I have a Harman 52i since 2014. Really like it and it heats the house nicely. I have had burn pot issues since the beginning. They have warped and cracked near the igniter attachment slot in the burn pot. These were replaced under warranty. This year Harman sent a new burn pot 82 hole with the igniter now attached by two screws above the cleanout. I recently installed it after a complete cleaning of insert and also swept chimney. Burn pot does not ignite pellets and they spill into ash pan. Igniter in new and comes on verified by light on control panel and burn pot gets warm. Not sure what else I need to check. Any suggestions?
New burn pot not igniting
- Thread starter West coast 52i
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Overfireinthehole
Minister of Fire
Did you get a new gasket when you replaced the pot? Also how’s your door gasket and when was the last time you pulled the unit and cleaned the venting. Harman had issues with their 52i pot with the holes on the sides and igniter mounted with screws because the air passages would warp or clog easily. The current pot has no holes on sides, the floor holes are larger, and igniter is held in with a different bracket.
Yes I pulled the stove before installing this burn pot and did a complete cleaning. Also swept the chimney just to make sure all was good. I checked my door gasket with a piece of paper (shut it in the door and try and pull it out ) it is tight all the way around. I was given one new gasket with this burn pot. It is a different style than the old one. I found out Harman recommends two gaskets on the 52i so I'm waiting for the new gaskets to arrive so I can put two together. I'm hoping this will solve my issue.
I posted this a few days ago regarding another 52i issue. Ever since I changed the Control Board settings the thing starts in minutes every time!
QUOTE="gramps05, post: 2252644, member: 59969"]Two different control boards, 120 volts on heater leads. Two different igniters, both check high 40s ohms, glow red when plugged into outlet. Stove runs great when lighting in the manual mode, runs great in auto mode when lite manually. Burn pot is clean, all holes are clean, stove is pulled and cleaned every ton. About half a ton run since last major cleaning. Started igniting slower and slower now not at all. At wits end.[/QUOTE]
Had the same issue with a newly installed 52i. Took 20 min to ignite and after a few burns would not. Needed to keep cleaning under the burn pot even though there was not much ash.
Changed the control board dip switch settings of # 1,2,3 to off,off,on (-21 sec) which controls the amount of pellets augured into the burn pot.
Ignites fast in under 5 min and have not had to worry about cleaning under the pot so often. It seemed before there were just too many pellets causing the initial ignition to smother. I to was worried about the igniter etc. Now starts up great!
Had the same issue with a newly installed 52i. Took 20 min to ignite and after a few burns would not. Needed to keep cleaning under the burn pot even though there was not much ash.
Changed the control board dip switch settings of # 1,2,3 to off,off,on (-21 sec) which controls the amount of pellets augured into the burn pot.
Ignites fast in under 5 min and have not had to worry about cleaning under the pot so often. It seemed before there were just too many pellets causing the initial ignition to smother. I to was worried about the igniter etc. Now starts up great![/QUOTE]
I may have try that as it did seem to pump a lot of pellets. Once the gaskets arrive I'll install and try the suggested dip switch settings.
Overfireinthehole
Minister of Fire
I may have try that as it did seem to pump a lot of pellets. Once the gaskets arrive I'll install and try the suggested dip switch settings.[/QUOTE]
You can also make sure the low draft adjust is turned all the way to the right for maximum voltage to combustion blower. Ive replaced anywhere from 25-35 52i pots and never had to double up gaskets. I’ve also been through their factory training a few times. Is your intake flapper opening and closing? If you hold the door handle up and shut it forcefully you should hear the flapper move.
You can also make sure the low draft adjust is turned all the way to the right for maximum voltage to combustion blower. Ive replaced anywhere from 25-35 52i pots and never had to double up gaskets. I’ve also been through their factory training a few times. Is your intake flapper opening and closing? If you hold the door handle up and shut it forcefully you should hear the flapper move.[/QUOTE]
Low draft is turned all the way to the right and intake flapper works fine as I checked this when the stove was pulled out for cleaning. You are correct that in the past we have only used one gasket. The new one is a little thinner and made of a ceramic fiber and is shaped slightly different than the older fiberglass style. I had the vender double check with Harman and they verified two gaskets of the new style are needed for the 52i. FYI new gasket part # 3-44-237639. This is the gasket suggested for use on the new burn pot part # 1-00- 574605. I do appreciate all the suggestions and will continue to follow up after the install. Thanks.
Overfireinthehole
Minister of Fire
Low draft is turned all the way to the right and intake flapper works fine as I checked this when the stove was pulled out for cleaning. You are correct that in the past we have only used one gasket. The new one is a little thinner and made of a ceramic fiber and is shaped slightly different than the older fiberglass style. I had the vender double check with Harman and they verified two gaskets of the new style are needed for the 52i. FYI new gasket part # 3-44-237639. This is the gasket suggested for use on the new burn pot part # 1-00- 574605. I do appreciate all the suggestions and will continue to follow up after the install. Thanks.[/QUOTE]
Interesting, I’ll keep that in mind next time I order them. Luckily I still have a couple dozen of the thick one in stock so I haven’t run into this yet. I’ll have to call the factory Monday and see if they are going to change it again. Wouldn’t be the first time they changed a part again right after changing a part.
Overfireinthehole
Minister of Fire
Thanks for the control board and dip switch info. Once my parts come in and I do the install, I'll provide an update.
Parts arrived and installed new gaskets. I also adjusted dip switch settings and the stove now will auto ignite in about 15 minutes. On initial start and until it gets a good heat going it produces some black soot on the medallion and side plates. After burning a while this burns off. When the fire goes into a lower burn it also produces a little soot where it never did in the past. I have a service tech scheduled to check my stove with a draft meter. If the draft is not within spec and is too low I may have a leak or a worn out combustion fan. I'll know more this Friday.
The stove tech arrived yesterday with the draft meter and the stove has draft. High draft was 50 and the low draft had to be adjusted down. Low draft is now at 30. The pellets still do not light. Stove tech called his boss and neither one could figure it out. After they left, I installed my old burn pot and it would not ignite either. I pulled the igniter out and let it sit just outside the clean out chamber. I ran the stove and the igniter gets cherry red hot. So igniter gets hot and draft is there. I even went out and bought a new bag of pellets sucked all the old ones out and tried again. Same results pellets spill over into the ash pan and do not ignite. I tried different dip switch setting but pellets keep filling up pot and spilling into ash pan without igniting. stove tech is scheduled to come out again in a week or so and will be here when Harman staff are available on east coast time. Any other ideas?
Overfireinthehole
Minister of Fire
I forget if I asked, is your flapper working and is your door gasket in good shape. If you shut the door hard you should hear the flapper. Also is the combustion cover baffle latched in place?
Flapper is working yes you can hear it when shutting the door. Door gasket is tight, used a strip of paper all around door and when shut could not pull it out. Combustion baffle cover is in place, double checked it again. Now I'm the one that's baffled.
Overfireinthehole
Minister of Fire
You should light it manually and then post a video of your flame. I’m out of ideas without being able to get my hands dirty.
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