10-CPM Intermitent pellet drop

[jdempsey]

First prob ive had with this stove. Stove will stop dropping pellets into the burn pot. Works intermittently.
I called tech support yesterday. The fellow told me to clean the airhole above the stirrer. It did seem to be clogged.

Seem to help for a bit but its now doing the same thing again. I can manually work the auger thru the control panel. When i first turn it on it will start to fill the burn pot and after a few minutes, again just stops. For instance just now, it has stopped for about 5 minutes then suddenly starts dropping pellets again.

The tech told me the hole above the stirrer detects the door being open and signals the auger to stop feeding. Maybe i need to check the door is sealing tightly with the ole dollar bill test?

 

[jdempsey]

Sorry about the triple posts. I kept getting the server has timed out and it did not appear to be posting.

 

[jtakeman]

I think you can delete the others yourself, If not a mod will down the road.

I remember Mike H. talking about the second vac switch when sculptor was having an auger issue.

 

[slvrblkk]

I guess a few things to try:

1 - completely clean vent and stove

2 - temporarily bypass vacuum switch (obviously disconnecting power before doing so)

3 - remove pellets from hopper and vacuum out all the fines at the base of the auger in the hopper

4 - run a small wire through vacuum hole to make sure it isn't blocked further in (or blow out with air)

 

[jdempsey]

Vacuum switch is good. Just notice the burn when actually working is tall and lazy. I think its time for a the big major clean. What specific areas do i need to pay attention to upon teardown? Any hidden areas that ash seems to accumulate?

I suspect i will need to order a combustion blower gasket? What else do i need?

 

[slvrblkk]

Im sure imacman will chime in about cleaning since he has the same stove as yours and knows the ins and outs.....

 

[jdempsey]

Just found the thread j takeman was talking about concerning sculptor.

This explains alot of good info. Gonna do a good cleaning in the morn.

Thanks

 

[imacman]

First, put the stove into diagnostic and turn on the comb. blower. (keeps excess ash dust from coming into room)

After burn pot is cleaned, removed, and scraped clean of burned on crud, clean firebox as much as possible. You need to open the 2 ash trap covers, and the entire area in there needs to be vacuumed out AFTER removing the "brick" and banging on the back wall abunch of times w/ a mallet or small hammer to dislodge all the crud that gets stuck in there. Hopefully, you have a way to adapt a piece of small rubber hose to your vacuum to snake it in there.

Make sure upper shelf is cleaned completely too. After all this is done, THEN unplug the unit and remove the comb. blower to clean it and the exhaust plenum. I recommend scraping and wirebrushing the vanes & body, clean with damp rag, dry, then spray vanes & body w/ either graphite spray or dry moly spray.

Remove & clean any t cap, & clean ENTIRE exhaust pipe.

BTW, did you ever seal the small hole by the door latch? Makes a BIG difference keeping the glass clear, and eliminates an air leak. I can post pics of it if you want.

Re-assemble everything, clean glass, check door gasket w/ dollar bill....if good, you're done.

EDIT: Since you had some stoppage of the auger, also remove the vacuum hose and check it's clear, and run a paper clip through the hole in the firebox as mentioned above.....re-install.

 

[DexterDay]

This sounds almost exactly like that thread with Sculptor. Did he ever figure that out?

 

[jdempsey]

I had some time tonight to remove the fireboard and ash trap doors. I never seen so much ash fall out of that area while beating it with a mallet. I vacuum it out 6 times before it was clean. There was enough in there to fill up a quart jar and half another.

Went ahead cleaned the top shelf and the inside with a small snake hose on my vac. I had to fire it up and see if this made any difference. Guess what? That fixed my problem. The flame is perfect again. No Intermittent pellet drops or any other issues.

I will finish cleaning the pipes and blower tomorrow.

Imacman. I have not had a chance to fill in the hole by the door latch. I am planning on doing that and the burnpot gasket mod. Thanks for your help.

 

[DexterDay]

The slight angles of steel plate behind the Board, are very difficult to clean. I have an inspection camera and even with a good clean, brush, and vac job, there is still a good amount of ash back there.

That area is vital to keep clean on that stove.

 

[imacman]

I had some time tonight to remove the fireboard and ash trap doors. I never seen so much ash fall out of that area while beating it with a mallet. I vacuum it out 6 times before it was clean. There was enough in there to fill up a quart jar and half another.

Went ahead cleaned the top shelf and the inside with a small snake hose on my vac. I had to fire it up and see if this made any difference. Guess what? That fixed my problem. The flame is perfect again. No Intermittent pellet drops or any other issues.

I will finish cleaning the pipes and blower tomorrow.

Imacman. I have not had a chance to fill in the hole by the door latch. I am planning on doing that and the burnpot gasket mod. Thanks for your help.

Glad that fixed the problem. Gotta keep that area clean for good performance.

Just in case you didn't see it, here's the pic of the hole in the door and what it looks like after silicone. It eliminates an air leak into the firebox, and also eliminated a brown streak I was getting across the glass.

 

[ghandy131]

Does anyone have a diagram of the heat exchange area for the 10-CPM? I'm trying to figure out the best way to attack the area. I've done the tapping and a tremendous amount of ash drops and I've run the flexible tube to the vac down the top holes, but I have no idea what is in there and how it is constructed.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

with the brick panel removed look closely at the back wall of the firebox (where you have been hitting to shake ash down. there are several small holes there each with a little "tab' in them, these holes are there to ensure proper placement of the baffles behind these walls. locate these holes and they will give you an idea of what the baffles look like behind that wall