Are there any special concerns regarding a 2002 Harman Accentra?

[SciGuy]

I've found a functioning 2002 Harman Accentra that appears to be modestly priced and wonder if there are any special concerns regarding that vintage of the Accentra. I believe they had a gear versus direct drive auger and wonder if that in particular is a problem.

Any insights about older Accentras?

Thanks,

Hugh

 

[alternativeheat]

If I'm not mistaken the older ones were chain drive for the feed. If it's a functioning stove it's a functioning stove, deal with what ever comes up when it does, if it does. But the chain drive could wear , stretch and clunk as the chain tries to jump it's cogs, if it were to occur at all.. We have some guys around here who have worked on the older Harman feed system and they could tell you more about that than I can. I don't think there is anything about an old Harman that would scare me off though, where it's working presently especially. If it was a basket case that might be another matter. Maybe someone with more accurate info will pop into your thread.

 

[SciGuy]

I'm thinking that for ~ $600 I can afford to some money into it even if it needs a bit of work as long as parts are available.

Hugh

 

[gutlo]

Here's what you can expect from a 2002 Accentra (I had a 2003 Accentra until this year).

1. It will make the Harman squeal. This is a high pitched squeal that is caused by the fact that the auger is attached at 2 points and vibrates when a pellet is caught between the auger and auger wall.
2. It makes random banging noises caused by the sliding door closing on a too long pellets.
3. It is prone to making squealing noises caused by a buildup of carbon at the tip of the auger.
4. It is very difficult to clean. The cast iron heat exchangers must be removed and the bottom assembly plate must be taken out
to thoroughly clean.
5. It will likely make a "yanging" noise that I never figured out.
6. The heat distribution is poor. When it gets really cold, you must turn the distribution fan up so much that it makes a lot of noise.
7. You will likely have to replace auger motor, combustion and distribution fans, unless they have been recently replaced.

$600 is a lot to pay for a pretty piece of cast iron.

 

[SciGuy]

Here's what you can expect from a 2002 Accentra (I had a 2003 Accentra until this year).


$600 is a lot to pay for a pretty piece of cast iron.

Thanks for holding back I do appreciate your candor. It's easy to get overexcited by the name Harman. Now if a P43 was on offering all would be well with the world.

Hugh

 

[gutlo]

That's what I got. It's 3 months old from a dealer who sold it to a woman who couldn't carry the bags of pellets. Got the remainder of the warranty and he took my Accentra in trade. Keep your eye out for a P38 3-knob version.

 

[Mt Bob]

600 for an Accentra,would buy it right now.Biggest drawback,as said above,air flow.It is more suited to smaller room/house,but,in inbetween days,not running the room blower,the cast body of the stove puts out a lot of heat.The other stuff is minor,all harmans have/could have those problems,there are some upgraded parts for some of them.Guito,if you think an Accentra is hard to clean,you must not have cleaned many other types of pellet stoves,it is still rated as one of the easiest to clean.

 

[corkman]

All day long at $600. Great stove. Simple operation and likewise to clean. If you’re confident in removing the blowers I would do so now and run them out of the stove to see how loud or quiet they are. Clean and oil and replace. I’d remove the auger motor too and refill it with fresh grease and replace. That’s the heavy lifting on the stove before installing because once it’s in place it’s a biatch to move. Clean it and connect a leaf blower to the exhaust flange in suction mode and let her rip. Be sure to clean the esp,fines box,oil the chain and clean out the igniter chamber

 

[corkman]

Being an ‘02 the board might like a blast of some deoxit.

 

[alternativeheat]

I think $600 is very fair for a working Harman of any iteration, certainly around these parts where I live anyway.

 

[dozerdean]

Id buy it in a heartbeat!! What are you waiting for. Christmas