Harman P61 Black marks on Fire Bricks in fire box?

[Don2222]

Hello

A friend has a Harman P61 for 4 years and it just started making black marks on the fire bricks.
She gave the stove a deep cleaning today and after 10 mins it started making these black marks.
She tried different pellets and it still happens.
Any ideas what is causing this?
See pic below

 

[FirepotPete]

Something not sealed, air coming in, burning different than normal is my guess. Please send money, thanks!

 

[Golfeur]

poor combustion not enough air through the fire

 

[Don2222]

Yes, poor combustion. It happened at startup when the flame was large and there were a lot of pellets in the burn pot. It has the standard 2" OAK that is approx 3 feet.

 

[Harman Lover 007]

Looks like something is up with the flame guide as well.

 

[Don2222]

Hello

Here is an Update. The P61 stove is approx 4 years old.
I went over and disconnected the OAK after cleaning the fire bricks in the back.
We checked the flame guide and flapper valve and they both seemed fine.
Then we started the stove and it still make the bricks black. See new pic below!
This happened only during startup when the burn pot was filling up and the fire was lighting up.
It seemed to happen when the there was alot of pellets in the pot.
After startup we wiped the fire bricks clean and they stayed clean.
However this is a problem because during every startup it makes the fire box blacker and blacker. :-(

Could it be the exhaust blower or circuit board? ? ?

 

[Shane1]

Maybe the igniter is going bad and by the time it ignites the pot is to full causing a dirty burn?

 

[Don2222]

Maybe the igniter is going bad and by the time it ignites the pot is to full causing a dirty burn?

Interesting you said that because there seemed to be a little more smoke than usual during startup?

 

[Funnydirt14]

Interesting you said that because there seemed to be a little more smoke than usual during startup?

When's the last time it has a good cleaning. Under fire pot, fire pot holes, combustion blower?

 

[Don2222]

When's the last time it has a good cleaning. Under fire pot, fire pot holes, combustion blower?

Just before it fired up and made the black mark. We even took the exhaust fan blade out and cleaned behind the blade!

 

[Don2222]

Hello
Looks like we found something.
The flame was lazy and the feed adjuster was set at 2.5

It should be at 4 so we changed it!

Pic 1 - control panel settings
Pic 2 - Flame with feed adjuster at 2.5
Pic 3 - Flame with Feed Adjuster at the recommended 4

 

[Tonyray]

Hello
Looks like we found something.
The flame was lazy and the feed adjuster was set at 2.5

It should be at 4 so we changed it!

Pic 1 - control panel settings
Pic 2 - Flame with feed adjuster at 2.5
Pic 3 - Flame with Feed Adjuster at the recommended 4[/QUOTE
Much better......

 

[Bioburner]

Check your gaskets. 4 years can spell the end of the old white door gaskets. Thats my 2 bits. KISS

 

[MSmith66]

Hello
Looks like we found something.
The flame was lazy and the feed adjuster was set at 2.5

It should be at 4 so we changed it!

Pic 1 - control panel settings
Pic 2 - Flame with feed adjuster at 2.5
Pic 3 - Flame with Feed Adjuster at the recommended 4

one photo show a nice stiff flame with the pot scrapped and the other photo shoot shows a lazier flame with an un scrapped pot. Could be different pellets or not cleaned under pot ( igniter area). I see a burn like that in the morning after I wake up.