 minutes in the shop and I will have a tool that will go in on a straight line loose the nut and retain it if I turn it a wee bit to much. Not a fan of yoga.


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Miy mitts are to big also! Make extra and sell them!! I'll buy one...