Harman Squeal and Graphite

[gfreek]

What exactly does the powdered graphite do to the auger to stop the Harman "squeal" ? Worked twice now for me..

 

[Bigjim13]

What exactly does the powdered graphite do to the auger to stop the Harman "squeal" ? Worked twice now for me..

Curious also. My distribution blower has a squeal every so often. Not sure I can get graphite powder in there though...

 

[roadking88]

What exactly does the powdered graphite do to the auger to stop the Harman "squeal" ? Worked twice now for me..

where did you get the stuff??

 

[Bioburner]

Available from farm store and implement stores. Commonly used to treat seed for it to slip in seeder hoppers.

 

[alternativeheat]

What exactly does the powdered graphite do to the auger to stop the Harman "squeal" ? Worked twice now for me..

One would kind of assume that the squeal is a binding/friction issue, be that pellets, carbon, dust in/on.around the auger. Graphite is a dry lube. Lube the dry friction no more squeal. My P61 squealed for the first time Tues evening and of course we had people coming to the house. The grand kids were here and their dad picked them up, then people started arriving all more or less at the same time.. Anyway, lots of opening and closing of doors and the stove went on high burn to catch the house up. The squeal went away and I haven't heard it since, specially seeing we have been burning it pretty hot since ... After this season it might be time to pull that baby out ( the auger) and clean it up.

 

[gfreek]

where did you get the stuff??

I get mine at ACE Hardware, small tube.

 

[Bioburner]

If I pull an auger now I clean and paint with graphite paint without thinking about it anymore. The increased ease of the fuel going past the flights has got to be easier on the motor-gearbox. Granted it will wear but seems to last several years. Perfect cure for some CL stoves. A coat on the hopper walls don't hurt. A quart goes a long ways on metal.

 

[bogieb]

where did you get the stuff??

Home Depot has it near the snow blowers. I only know because I was looking for silicone spray to coat my snow shovels and the lady in the department handed me a can of graphite. Um, no, don't want graphite on my shovel - thanks though (she did find me the silicone).

And before anyone jumps all over the lady, I had just been at another place asking for spray silicone, and the guy took me to gasket material. Um no, not trying to put chit together, I want chit to slide. None of the guys in that store even had a clue if they had it, much less where it would be.

 

[Val]

Available from farm store and implement stores. Commonly used to treat seed for it to slip in seeder hoppers.

how would you insert powdered graphite into the auger tube? I sprayed the auger with dry graphite when i took it out to clean it, but how can you regularly treat the auger hole with dry graphite? Feed it through with pellets in the hopper? I dont have auger squeak, but i know the fines built up throughout the tube and not just at the end.

 

[alternativeheat]

Well my P61 ran itself out of pellets this morning and the stove quit, the auger is all shiny looking to me. This was one of those pellets low but clung to the hopper sides things and I got up late. All I did is tap the pile of pellets and they all slid down the chute. Then dumb me , half asleep is wondering why the stove won't feed . Meanwhile the oil heat was running so I let that take over while I made coffee, walked into the living room and there it was my P61 with the hopper lid open. Dah !

 

[Bioburner]

how would you insert powdered graphite into the auger tube? I sprayed the auger with dry graphite when i took it out to clean it, but how can you regularly treat the auger hole with dry graphite? Feed it through with pellets in the hopper? I dont have auger squeak, but i know the fines built up throughout the tube and not just at the end.

Just add some graphite to a couple cups of pellets and let it run through. The dust will distribute itself. This was a trick that was suggested by KernalBurner. That feed auger was 4 feet. I painted the auger. Once you handle graphite you will see how it sticks to everything and goes everywhere so where a pair of disposable gloves when using.

 

[roadking88]

Just add some graphite to a couple cups of pellets and let it run through. The dust will distribute itself. This was a trick that was suggested by KernalBurner. That feed auger was 4 feet. I painted the auger. Once you handle graphite you will see how it sticks to everything and goes everywhere so where a pair of disposable gloves when using.

is it flammable?? i bought some dry moly and was going to spray the auger then i read that it was extremely flammable...

 

[Bioburner]

That's the carrier your moly is being carried or propelled by. Probably propane. Graphite is used for rocket nozzles.

 

[Val]

Just add some graphite to a couple cups of pellets and let it run through. The dust will distribute itself. This was a trick that was suggested by KernalBurner. That feed auger was 4 feet. I painted the auger. Once you handle graphite you will see how it sticks to everything and goes everywhere so where a pair of disposable gloves when using.

Thanks. I wonder if I can just sprinkle some in the hopper when it is low- like I am sprinkling baby powder- before I add more pellets. Maybe I could swap lids on the bottle. But I would have to be careful not to over dump the bottle. I will have to look for some or order some online. I know powdered graphite I wonder if it is somewhat expensive depending on what store it comes from. On the bright side, I can always use it for sticking padlocks.

 

[Bioburner]

Just did a short google and Blain's Farm and Fleet had 5 lbs of E-Z Slide for $14.95. Probably a couple lifetimes for stoves.
A earlier posting showed a 1 pound squeeze bottle.

 

[Val]

That's the carrier your moly is being carried or propelled by. ProbablI

Actually that seems cheap. I thought they would be ridiculous on shipping, but it is only $4.95. That seems like an interesting store.

I am used to Tractor Supply stores around my area, but they can be overpriced. Plus, everytime I go into a TSC store its almost turning into a joke. They show they have 5 of a product on line but they have 0 in the store. They never have 5 gallon pails of parts cleaner in the store- I mean what do farmers do when this place doesn't have basic chemicals? They outlawed asphalt fence paint in NY and TSC took it off the shelves before I could buy a gallon. All the hardware stores are really locking up all the tools behind glass cabinets now because there is no clerks to watch the customers. But if I want to dress in a pink farm coat and pink boots...that the place to go.

 

[Bioburner]

Mills Fleet Farm has the farm store-a real mans store locked up around here. If they don't have it you don't need it

 

[gfreek]

Graphite is a dry lube. Lube the dry friction no more squeal.

So it dry lubes the auger and tube assembly, be it carbon , pellets, etc.. ?? I tried the high burn & didn't work. Graphite did..

 

[Bioburner]

Graphite is also used as an antistatic. Gunpowder necessity.

 

[alternativeheat]

So it dry lubes the auger and tube assembly, be it carbon , pellets, etc.. ?? I tried the high burn & didn't work. Graphite did..

Good to know.