MT Vernon Non-AE fuse issue

[martya66]

I have an older MT Vernon non-ae. Bought it used 2 years ago.

Stove has been working fine and today it just shut off. Turned up thermostat, nothing happened. Tried everything then realized that there is a fuse. Checked the fuse, blown. Replaced the fuse, stove turns on for 2 seconds and then the fuse blows.

I took everything apart. Vacuumed out everything. However, I cant seem to remove the top of the firebox to clean heat exchanger. Everything I've seen says there is a screw. I CANNOT find it. I haven't cleaned vacuum lines yet, going to do that now.Also havent cleaned out the hopper yet (40lbs of pellets in there at the moment).

Any suggestions as to why the fuse keeps blowing? I tried searching the forum but couldnt find anything helpful.

***UPDATE*** I JUST CHECK THE VACUUM LINE AND IT WAS FULL OF SAW DUST Could this be the problem?

 

[DMKNLD]

Hi marty,

A sawdust blocked vacuum hose will typically kick out the vacuum switch, which in turn shuts down the power to the auger feed. Certainly worth disconnecting the tubing at the vac switch end and blowing towards the auger tube, either by mouth or with some Dust-Off or similar canned air. But that alone shouldn't typically blow the 7 amp fuse. Does the fuse twist-lock have some spring resistance when you push it in an turn it to lock it in place? I would check the wiring and electrical spade connectors at the igniter, vacuum switch, snap discs and blower motors to make sure nothing is inadvertently grounding out or has a loose connection.

You can also, after first UNPLUGGING your stove, remove and re-seat the control box, which can vibrate loose from the junction box connections and / or have the electrical contacts degrade from dirt and dust over time, especially in an older model stove like yours.

Do you have the OEM grey colored control box or do you have the updated clear box ? If the control box electrical contacts look dirty / dusty you can GENTLY clean them with a clean pencil eraser, and then spray them with dust off or electrical contact cleaner before you re-seat the box.

RE cleaning your heat exchanger, you will need to remove the cast baffle that separates the firebox and the exchanger tubes. There is a 5/32" allen wrench screw that holds it in at the front side of the baffle. If you haven't removed that in your 2 years of burning it will certainly need cleaning, assuming you've burned a ton or more of pellets during that time. I remove my baffle and vacuum / scrape the exchanger tubes and the area above the tubes about every 1/2 ton. See page 31 of your manual for pics and more details on how to do it. http://downloads.hearthnhome.com/installManuals/7005_151.pdf

Check the above and post back on any findings, OK ? Regards, DK

 

[heat seeker]

After unplugging it, I'd examine every inch of wiring to make sure it's not shorted to ground, either by wear on the insulation, or being pinched. Sometimes an igniter wire will get pinched when cleaning the stove, and it may take a while for the insulation to give, causing a "time delay"problem.

 

[martya66]

Ok, shame on me for not checking the obvious things. As I was inspecting all the wires I found that there were a few strands of wire sticking out of the igniter wires. You couldn't see them but when I ran my fingers along them I could feel them. As soon as I took care of that the stove worked fine.

But I am still stuck on removing the top plate. I will try to post a pic showing that there are no screws to be found. One of the main reasons I want to get in there is that one of the cleaning rods doesn't seat all the way back in which causes the door not to close all the way

Also, just FYI, the control box is clear.

 

[kappel15]

I would do a little steel brush, brushing right in the middle of the front to see if you can find that allen screw. It may just be caked full. kap

 

[kappel15]

Can you get a better angle pic on that? It almost looks like a weld up on left side of baffle. kap

 

[DMKNLD]

You're right kap, it looks like someone may have welded it to the firebox framing.

Certainly not a Quad approved nor recommended 'mod' done by the prior owner, if that is the case. DK

 

[martya66]

Stove is running now. I will get one tomorrow morning. Thanks