5824 Forester question

[rodbo1967]

Evening all,

Back to the U.S. stove Forester acting up. The flame is lazy and tall, the damper has no effect when changed. I have the owners manual and notice on the control board there is a RED thumbs up display lit. No where in the manual can I find what this RED thumbs up is about.

Stove fires up and goes into its normal mode with the blower running, however there is very little heat being emitted. Everything has been thoroughly cleaned. Behind the vermiculite boards and the exhaust chamber.

So the million $ question is what does that RED thumbs up icon represent.

I appreciate all insights,

Rodney

 

[Bioburner]

The Chinese have got your money? Local big box store has been trying to sell one now since early fall for $640. Sorry for the problems. Have you called USSC about the symbol?

 

[rodbo1967]

They are not there on weekends. Had hoped someone on here had the answer. I know it has something to do with the thermocouples, I removed and reset them with the power off. Turned the stove power back on and the light is still there.

Rodney

 

[heat seeker]

A lazy flame is a sign of insufficient air flow. Make sure your combustion blower is running at normal speed, and your venting pipe is clean. You don't mention cleaning the venting, or its termination. Did you pull the combustion blower out and clean it? I'm not familiar with your stove, but you may have missed cleaning some "hidden" passage(s), also.

 

[rodbo1967]

Last week we pulled the entire stove apart. Including the blower and the exhaust flue (venting).

Light is still on.

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

What did you do behind the fake firebrick boards?

 

[rodbo1967]

Cleaned out all the dust/particulates per USSC.

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I'm assuming there are one or more metal plates back there, did you get behind those plates?

As for that light when does it light up?

 

[rodbo1967]

It lit up today. I've had the stove off a few days. There is no way behind the plates.

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

There has to be a path for the exhaust to get from the firebox area to the combustion blower. That is usually one of the things that takes place behind the fake fire brick and the metal plates it sits against.

Usually there is at least one clean out port on each side or the side plates are held on with a screw, removing the screw allows you to rotate out a side plate to access the ash trap on that side of the stove.

It is the ash traps that plug up and after a while make a mess of your burn.

If you have access to the termination cap on your exhaust system you can on a stove with a simple airflow remove the crud using a leaf blower in vacuum mode. If the air path isn't simple you go in from the clean out to the combustion blower cavity or from the combustion blower cavity to the ash trap clean out with brushes to loosen things up and then follow up with the leaf blower or a strong shop vacuum with proper filters.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Your stove's installation manual shows an exhaust maintenance access port labeled as part #32 which allows access to the area below the combustion blower and behind at least part of the firebox.

 

[rodbo1967]

Yep, got that and had the exhaust motor #34 to get into the system.

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Yep, got that and had the exhaust motor #34 to get into the system.

Rodney

So what did you do about going in that way to get behind the firebox?

If you have a lazy fire and the damper isn't having any effect you still have crud in the system.somewhere. The exhaust path starts just above the burn pot and ends just outside termination cap (it includes that termination cap which btw can be plugged).

 

[rodbo1967]

Thank you, just for my own, what is the termination cap? What would happen if I pumper the thermocouples?

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Thank you, just for my own, what is the termination cap? What would happen if I pumper the thermocouples?

Rodney

Leave those T/Cs alone the stove want's a temperature reading on at least one stove jumping a T/C will cause it to not follow the controller to the desired heat setting while on another it can cause a short.

Termination cap the last piece of vent pipe in your vent system. It normally has some kind of screen to prevent critters from entering it and making a nest in the exhaust system, this screen is prone to gathering ash and other combustion byproducts on it, thus plugging up and making a mess of your burn.

Fix the bad burn first.

 

[rodbo1967]

Just one more question. It would appear the thumbs up icon relates to those T/C's. And it would seem since the stove is not blowing warm or hot air that would cause an issue. Also I have the sides and back still off the stove to allow easy adjustments. Should I put the sides back on? Is it possible the stove is not heating up enough to work properly?

Thank you,

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Just one more question. It would appear the thumbs up icon relates to those T/C's. And it would seem since the stove is not blowing warm or hot air that would cause an issue. Also I have the sides and back still off the stove to allow easy adjustments. Should I put the sides back on? Is it possible the stove is not heating up enough to work properly?

Thank you,

Rodney

If the stove isn't blowing air then it doesn't think it is at temperature yet. You have to run down the all of the controls for the convection air system which might include those T/C plus a snap disc.

Hopefully in playing around you haven't got the T/C s connected incorrectly, located in the wrong positions, or damaged.

ETA: The thermo disc is item #35

 

[rodbo1967]

It does blow air, only luke warm. Not hot as usual. I am going to reinstall the side panels in the AM and refire the stove.

Rodney

 

[imacman]

You state that the flame is tall & lazy....classic problem with lack of airflow through stove. You state that the stove & exhaust pipe are clean. As mentioned above, I'd still do a leaf blower cleaning to make 100% sure.

To me, the only thing left is the air intake. Do you have an OAK on the stove? If so, are you sure it's clean all the way out? You say it has a damper....are you sure that it's opening?

 

[rodbo1967]

It does not have an OAK installed. I had the stove away from the wall earlier today and made a point of check the damper, and yes it opens and closes fully. My buddy will go up on the roof and check the exhaust from up there tomorrow.

Thanks again all,
Rodney

 

[rodbo1967]

Update....United States Stove Company is to busy to reply or help. I have tried via email and voice mail for days now to no avail. It's tough to imagine that this one little icon on the control board has never been an issue with anyone else.

Thank everyone for the help. I guess I am going shopping for a real pellet stove now. This one will most likely be on the curb for trash pickup this weekend.

Rodney

 

[Bioburner]

Maybe make a nice planter. Spring is supposed to be close. Was -22 here this AM. Could hardly get the Newfs off the deck to pee.

 

[rodbo1967]

Update and info needed. US Stove sent me a new auger motor. It helped a little. Now get this, when the stove is started. Pellets drop, fire ignites, damper now makes a slight difference. Stove ran for 20-30 minutes and the blower fan never kicked in. The stove was well up to temp. but no fan came on. The exhaust fan works fine. Also, for grins I placed my hand over the air intake and the flame died instantly. I removed my hand and the chamber filled with smoke and made a loud popping sound when the pellets ignited.

So what I am trying to get at is. A: why would the blower fan not kick on?. B: is it normal for the flame to die out when you put your hand over the air intake port?

I appreciate everyone's help,

Rodney

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

A: why would the blower fan not kick on?

Bad temperature sensor, loose connection, sensor not mounted where it should be, stove not getting hot enough, bad control board.

B: is it normal for the flame to die out when you put your hand over the air intake port?

Fire needs oxygen from the air and you just plugged its air supply, do that and a fire goes out.

 

[rodbo1967]

UGHH, ok, stove ran great for 32 hours. Now the new auger motor is not doing anything. WTF?

Rodney