Harman P68 Lazy burn

[The Grintch]

Hi all,


I started my 2 year old Harman P68 up the other night and it took a long time to light. When it finally got lit, it had a smoldering fire, auger motor kept coming on then shut off, and the distribution fan would never kick on high. Pellets would feed very slowly even on max feed rate.


My local stove shop suggested It may be the combustion fan motor, so I changed that and I changed the door gasket... it helped but still lazy fire and the distribution fan wouldn't kick on high. It did help with the light time and feed rate although still doesn't feed


enough to create a big flame.


I cleaned the stove last spring including the venting and ESP probe.


I'm wondering if it may be an ESP probe issue??


Any past experience or thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Harman Lover 007]

Stove Temp or Room Temp mode? Check your temp probe to see if it didn't get altered in the off season. Try firing it in stove temp mode and see if you get a difference in performance. You should double check your venting to make sure nothing got in there since Spring cleaning. Keep us posted.

 

[bogieb]

Check the back of the stove where the probe attaches and re-seat it (just wiggle it gently, if it wiggles, then it isn't seated). It may be fine, but if not, it's a very easy and cheap fix. If not, you haven't lost but 10 seconds of time.

EDIT: the reason to try this is that if the stove can't find the probe, then it goes into a maintenance burn that barely goes and may appear lazy. Although usually the stove is only affected in room temp mode, I have read of instances that the same thing happened in stove temp mode.

 

[silverfox103]

I have owned my P68 for eight years, pretty much flawless. I have had "lazy burn" twice. The first time when the stove was relatively new. The fines box was full, emptied that, problem ended. The second time was a couple of years ago. The mesh screen on the exhaust 45* outlet was "caked". Must have been from the ash and humidity. Cleaned that off, end of lazy burn.

Tom

 

[Bioburner]

When in test mode have you counted the number of auger revolutions? That may tell us if the feed motor has issues or if there is something stuck in the auger flights. Two year old stove should not have any issues

 

[The Grintch]

Thanks for the feedback.

I run the stove in Room Temp Mode. I did check the thermostat wire and it was connected securely to the back and wasn't damaged.

I did run a dryer brush through the vent and cleaned the ESP probe last spring when I turned the stove off for good. I also checked the air intake for obstructions, but will check both tonight for obstructions.

I will count the rotations of the auger in "Test" mode tonight.

Thanks All!

 

[Tonyray]

Thanks for the feedback.

I run the stove in Room Temp Mode. I did check the thermostat wire and it was connected securely to the back and wasn't damaged.

I did run a dryer brush through the vent and cleaned the ESP probe last spring when I turned the stove off for good. I also checked the air intake for obstructions, but will check both tonight for obstructions.

I will count the rotations of the auger in "Test" mode tonight.

Thanks All!

I had the same lazy flame etc and it was my hopper lid..
it wasn't closing tight enough causing vac leak.

 

[The Grintch]

Update...

So I ran it in "test mode" and the auger rotated 6.5 time.

Ran the dryer brush down the exhaust and made sure the oak was clear.

Checked the temp cord was not loose , and it wasn't'.

Checked the fines box , and it's empty.

Check the ESP probe connection, everything feels tight.

Result: flame barely out of the burn pot.... Seems to be a feeding problem.... Not enough fuel.

 

[Bioburner]

May have something stuck in the auger flights? You might be the first of the season with something other than pellets in the bag or do you have any children? Did they ever find the guys finger that was cut off in a mill accident?

 

[The Grintch]

Bioburner I think your right, it seems to be fuel starved.

I have the feed rate on 6 (normally on 3.5), normally unburned pellets would be falling out, but it doesn't seem to be pushing enough out. Like auger is 1/2 full of pellets.

I do have a 5 & 7 yo....I can only imagine Lol

 

[Bioburner]

Mmmmm, your going to be looking like Homer Simpson with just a couple hairs left. Toys beat what is found in corn stoves.

 

[The Grintch]

I hear the pellets dropping into the auger tube, but hear some crunching also.

How hard is it to remove the auger?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Bioburner]

Hope someone knows of a video for the removal and chimes in. Several have removed and so have I but I can't remember the difficulty level. More of a PIA as its in the middle of everything and also fines box etc.and they seal the assembly with RTV.

 

[Harman Lover 007]

Empty out the hopper first, then put the stove in test mode. You have to hold the hopper switch closed if you have one. Look down at the auger when the slide plate opens and see if you see anything.
Auger removal isn't too bad if you are slightly mechanically inclined. Remove the auger motor. There's a set screw to remove too that connects the auger to the motor. There are two bolts holding the auger plate in place. Remove those and gently tap on the auger from the front. Once it breaks free you can pull it out from the back.

 

[The Grintch]

Let me start off by thanking all of those who responded. Great ideas and a huge help...THANKS!!.

I let the stove run all night to empty out the hopper.

Opened the lid this morning to find a plastic bracelet nicely fitted where the pellets drop into the auger channel.

Plucked it out and left it on the counter with a nice good morning note.

Next step...install lock on hopper lid!

 

[Bioburner]

How nice, Harman got a friend bracelet

 

[Harman Lover 007]

Let me start off by thanking all of those who responded. Great ideas and a huge help...THANKS!!.

I let the stove run all night to empty out the hopper.

Opened the lid this morning to find a plastic bracelet nicely fitted where the pellets drop into the auger channel.

Plucked it out and left it on the counter with a nice good morning note.

Next step...install lock on hopper lid!

It's always nice when the solution is easy

 

[Tonyray]

Nice that some pellet company includes "free toy inside" with each bag purchase
but should have advertised it like cereal boxes..
did u look on back of bags for pix of free bracelet?

 

[bogieb]

Update...

So I ran it in "test mode" and the auger rotated 6.5 time.

Ran the dryer brush down the exhaust and made sure the oak was clear.

Checked the temp cord was not loose , and it wasn't'.

Checked the fines box , and it's empty.

Check the ESP probe connection, everything feels tight.

Result: flame barely out of the burn pot.... Seems to be a feeding problem.... Not enough fuel.

Thank you for being so clear on what you checked - we didn't have to guess on which suggestions you had tried.

Glad that you found it was something as simple as FOD, frustrating, but at least not $$$