mt vernon quadra-fire

[196thlib]

Tried to start my quadra fire today ,but it wont drop any pellets.I checked on the auger and it was not turning.
Could it be #2snap disk is bad?Is there a way to check and see if it is good?
Thanks

 

[FLAMES ON]

That and the vacuum switch are the only 2 circuit interrupters in the feed circuit. After verifying the vent and stove are totally clean make sure the vacuum hose and the nipple it connects to on the auger tube are clear. Do not tinker with the vac switch it is kind of delicate.

 

[reallyte]

Check your thermocouple first.

 

[Bkins]

What year, model, Mt Vernon do you have. A AE or a earlier model?

 

[196thlib]

What year, model, Mt Vernon do you have. A AE or a earlier model?

I have the early model quadra fire

 

[Bkins]

I would check to make sure your firepot trap door, on the bottom of the fire pot is fully closed. Make sure the ash door is latched and shut correctly. When was the last time you changed the door gasket? Any of these items will create a air leak and totally stop your stove from starting. Also, as the second poster mentioned make sure the rubber hose and the augar nipple are clean and open.

I answered another members question about the same stove not starting. It might help you to read through it.

If you really feel the number 2 snap disk is bad you can create a jumper wire and jump the wires once taken off the disc. I made a jumper using insulated connectors just for the purpose. Make sure you unplug your stove prior to doing any type of electrical work.

 

[196thlib]

Bkins I changed the gasket on the door 2 years ago.I'll jump the wires and see what happens.
Thanks for your reply

 

[196thlib]

I checked the vacuum hose and the nipple ,blew air thru the hose and made sure the nipple was not plugged up.stove is clean from top to bottom.
Put everything back together,pellets lit up and it was dropping pellets.It only worked for about 5 min.and it stop dropping pellets.What should I do next?

 

[Bkins]

You might take a look at the thermocouple that is housed in the ceramic tip that sticks into the fire pot. The thermocouple which is inside the ceramic has to be touching the inside end if that makes sense. Have you jumped the disc and the stove still stops dropping pellets even with the disc jumped?

I will also mention that the stove needs to be started on its highest setting, number 4, for its first start. Once the stove has been running for a while it can be turned to number 2 and it will continue to run. At least mine does. I had issues with my stove by not starting it on number 4. I get around it by throwing a small handful of pellets into the fire pot when I'm done cleaning the pot. The owners manual states it needs to be started on the highest setting to get enough pellets to get the stove hot enough to keep running.

It doesn't sound as though your stove is getting up to a warm enough tempature for the control board to sense the heat, which I've read is 200 degrees or above. It's easy to throw a handful of pellets into it to make sure it's getting warm enough. If it still won't keep running then you may have a bad thermocouple. You will need to do a search here to see how to check one out before throwing parts into the unit.

Is

 

[196thlib]

I jumped #2snap disk and the auger was not working Does this tells me that the auger motor is bad?.And also i dropped a handful of pellets in the fire box it did light up
but it went out when pellets were not dropping

 

[196thlib]

I think I might have found the problem I.jumped the vacuum switch and the auger was working.Does this tells me the vacuum switch is bad?

 

[reallyte]

I think I might have found the problem I.jumped the vacuum switch and the auger was working.Does this tells me the vacuum switch is bad?

Either that or you have poor ventilation (clog, fan, etc.)

 

[Bkins]

Or a air leak into the fire box. Do the dollar bill test on both doors even though you replaced the gasket 2 years ago. Your vaccume switch may very well be bad also, especially if your door gaskets check out. They don't go bad that often, the vaccume switch but they do go bad. If the only thing you have junpered is the vaccume switch then it sounds like its bad. Do you have a meter in which to test it with? You should be able to hook up a ohm meter and lightly, and I do mean lightly suck the air out of the switch and see the meter change its readings. I would take the switch off the back of the stove and lightly tap it to see if you can get and fines out of the port. I'm not big on just replacing parts and somewhat cheap to boot. I want to know it's actually broken before replacing it.