fan noise

[rsnider]

been running my new biomass 40 for about a month now and this thing works great. no smoke and lots of heat but the other day the fan started to make lots of noise rattling and sounds like its going to fall apart. my fan is on the exhaust and usually sounds like a nice hummmmmm and works well but for a day or two has sounded bad. anyone with a biomass having this problem.

 

[RJP Electric]

I had the same problem. The ash builds up on the fan blades and kind of throws the motor off balance ever so slightly. and sends this awful vibration into the bracket. I took off my fan guard and tightened the screws. I needed to move my blade back too toward the motor 1/32 of an inch, it was rubbing on the boiler. easy fix but one heck of a boiler, no other complaints here.

Bob

 

[rsnider]

thanks for the info ill try and adjust the blades. i did notice the bolts are loose but I've noticed i do need to get into the inside to tighten them . thanks again i thought i had a bad motor and would be down for awhile.

 

[rsnider]

update: i adjusted fan blade and cleaned all buildup on blades. this worked a little but still lots of noise coming from motor then on Saturday morning the fan would not run at all. called zenon which were i got the boiler and he got back to me Sunday and said he would send a new motor out to me. he thinks its from leaving the bypass open to long when filling the boiler and the fan burned up. i didn't think that could happen since the longest i had it open just a minute to reload and stoke the fire a bit. heck in the manual it tells you to leave it open for 15 to20 min when starting the fire from cold start to get the fire going. i think i had a bad motor. thanks for the info about cleaning the blades i do think that didn't help the motor.

 

[RJP Electric]

Good guess Bondo! My boiler is at 180* right now, stack is at 225* and the motor temp is 90* according to my lazer, well within operating temperatures. I called Grainger a replacement motor is 95 dollars, I should order one and keep it on hand, probably a blade too.

20 minutes, good grief I would fall asleep. Here is my 5 minute light.
When I light a fire, I open the flap and the lower door, crinkle up 10 pages of newspaper throw on some kindling and one layer of small 3X3 firewood light paper and close upper door. Jog fan every minute to get draft for 3 seconds, after 5 minutes close lower door, flap then turn the fan on open upper door and look in you will see a glow down there, load it up! There is no need to see flames.

Bob

 

[rsnider]

thats what iv been doing to start a fire too no longer than a few minutes with the flap open and i know the flue temps have never gone that high.