Auger Bushing getting sticky again - Low Flame Issue - What Lube Oil is best? - Just tried 3-1 see r

[Don2222]

Hello

The Low flame sympton came back again on the Astoria.
See 1st time encounter with this issue https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/88287/

Interesting PDF on Oiling and cleaning electric motors.
(broken link removed)

The liquid wrench with cerflon worked great the 1st time but the 2nd time it did not help much.

So I am thinking of trying something else.
The Auger duration is not the full 3 seconds so the burn pot is low on pellets.
There are enough pellets so it runs but not enough for the good long flame.

I know Spray Lithium or Spray Graphite works.
Also I heard Marvel Mystery Oil last a long time or 3 in 1 Oil (SAE 20) is good for auger bushings.

I really want something that lasts! Anyone try this stuff or what do you use??
(broken link removed to http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDA93&P=7)

Click on pic to enlarge

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

First things, first did you get all of the gunk out of it?

This includes the liquid wrench crud.

Then I'd find some way to soak it in new lubricant (no detergent, no solvents, this is why the liquid wrench crud needs to be flushed out).

When you put things back together verify that everything is properly lined up and there is minimum auger movement forward and backward. The goal is to have the auger precisely aligned in the bushings.

Any bearing setup that has solvent in it will over time tend to bind.

 

[Dinger]

Maybe try something with molybdenum disulfide (moly) in it. Moly is a great lube as it leaves some residual properties when the base oil goes away.

 

[pell it]

First things, first did you get all of the gunk out of it?

This includes the liquid wrench crud.

Then I'd find some way to soak it in new lubricant (no detergent, no solvents, this is why the liquid wrench crud needs to be flushed out).

When you put things back together verify that everything is properly lined up and there is minimum auger movement forward and backward. The goal is to have the auger precisely aligned in the bushings.

Any bearing setup that has solvent in it will over time tend to bind.

While you have the bushing out to clean and soak, make a sketch with all the measurements and look up a new one from McMaster Carr or Enco. Probably @ a dollar or two each. Should be a standard size, make sure you get flange thickness and DIA as well as inside DIA and outside DIA and the length. The issue with SAE 841 oil impregnated bronze is that heat draws the oil out of the bronze and once the impregnated oil is all used up, the only real option is to replace the bushing.

 

[Don2222]

Hello

Ok, Well I had to try something so I cleaned out the hopper and added drops of 3-1 oil on the Auger Bushing and spun the auger a bit and then let it set for an hour to work it's way in.

Well It did make an improvement on heat level 3. I got a long flame. The temp is going down outside from 32 to 28 but getting warmer inside upstairs from 70 to 73 so that is a good sign. Stove is in basement.

Still not as good as new but better. I will also keep checking and maybe lube again with 3-1 to see if there is more improvement.

See better flame in pic below:

 

[jtakeman]

Wet oils will only draw saw dust too them. I was told to install bushing dry. If they were sticky to use dry graphit.