A great loss (part II)

[MButkus]

Last Jan '12 my auger of 11 years gave out. The first gear stripped. So I replaced the auger in my Whitfield Advantage II in about 5 min and 15 min. later the house was getting warm again. But this winter it seemed the stove never gave a big fire.. plus this new auger was a bit noisy.
Well just over a year and this replacement auger is making a awful sound and no pellets.
This Merkle-Korff auger motor gave up the ghost. From what I can see, the outer layer on the motor is spinning around on the shaft... quality. I'll have to post photos on my web site.

So I happen to have picked up two more spare motors off E-bay back in 2009. They have wires to their motor but I just shoved the wires into the old connectors and 15 min later I have heat. I'll have to get the right connectors over the weekend. The new replacement motor is stamped ECM, can't see any other markings. This one is absolutely silent.

 

[PoolGuyinCT]

Well glad your up and burning...

To live the pellet "lifestyle" you have to keep a parts inventory on hand. I've been acquiring a mini service sharp a few gaskets at a time etc, have a convection blower on my shelf.

 

[MButkus]

O.K., it wasn't the auger motor armature, it was the first fiber gear in my auger motor that stripped. At 14 months my Merkel-Kroff motor should not die. I took it apart and the first fiber gear was stripped. I have photos and the story.. 24 hours and my replacement auger motor is still silent !
http://www.butkus.org/whitfield_operate/pellet-stove-auger-motor.html

 

[Jefflitzy]

One thing on the older Whitfields I have found is the bronze bushing on the auger has become worn and they will take out a feed motor in a year - the new bushing is plastic
Change the bushing when you change the motor or you probably be doing a motor again in about a year.

 

[bill3rail]

OK, a recent thought process of mine is that the auger may be jamming up like mine has twice. I needed to chip away the carbon buildup at the firebox end of the auger tube. I was thinking about getting a cylinder hone to clean out the tube in order to totally clean it out after I chip out the carbon buildup.

Bill

Cylinder Hone, operated by a drill...