My auger keeps jamming again

[Bugly]

Hello all,

I have a Lopi Yankee pellet stove for the past 20+ years. The stove works very well with little issues. One that has arisen is that the auger jammed again, during the coldest time of the year in NE Pa. It did this last year as well several times. I loosened the auger and let the pellets exit the stove. Tested the auger motor and it spun as it should. It is now working again but I fear that it will clog again. I admit this year I used a half ton of Tractor Supply pellets. They kept clogging together and did not burn fully. I tried Home Depot stove chow and they worked fine for almost a ton burned. Now the auger jammed. Could pellet quality cause the auger to jam? Is there anything to do or clean as I go to prevent this?

Thanks for any suggestions as it is in the single digits lol.

Regards,

Kevin

 

[Whitenuckler]

Hello all,

I have a Lopi Yankee pellet stove for the past 20+ years. The stove works very well with little issues. One that has arisen is that the auger jammed again, during the coldest time of the year in NE Pa. It did this last year as well several times. I loosened the auger and let the pellets exit the stove. Tested the auger motor and it spun as it should. It is now working again but I fear that it will clog again. I admit this year I used a half ton of Tractor Supply pellets. They kept clogging together and did not burn fully. I tried Home Depot stove chow and they worked fine for almost a ton burned. Now the auger jammed. Could pellet quality cause the auger to jam? Is there anything to do or clean as I go to prevent this?

Thanks for any suggestions as it is in the single digits lol.

Regards,

Kevin

It could be the pellets - there is a minimum and maximum ideal length for each diameter:

https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/NRCAN_BB_no4_e_indd.pdf

Any fines would not be good either, although some stoves can take it.
I have not experienced a jam, but when you do inspect the auger, try to determine the cause.

 

[Bugly]

Whitenuckler Thanks for the quick reply. I checked my pellets prior to my post and I noticed that many of the pellet lengths are close to an inch long. When it jammed this time the auger motor activated but did not spin. I could hear and feel the auger motor activate but did not turn. I cleaned out the hopper but did not see any jams. There were a lot of pellets inside the housing that I could not see. They all fell out when I lowered the auger.​

Thank you for the heads up on the pellet sizes. I have a bin that I can store a bag or two inside the house. I have been trying to break as many as I can.

Regards,

Kevin

 

[Whitenuckler]

Whitenuckler Thanks for the quick reply. I checked my pellets prior to my post and I noticed that many of the pellet lengths are close to an inch long. When it jammed this time the auger motor activated but did not spin. I could hear and feel the auger motor activate but did not turn. I cleaned out the hopper but did not see any jams. There were a lot of pellets inside the housing that I could not see. They all fell out when I lowered the auger.​

Thank you for the heads up on the pellet sizes. I have a bin that I can store a bag or two inside the house. I have been trying to break as many as I can.

Regards,

Kevin

It might be a good idea to put a new auger motor/gearbox in if it has not been replaced in the last 5? years if you run the stove all winter(s). The grease in the gearbox can get fouled up and the motor/gearbox bearing can get bad. Also, the main auger bearing could be changed. All could be done for next season. Good luck, fingers crossed for no jams during this cold coming.

 

[Bugly]

Thank you. I had to change the auger motor once when it died...probably at least 10+ years ago. Can I change the auger bearing myself? Does it have to be pressed on? Not familiar as to what this is. Is it a bearing at the bottom of the auger?
Regards,

Kevin

 

[Whitenuckler]

Thank you. I had to change the auger motor once when it died...probably at least 10+ years ago. Can I change the auger bearing myself? Does it have to be pressed on? Not familiar as to what this is. Is it a bearing at the bottom of the auger?
Regards,

Kevin

I didn't find a parts listing or drawing only this:

https://www.travisindustries.com/Docs/93508108.pdf

If you have more information we could look up the parts. There are two types of bearings - sealed ball, or bronze bushing type. I'm not sure what you have, but they can but they be replaced. Maybe some other member will read this and help us out. It is certainly something you can do yourself, you might need a puller for a ball bearing. It seems most augers have a bearing at the motor end from what I've seen. You could have a look. If it jams again (hopefully after the cold snap) you can inspect the bearing. I just got a new pellet stove Feb 2025, so I don't have the experience other have after running these for 20+ years, but I like to learn for when my time comes.

 

[Bugly]

Thank you very much for your time with me. Very much appreciated. I will take everything apart at the end of the season to inspect. I have a memory of a bearing that froze up many years ago. I purchased the new part and when I went to pick it up the shop told me that they were able to work the old one loose. It's been a very long time ago so I do not remember what happened. There is not too much for me to look for in this stove.

Thank you again.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[bogieb]

Since I don't have any experience with that stove, I did a little google search. This site has a bunch of things to check for both the push auger and the meter motor.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Thank you very much for your time with me. Very much appreciated. I will take everything apart at the end of the season to inspect. I have a memory of a bearing that froze up many years ago. I purchased the new part and when I went to pick it up the shop told me that they were able to work the old one loose. It's been a very long time ago so I do not remember what happened. There is not too much for me to look for in this stove.

Thank you again.

Regards,
Kevin

Check out this thread:

Post in thread 'Anyone have and auger jam from leaving the stove outside for a months in the New England weather?'

Tuesday at 3:42 PM

Keep the old Whit going Don- let us know the outcome. Stay warm.

• stovelark

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