Enviro EF3 Auger jamming. Bushing?

[Digitalsucks]

Hi there,

My first post. I installed a used EF3 last year, and have been burning full time (except june til sept). Cleaning every 2 days. Deep clean a few times in the past year...

I’ve not had an auger jam so far. However, last night I heard a “pop” sound, and the auger immediately stopped. The auger light continued, but there was no auger movement. I unplugged the power to the auger, and plugged it back in, and auger continued again for 4-5 minutes (with a few grinding sounds) then quit.

After a bunch of reading on this forum, this morning, I emptied the hopper, removed the auger and motor, vaccumed the whole thing, the brass bushing “looked” ok (but not 100% on these things, and I couldn’t seperate the motor from the shaft). Seemed any jammed was cleared, and put the motor/auger back in place. Auger spun freely for a few minutes. So I loaded up a scoop of pellets, fire ignited and ran for 10-15 minutes. Had a few grinding sounds, then “pop/snap” sounds again ... auger quit.

Sounds like i’m pulling that auger out again, but for a bushing? Gears? Motor itself?

I’ve checkd the temp sensor red switch, it appears to be pushed in. And I checked to make sure the motor is getting power. 110volts.

Any help or insight is appreciated. Because of the holidays, most shops locally are closed, and I have a bit of a chance to see if there’s something I can do to get some heat in the meantime.

-jay

 

[zrock]

have you changed pellets? info i received from our local suppler he told me the higher end pellets that they sell had far to many returns from inconsistent sizing and jamming the auger

 

[Digitalsucks]

have you changed pellets? info i received from our local suppler he told me the higher end pellets that they sell had far to many returns from inconsistent sizing and jamming the auger

Thanks. No, I have been burning the same brand (eastern ember) pellets since I got the stove.

 

[Digitalsucks]

I can still rotate the motor/auger assembly by hand. Seems tight at first, but not stuck, so might it be the gearbox making the sound?

 

[johneh]

Did you take apart the auger motor ?
The lub in them tend to get hard after a few years .
Clean it and repack with a good grease. also put a little
lub on the bushings hopefully that will get you up and heating

 

[Digitalsucks]

Did you take apart the auger motor ?
The lub in them tend to get hard after a few years .
Clean it and repack with a good grease. also put a little
lub on the bushings hopefully that will get you up and heating

Thanks. I didn’t take the motor apart, just took the auger and motor off the stove. Do you mean the silver box attached to the motor? I can certainly give that a go.

 

[johneh]

Thanks. I didn’t take the motor apart, just took the auger and motor off the stove. Do you mean the silver box attached to the motor? I can certainly give that a go.

Gear box
3or4 screws and the top should come off . Check the gears and give it a cleaning add lub
see what happens . Have yet to see a bushing jam up , wear out yes jam no . The
gears may be worn out or the gear bushings may be sloppy (worm)

 

[Digitalsucks]

Gear box
3or4 screws and the top should come off . Check the gears and give it a cleaning add lub
see what happens . Have yet to see a bushing jam up , wear out yes jam no . The
gears may be worn out or the gear bushings may be sloppy (worm)

Thanks. Really appreciate the replies. Gearbox is apart now. Just having a closer look now.

 

[Digitalsucks]

Gears look ok, I think. Grease was pretty fresh looking. However, now I’m looking for a blowout drawing for where these washers, and spacers go.

 

[Digitalsucks]

Update. I managed to figure out which gears and spacers went where, and greased it back up (only had a tube of dielectric grease on hand) and re-assmebled the motor/auger into the stove. Its been burning fairly quietly for the last 3 hours or so, so I’m hopeful, but not filling the hooper all the way yet, just in case. Ha.

Just settling into a christmas nor’easter, so hopefully we can stay warm for a day or two

Thanks for your help. Happy Holidays.

-jay