Harman P61 Auger

[bmtbow]

I have a Harman P61, 7 years old.

I have ensured all ducts are clear and clean using a brush and blowing them out. I have also removed all pellets from the hopper, vacuumed out the hopper and slide plate, no debris, and I blew it out and put fresh pellets.

All wires are connected and in good shape.
Ignition wires in burn pot are good.
Fuse is good.
Pressure switch hose is good and no holes.
Doors are confirmed closed when trying to operate.
When I run test the combustion fan operates properly.

Issue started at first it would feed as it normally would, then auto ignition and light, but then stopped feeding and went out, 6 blinks.
Then I tried again and this time it did the same thing.
The third no pellets would feed and no auger movement, 5 blinks.

The issue seems to be the auger, a Gleason Avery #3-20-60906.

I did notice that there is some leakage on the auger, very little on the floor, but some leakage around the seals of the auger and some blow back grease on the backsplash below the diagram on the inside panel.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[jzm2cc]

Is the exhaust probe clean? Does stove try to start up as follows ( use stove mode instead of room mode to rule out faulty room probe): 3 Red LED's should come on except for room fan initially meaning exhaust fan is powered and turning, vacuum is established and auger is turning, and igniter is powered)? If no auger at this step the I would suspect an air leak like at fines door on feeder assembly or elsewhere, blocked exhaust pipe, stuck closed inlet air valve, hopper switch issue if stove has one, or intermittent vacuum switch.

 

[bmtbow]

Is the exhaust probe clean? Does stove try to start up as follows ( use stove mode instead of room mode to rule out faulty room probe): 3 Red LED's should come on except for room fan initially meaning exhaust fan is powered and turning, vacuum is established and auger is turning, and igniter is powered)? If no auger at this step the I would suspect an air leak like at fines door on feeder assembly or elsewhere, blocked exhaust pipe, stuck closed inlet air valve, hopper switch issue if stove has one, or intermittent vacuum switch.

Hi Jzm2cc,

In stove mode the only LED (other than power & status) is the combustion blower light.
In test mode the Distribution light also comes on.

No auger movement.
Exhaust pipe brushed out, blown out, vacuumed out, very clear.
Inlet air valve operating correctly.
No value hopper switch, just the tension clasp, and seal in good condition.

Is there a way to test a vacuum?

By fines door do you mean front door and the rope gaskets on glass door and ash pot door?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[bmtbow]

Hi Jzm2cc,

In stove mode the only LED (other than power & status) is the combustion blower light.
In test mode the Distribution light also comes on.

No auger movement.
Exhaust pipe brushed out, blown out, vacuumed out, very clear.
Inlet air valve operating correctly.
No value hopper switch, just the tension clasp, and seal in good condition.

Is there a way to test a vacuum?

By fines door do you mean front door and the rope gaskets on glass door and ash pot door?

Thanks,
Brian

View attachment 310265

I should also note it was working fine before I cleaned it. standard cleaning process, I scraped down the ignition pot/pellet pot, vacuumed it out, brushed off the side wall soot, the combustion fan, and exhaust to the exterior pipe, brushed out the exterior pipe top to bottom, and cleared the fuel delivery chute.

From there is where the issue started.

 

[jzm2cc]

I was referring to the fines door behind the control panel. If packed with fines it can restrict auger movement, doubt that's the issue here.

Suspect the vacuum switch to vac issue like clogged vac hose Are you comfortable making a jumper wire to go between wires to bypass switch? Note where wires go or take a picture before disconnecting them. Some switches have three terminals

Also are the firepot holes cleaned out and cavity within free of ashes?

 

[jzm2cc]

One more thing, can you verify the combustion fan is turning and the clean out plate in front of motor was reinstalled during your cleaning. And also verify the air inlet valve swings I ward during startup, this means stove is at least moving air and out

 

[Washed-Up]

Fines box?

www.hearth.com

 

[bmtbow]

I was referring to the fines door behind the control panel. If packed with fines it can restrict auger movement, doubt that's the issue here.

Suspect the vacuum switch to vac issue like clogged vac hose Are you comfortable making a jumper wire to go between wires to bypass switch? Note where wires go or take a picture before disconnecting them. Some switches have three terminals

Also are the firepot holes cleaned out and cavity within free of ashes?

Hello,

Firepot and cavity very clean.

I did the jumper test, the three lights came on, auger started feeding pellets.

Does that mean it is the sensor or could it be the sensor tubing?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[jzm2cc]

Brian,
Could be a bad vacuum switch (ruptured diaphragm, body separating, dirty contacts, etc), or plugged vacuum line, or stove is not creating enough vacuum.

 

[bmtbow]

Brian,
Could be a bad vacuum switch (ruptured diaphragm, body separating, dirty contacts, etc), or plugged vacuum line, or stove is not creating enough vacuum.

Vacuum as in not sealing at hopper, glass door, or ash pot door?

 

[jzm2cc]

Yes it could be any of those. Before replacing parts I'd remove the vacuum switch, measure resistance across the two terminals and apply a very light suction . You should hear a click noise and then see the resistance in ohms go from infinite to a very low number like a couple of ohms showing switch works. If this is the case then try blowing out vacuum line on the stove to make sure it's not plugged with fines.

If switch is not working then replace it.

 

[bmtbow]

Yes it could be any of those. Before replacing parts I'd remove the vacuum switch, measure resistance across the two terminals and apply a very light suction . You should hear a click noise and then see the resistance in ohms go from infinite to a very low number like a couple of ohms showing switch works. If this is the case then try blowing out vacuum line on the stove to make sure it's not plugged with fines.

If switch is not working then replace it.

Lost me on measuring the resistance.

 

[jzm2cc]

Sorry, was referring to the use of a multi-meter to measure resistance with switch unplugged. Cheapie meters can be purchased at any hardware store, or maybe stop by an electronic repair facility to see if the can measure it for you.

 

[bmtbow]

Sorry, was referring to the use of a multi-meter to measure resistance with switch unplugged. Cheapie meters can be purchased at any hardware store, or maybe stop by an electronic repair facility to see if the can measure it for you.

 

[bmtbow]

As you can see in the video, I connected the terminals of the ohmmeter to the pressure switch, applied slight pressure with the tubing by blowing softly. I can hear the diaphragm operating and there’s no change in the measurement in the ohm reading.

 

[Mt Bob]

It's a vacuum switch, not a pressure switch. You should have sucked softly.

 

[bmtbow]

It's a vacuum switch, not a pressure switch. You should have sucked softly.

Got it. I’ll retest. With no reading/change in the ohms-meter would indicate bad switch?

 

[Tonyray]

I have a Harman P61, 7 years old.

I have ensured all ducts are clear and clean using a brush and blowing them out. I have also removed all pellets from the hopper, vacuumed out the hopper and slide plate, no debris, and I blew it out and put fresh pellets.

All wires are connected and in good shape.
Ignition wires in burn pot are good.
Fuse is good.
Pressure switch hose is good and no holes.
Doors are confirmed closed when trying to operate.
When I run test the combustion fan operates properly.

Issue started at first it would feed as it normally would, then auto ignition and light, but then stopped feeding and went out, 6 blinks.
Then I tried again and this time it did the same thing.
The third no pellets would feed and no auger movement, 5 blinks.

The issue seems to be the auger, a Gleason Avery #3-20-60906.

I did notice that there is some leakage on the auger, very little on the floor, but some leakage around the seals of the auger and some blow back grease on the backsplash below the diagram on the inside panel.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Brian

did u clean out the fines box which is under the auger? noticed u were not sure where or what it was.......

 

[bmtbow]

Jzm2cc & Mt Bob, new test, creating a vacuum.

 

[Copakekid]

Probably not your issue here, but early in the season, house got cold, no pellets in the burn pot. Reset it, augur turned for a bit but no pellets. Emptied the pellet hopper and found that a large piece of rubber that must have been in a bag of pellets worked its way to the bottom and covered the hopper opening. The object looked like a piece of a conveyor belt paddle. I was using Dry Creek pellets.

 

[jzm2cc]

Looks like switch is working. Would it do the same with vacuum switch installed but stove wires left off and multi-meter measuring resistance? If not then you probably have a vacuum creation issue (plugged exhaust, stuck inlet flapper valve, leaky gaskets on doors, fines box not seated properly, exhaust fan plate not installed,, or plugged vacuum line.)

 

[Mt Bob]

Make sure you can blow into the hose, where it goes down to the firebox, and it is open.

 

[Mt Bob]

Also, many harmans have this, inside the hopper--

And, if knocked off, can cause issues, also, it is hooked to a vacuum hose, T fitting into the vac. sensor,

 

[bmtbow]

Hi All. Problem was in fact the gasket on the burn pot door.

Started right up once we installed the new one.

Thanks for all the help, I learned so much.

 

[Mt Bob]

Congrats, stay warm!