auger squeek resolved

[crausch]

My stove has been burning great so far this season. Some intermittent auger noises an squeaks during burn time but nothing constant or alarming. Then today I received a phone call from my daughter at home claiming that stove is emitting a constant high pitch screeching noise. I told her to just turn it off.

Now I am thinking to myself, great now I have to join the many people here in the auger squeak club. And start sifting through what seems to be an endless number of posts on this subject to try and resolve what could be a very annoying problem.

Well I got home from work today and had succumb to the fact that I was going to have clean the stove empty and vacuum the hopper, and start inspecting everything to do with the auger or whatever may be making the noise. The first thing I did was clean the firebox area and burn pot. Then start chipping away at the carbon build up on around the auger opening front of auger. Then I noticed how much carbon build up was inside the auger tube. I carefully chipped away at the carbon so that I would not gouge the auger tube. I was surprised at how much build up was in there. I had always concentrated on the lip or ridge around the front. I never noticed it building up in the auger tube.

Well, I fired it up afterwards and it has been running since with no squeak. Another lesson learned. Nothing like OJT for experience.

The carbon builds up in the tube. It just seems to be layered on the tube which makes it even harder to notice. With the carbon being dry and hard, the auger turns and rubs the carbon. I am not sure if the noise comes from the auger fin rubbing on the carbon on from the auger rubbing the tube as the carbon build up squeezes the auger against the other parts of the tube. In any case, if you get a auger squeak or squealing, make sure the auger tube is clean.

 

[sydney1963]

Lesson learned, clean your tube regularly.

 

[crausch]

LMAO...yep! Its just know fun when you have to do it by yourself.

 

[PunKid8888]

Has anyone tried sanding down the inside of the tube to an almost dull polished look. I was thinking of doing that this summer in hopes of less build up on the tube.

 

[crausch]

I had thought about that too. Maybe using something like a cylinder hone. The only thing that I was concerned about was after so many cleanings the tube might eventually be enlarged and start having jams because increased play in the auger.

 

[peirhead]

The cylinder hone is a great idea...you could then install an oversized auger and take it from a 2.5 to a 3 litre..that was a Binford pellet stove right!!

 

[crausch]

Oh yeah. I'll patent it as the Binford 500 auger system. Bored out to where you can place bio-bricks in your hopper. :lol:

 

[MButkus]

Now you need a bigger auger motor... 3 HP - gas driven ! !

 

[crausch]

I guess I'll have to keep my wheelbarrow by the stove to haul the massive clinker away.

 

[GVA]

Does that need a catalytic converter?
If so will that change the EVL?

 

[crausch]

Would have to have a catylitic converter, gotta keep the emiisions down. It would probably burn so hot that if I turned the feed rate up on it to 4 bricks a minute it would not only heat my house here in PA but would probably raise the temperature in Iraq 6 degrees.