Big Flames on the Harman xxv

Hi folks,
I'm a new member but a longtime pellet stove owner. I currently have a harman xxv and Love It! Yesterday after removing combustion blower to give a good clean and cleaning the convection blower also, with the stove back into normal operation, my flames have taken on a different visual appearance. They are much larger and a little lazy at the tips. I typically run on stove temp mode about 80 deg with a feed rate at 4. Convection blower set at high or close to it. It is enough of a contrast with the before and after cleaning, that I'm wondering what the culprit could be. Any thoughts?

Bioburner said:

Welcome. Many Harman owners here. Sounds like somethings not as tight as it should or was. Many have slipped up and not got the fines cover on properly. Maybe bumped a door gasket and its not seating as well as it did and letting in air.

Click to expand...

Yah, I was thinking that. I did clean the fines as well....thought I cranked down on the wing nut. I'm guessing that if the intake flap is stuck open that would prob have the same effect. I'll check it out. Thanks!

Nope, about halfway through the first ton. Did a pretty heavy duty cleanup at the start of the season but realized yesterday I hadn't done the blowers or the fines. So off I go..It's a good thing too, the combustion blower def needed a good scraping. It got a little quieter too.

Hey, let the stove run down last night and I just checked damper door and it swings freely. Fines door was shut correctly but I took it off and put it back on and cranked it down tight. Just checked door to igniter and it is sitting down on the wing nuts and tight to the burn pot. Check the pic out. It's not the best but I couldn't get the little video to upload.

Just restarted with 1/8 of a bag...will see how it goes

2012 model XXV. Self install, no fresh air kit due to plenty of infiltration from old windows. Corner install with one 45 and 4 ft of pellet pipe. Didn't mention cause of pre-cleaning vs post cleaning prob. Point taken though.

David M said:

Make sure the combustion motor plate is absolutely flush against the unit. I have put this in wrong after cleaning.

Click to expand...

Thanks. Just checked it, all bolts are tight to housing and motor plate seems flush. After stove is cool I'm gonna do a more thorough inspection

Leon 1967 said:

Thanks. Just checked it, all bolts are tight to housing and motor plate seems flush. After stove is cool I'm gonna do a more thorough inspection

Click to expand...

As a follow up, I checked with my local Harman dealer and he advised that I should make sure that my room temp sensor was not loose on the spade clips in back since that has an effect on the esp sensor. I had removed it during the cleaning and neglected to put it back thinking that since I never use the room temp mode it didn't make a difference. I'm gonna see if that has an effect also

bogieb said:

The only effect I've heard of is that it goes into idle mode on some stoves, even running stove temp. Hey, but you never know, be nice if it is a simple fix like that!

Click to expand...

Yup, I was thinking the same thing... But he knows the stoves in and out so.....

lbcynya said:

Did you stick a brush in your pipe while you had the combustion fan out? If so, could have tweaked the ESP. Wouldn't hurt to pull it out and clean with a moist towel to inspect.

Still seems like an air flow issue, though.

Might also try to run it on room temp 80ish and see if it changes the flame.

Click to expand...

lbcynya said:

Did you stick a brush in your pipe while you had the combustion fan out? If so, could have tweaked the ESP. Wouldn't hurt to pull it out and clean with a moist towel to inspect.

Still seems like an air flow issue, though.

Might also try to run it on room temp 80ish and see if it changes the flame.

Click to expand...

Nope, didn't use a brush at all. Used a hepa vac and compressed air. Although I have never inspected esp probe, so it might be a good idea. Try it first thing. Thx

Nope, didn't use a brush at all. Used a hepa vac and compressed air. Although I have never inspected esp probe, so it might be a good idea. Try it first thing. Thx