GCI60/M55 squeak-chirp

[Skier76]

So after about a week of use, I'm getting a squeak from my stove. Last night, I cleaned the burnpot really good. I got all the carbon I could see removed from the burnpot. I used some copper never seize on the left side of the agitator. I cleaned off the agitator....it's still making noise. It doesn't do it every turn, but every so often. It's a metal on metal type of noise.

Any ideas? If it's not the agitator, could it be the auger? But wouldn't the auger chirp every time it feeds?

 

[Doug Doty]

I am not familiar with your model stove but remember the auger turns very slowly. Mine runs 10 seconds at a time on high so it takes 6 cycles to make 1 revolution. It may only have one spot in one orientation that it is chirping.

 

[JimEvansCT]

I've heard that on My G60 - freestanding - and once I clean everything including scrapping down the agitator fingers and then apply the grease to the left of the Agitator it completely went away. Did you notice any build up on the agitator fingers?

 

[Skier76]

That's a great point. I spent a lot of time on the pot, none on the agitator. Looks like I should check next cleaning cycle.

Tonight, I noticed the chirp was there when I had the hopper top open. That, to me, says agitator since that still moves when the hopper is open. The auger doesn't feed when the hopper is agar.

 

[Skier76]

Jim,
I think you're on the money with the agitator having some build up on it. I was able to get the burn pot really clean this time and did my best on the faces of the agitator fingers. What do you use to clean yours? I used scraper, but it was a little difficult to maneuver. I'm thinking of a sanding block with some course grit next time.

 

[JimEvansCT]

I used a scraper and wire brush. It is a little awkward though and the sanding block is a good idea.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

Next cleaning soak both the pot and the stirrer in water, that will loosen it up some and make doing the rest of the cleaning easier. A brass brush can make short work of it.. Especially a brass gun bore brush of the correct caliber for burn pot holes and slots.

 

[Skier76]

Great suggestion guys. I have a brass brush I use when welding to clean up the slag (I'm not a great welder, so there's lots of clemup after each pass!) so I can use that next cleaning.

After a few days, the squeak is back. But it was quieter after the last cleaning. And I did notice the display unit at the stove store made the same noise when I was there the other day. Must be a common issue with these stoves.