Englander jamming in vertical shaft

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i have an englander pdv25 that keeps jamming every 2-4 bags. Currently using Orford pellets. They appear a little longer but not sure if that's the problem since they keep jamming in the vertical shaft between the two augers. Does anyone have any advice on how to prevent this? So frustrating having to take out the augers once a week.

 

[Dr.Faustus]

how long are the pellets?

 

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Most are 1" or less, but a good portion are 1 1/4"

 

[Dr.Faustus]

Most are 1" or less, but a good portion are 1 1/4"

Well that shouldnt be enough to clog up the vertical shaft. Are you sure thats where the jam is?

If the bottom auger jams, or the motor stops working or works intermittently, the pellets will jam in the vertical shaft because the upper auger doesnt know whats going on and still feeds pellets. once there is no room it just tries harder to push the pellets through until you have a giant jam that might look like it originated in the vertical shaft.

I would check the operation of the lower auger, and read the thread here about pimping your augers.

If you are sure theres nothing wrong with the bottom auger, pull both augers, clear the path of pellets and try to look or feel in there for some obstruction other than pellets.

 

[Cedarjunki]

Most are 1" or less, but a good portion are 1 1/4"

My pdv has been chewing on some much longer than that with no issues. Are you sure the augers are not packed with sawdust or something else in their that shouldnt be? Auger motor could be getting weak.?.

Swap the motors. Top to bottom etc.. and see what happens

 

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The bottom auger has been working fine. Constantly turning with no issues. Even when I disconnect the motors, I can turn the bottom auger with ease. It's the top that keeps getting jammed up. Every time I have to clear the jam I pull out both augers and vacuum out the shoots. When I peak down with a flashlight you can see the vertical shaft is plugged. The last time I tried pushing it through with my fingers (the best I could with limited access) and then tried snaking it out with a coat hanger followed by tapping it with a rubber mallet. When it finally cleared out a big pile of pellets and some dust fell into the lower auger shaft.

All of the pellets are dry and the company i purchased them from took a few bags back to try them on their stoves and they worked fine. Part of my problem is I don't know enough about the stoves, though I'm learning quickly now that I'm more dependent on it. A couple of jams ago I swapped out the motors from top to bottom and the results are the same. Somewhere between the 2nd and 4th bag I get a jam.

So frustrating.

 

[Cedarjunki]

The bottom auger has been working fine. Constantly turning with no issues. Even when I disconnect the motors, I can turn the bottom auger with ease. It's the top that keeps getting jammed up. Every time I have to clear the jam I pull out both augers and vacuum out the shoots. When I peak down with a flashlight you can see the vertical shaft is plugged. The last time I tried pushing it through with my fingers (the best I could with limited access) and then tried snaking it out with a coat hanger followed by tapping it with a rubber mallet. When it finally cleared out a big pile of pellets and some dust fell into the lower auger shaft.

All of the pellets are dry and the company i purchased them from took a few bags back to try them on their stoves and they worked fine. Part of my problem is I don't know enough about the stoves, though I'm learning quickly now that I'm more dependent on it. A couple of jams ago I swapped out the motors from top to bottom and the results are the same. Somewhere between the 2nd and 4th bag I get a jam.

So frustrating.

I know for a fact i cannot freely spin my auger when the motor is attatched..

Now have you grabbed a few bags of a different brand just to try? If its in fack the pellets that is going to be the easiest way to find out. Some stoves burn anything. Some stoves are very picky. Im not saying its the pellets, i have the orfords and really like them alot. But trying another pellet is easier than everything else

 

[Chrisnow86]

Is there a lot of sawdust in the pellets? Also have you tried switching the top and bottom motors? If the bottom motor is getting tired and old it can slow down not spinning at 1 rpm and might not keep up with the feeding pellets..

 

[Cedarjunki]

Is there a lot of sawdust in the pellets? Also have you tried switching the top and bottom motors? If the bottom motor is getting tired and old it can slow down not spinning at 1 rpm and might not keep up with the feeding pellets..

He did say he swapped them at one point without change. But only said a little dust when he cleans the jam.
But if he actually able to spin that bottom auger by hand, that doesnt sound right.

 

[Cedarjunki]

You say that you keep pulling the augers to clear the jam.. is it possible after the first jam that may have been an actual jam from dust that you are not aligning the set screw with the flat spot on the shaft and one of them is slipping??

 

[Dr.Faustus]

check the feed restrictor plate in your hopper, make sure its not wide open. try running with it closed about 50% and see if it still jams on you.

 

[Cedarjunki]

check the feed restrictor plate in your hopper, make sure its not wide open. try running with it closed about 50% and see if it still jams on you.

Unsure if that would make a difference or not considering my pdv didnt have a restrictor plate.

 

[Chrisnow86]

My stove does not have a restricter place ether and mike from esw told me it would only be a issue with small pellets.. Long pellets should be less of a issue

 

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You say that you keep pulling the augers to clear the jam.. is it possible after the first jam that may have been an actual jam from dust that you are not aligning the set screw with the flat spot on the shaft and one of them is slipping??

No I'm careful to make sure the flat spots are lined up correctly and it's not making a difference

 

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check the feed restrictor plate in your hopper, make sure its not wide open. try running with it closed about 50% and see if it still jams on you.

I actually gave this a shot as well and it worked for about a bag and a half and then it's jammed up again

 

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I know for a fact i cannot freely spin my auger when the motor is attatched..

Now have you grabbed a few bags of a different brand just to try? If its in fack the pellets that is going to be the easiest way to find out. Some stoves burn anything. Some stoves are very picky. Im not saying its the pellets, i have the orfords and really like them alot. But trying another pellet is easier than everything else

The motor was not attached when I was spinning it. When I disconnect the motors I can spin the bottom one with ease, but the top one is jammed to the point where I can move it in either direction.

 

[Cedarjunki]

The motor was not attached when I was spinning it. When I disconnect the motors I can spin the bottom one with ease, but the top one is jammed to the point where I can move it in either direction.

So have you tried the easiest test and grabbed a few bags of diff pellets?

 

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So have you tried the easiest test and grabbed a few bags of diff pellets?

Did that as well. The place I buy the pellets from swapped out a bunch of bags for me with another brand. I'm just so frustrated at this point.

 

[Cedarjunki]

Lets start from the beginning.
Is the stove new or used?

How long have you had it before you started having the problem?

Did that as well. The place I buy the pellets from swapped out a bunch of bags for me with another brand. I'm just so frustrated at this point.

Is this a new stove or just new to you? Look on the auger motors and see if they are marked 1 rpm.

 

[Cedarjunki]

Check to see what mode it is in as well.. i copied these instructions from another thread for you.

Shut down the stove the unplug it wait a few seconds plug it back it then push the blower speed up and down arrows at the same time for a second then release a letter will appear in the heat range window.. That tells you what mode it's in


Make sure it is in mode D

 

[[email protected]]

Lets start from the beginning.
Is the stove new or used?

How long have you had it before you started having the problem?



Is this a new stove or just new to you? Look on the auger motors and see if they are marked 1 rpm.

It's used. I've had it for 6 years now. This only started happening towards the end of last year. I'm not sure of the motors so I took a picture of them and can't figure out how to post the pic

 

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Check to see what mode it is in as well.. i copied these instructions from another thread for you.

Shut down the stove the unplug it wait a few seconds plug it back it then push the blower speed up and down arrows at the same time for a second then release a letter will appear in the heat range window.. That tells you what mode it's in


Make sure it is in mode D

tried that and nothing. the only thing that happened was the blower speed said 2 and the heat range said 2. no letters.

 

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Here is a picture of the motors. figured it out.

 

[Cedarjunki]

tried that and nothing. the only thing that happened was the blower speed said 2 and the heat range said 2. no letters.

As soon as you plug it in your fingers need to be on those 2 buttons

 

[Cedarjunki]

It's used. I've had it for 6 years now. This only started happening towards the end of last year. I'm not sure of the motors so I took a picture of them and can't figure out how to post the pic

Any specific details when it started happening? After a power outage? After you changed a motor or fixed something? After you opened up a new skid of pellets? Anything?