Enviro empress fs

[Keifer2669]

Hi. New to this. But I have a enviro empress. The convection fan is giving me probs. won't run on low setting but if turn heat output switch up to 2-5 it comes on(and squeaks and has no oil ports). Then when turn back to low 1 it sometimes stays on but usually turns off. I took out cleaned fan blades and everything very well. This is 3rd season and I burn 3-4 tons annually. After reading all I could on other posts I'm not sure if it's the fan,the motor,the pof switch(prob not cuz the stove never shuts down and it does come on when heat output is up), or motherboard. The post saying the windings in the motor failing bit by bit makes most sense. Any help would be great. Don't want to spend. $250 on convection blower if not gonna be the fix I need

 

[Lake Girl]

Could do a quick check on the pof switch just to rule it out as it is a cheaper fix - jumper or try this...
Low limit switch testing from another thread: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/austroflamm-integra-still-no-go.119150/#post-1594824
OK, I removed the low limit switch and it looks fine. I googled it and found it is a normally open switch that closes at 120 degrees. I put an ohm meter on it and it is open. Took hair dryer to it and it closed. I can't say at 120 degrees, but didn't take long. I then put my thumb on the SS tip and it cooled down, and the switch opened. So in my opinion, it probably is ok.

Always unplug your stove before working on it!

Let us know how you make out...

 

[Keifer2669]

Really weird. I was messing with the stove again trying to pin down my problem. Unplugged the fan temp sensor(pof) and that ended up causing an error light on board. So I hit the on/off button and reset it. Then after about 5 mins(start
it popped and the fan is on. Not sure why it's working now or if it will last. Maybe the pof switch just needed a little reset.

 

[Lake Girl]

Could not find the manual on-line. The pof and fan low limit are different switches. May need to replace the switch but if the convection fan is squealing it likely needs to be cleaned and/or replaced. How old is the stove? When was the last time you cleaned the fan?

Edit: Reread above that you cleaned it...

 

[Keifer2669]

Yes I took fan out and cleaned very well. So after last night when it was working(with no squeak) I got up in night and the convection fan wasn't working. I turned heat output up a few notches and it came on. Then i immediately turned back to low and it stayed on. I'm thinking it's the motor on the convection fan itself not getting enough juice on low but I guess it could be control board not sending enough? It also baffles me that without fan going it never overheats and shuts down

 

[Lake Girl]

You could try replacing the fan low limit switch - it's one of the least expensive repairs. If it is not opening and closing at the appropriate temps it will not send accurate signals to your control board.

Your proof of fire sounds like it is OK as you have no auger control problems.

 

[steamguy]

Hi, I have an Empress (mine's an FPI but essentially the same) and the convection fan really does have oil ports. They look like dimples in the end castings. Here's something similar.

Unfortunately, if you can't see them then the motor was installed upside down, or was replaced with the wrong part number. I got a used fan for really cheap and the oil ports were on the bottom, so I couldn't use it.

If you have the newer control board, then you can only have two possible problems - the fan needs oiling or it needs to be replaced. The newer control board looks like this:


The older board only has ON/OFF and heat level. The older board has become famous among knowledgeable techs for ruining convection blowers. And the symptoms are EXACTLY what you describe. Fan won't start, or hums/vibrates loudly until you turn the heat way up.

I was changing blowers at the rate of one every couple years until Don showed me that I needed to change the control board. Ouch, for the cash outlay, but the stove works the way it was designed to do, now. And it's quiet(er) and reliable.

Hope that helps.

 

[Keifer2669]

Well thanks for the reply. I have a newer control board that looks like that. But the convection fan/motor is not like that. It's the one that someone described as a "squirrelly cage". Tonight I shut it down took out control board, checked out all wiring connections,checked and cleaned vacuum hose then took out convection fan(again). When spinning fan by hand it didn't seem to be spinning as free as I thought it should(spin about 1 1/2 times then stop. Also when in stove I could hear the squeak on the non motor end. And since there are no oil ports on this kind I delicately put a drop of pb blaster at end and stood on end for bit to soak in(and make sure al residue and vapors went away so as to not create a fire hazard) after that it spun much more freely. Then I put back together and it seems to be working fine now and no squeak(knock on wood). My logic seems that at low speeds it was dragging to much and didn't get enough juice to spin and only work when output was turned up and more juice to spin it! Hopefully it it will get me thru the winter and then I can look more into replacing the fan.

 

[Keifer2669]

(broken image removed)

 

[Keifer2669]

Looks like this one! At the end is a red rubber bushing

 

[Mt Bob]

(broken image removed)

You are right.Replace blower.These types must spin very free,or will not functio at lower levels properly.Unless you can get parts.Squirrel cage type is the other kind,looks like a hamster wheel.Proper term for yours is-tangential blower.Check ebay,look up specs on yours,search forums,bet you can find a better price.bob

 

[Mt Bob]

By the way,there is a bronze bushing inside the red rubber,it pops out,it takes grease.You may be able to find just that piece,and if you do,post it.

 

[Keifer2669]

Oh ok thanks for the clarification on name. I looked a bit. Most are $230-300 range. I'll prob get thru this season and replace over summer. Thanks again!

 

[Keifer2669]

That's where I put the lube. I wanted to try to pop out the red rubber but not sure if I did I could get it back on! That's exactly where the squeak was. And just the drop of pb blaster made a huge diff. Does that red piece come off easy without ripping?

 

[Mt Bob]

Most styles have a lip and groove,same as a grommet.Sometimes need a small screwdriver to pop it back in.Your spray should last a good while,unless the bushing is egged out.

 

[Keifer2669]

Yes. That what looks like. I kinda started it. But thought better about(since thermometer says 17 degrees outside). I'll see how it goes and see if I can get just that piece online or maybe the dealer I got from has one somewhere. Thanks for the help. I'll post any updates along the way!

 

[Keifer2669]

Being new to this forum has been great sod at. Thanks to everyone who has giving advice and help. So cool because I'm a do it yourselfer(I don't charge myself a service call haha) I'm sure I'll be on to pay it forward!

 

[Mt Bob]

For your info that is a 105 cfm blower.Next time you have it out,take some measurements and look up fireplace blowers on net,as it looks conventional.If you do not mind making a few brackets you can prob.get one for less than$100.

 

[Keifer2669]

Will do. Thanks a bunch!

 

[Pellet-King]

Had one briefly just for a quick flip, it barely blew out any air from the vents, horrible stove, made $500 thank god, the insert is totally different, has more powerfull blower like my Whit

 

[steamguy]

Looks like this one! At the end is a red rubber bushing

Gotcha.
That's similar to the blower in my old Austroflamm.
I had the same problem with that stove, put a dab of molybdenum disulphide grease in the end bearing (it's high-temp grease, rated to 800°) and it ran OK for years after that.
Just don't get any of that stuff on your clothes, it'll never come out.

 

[Keifer2669]

I'll keep that stuff in mind. That bit of pb blaster made a huge difference. Running great now. I went to stove shop today to see if they sold just the bushing or any old fans I could nab one from cuz he says they just chuck out the old ones as soon as they replace them. But he hasn't got any empress(size) fans in a while. Of course while I was there someone came in with a smaller fan and swapped out for new 1(only $90 mines $250ish). For now I'm gonna wait till offseason to mess with it anymore and see if I can find an old one to take apart for practice so I don't break this one trying.

 

[Lake Girl]

Good plan...

 

[jea333]

I'll keep that stuff in mind. That bit of pb blaster made a huge difference. Running great now. I went to stove shop today to see if they sold just the bushing or any old fans I could nab one from cuz he says they just chuck out the old ones as soon as they replace them. But he hasn't got any empress(size) fans in a while. Of course while I was there someone came in with a smaller fan and swapped out for new 1(only $90 mines $250ish). For now I'm gonna wait till offseason to mess with it anymore and see if I can find an old one to take apart for practice so I don't break this one trying.

I'm new to the forum and have the sane noisy FS Empress fan problem. I was curious to see if you made any progress in your solution to the replacement or fix of the bearing?
Thanks ! Jim

 

[Lake Girl]

Keifer2669 appears to be around every once in a while. You could try PM (click on user name and start a conversation) or just wait to see if he or others chime in... Have you tried removing the red rubber off the end and grease it (lube of some kind)? Sounds like that will minimize further damage at least and keep you going...