My Vernon Classic auger sometimes turns but doesn’t drop pellets

[cparts]

Hello 2006 Mt Vernon Classic, 25’ liner up chimney with oak.
When trying to figure out general poor performance problems (wont light when cold, goes out during night, seems to blow itself out, etc) on a stove that has run strong in the past, I noticed the following...

Re : pellet dropping: I push reset button when stove is cold, and it will drop pellets in pot. It will ignite pellets and then call for auger to turn more. Auger turns but no pellets ( or very few) drop. I can hear auger turning but flame burns out due to no pellets.

if I reset the stove about 4-6 times I can get it to run. No great but it will run and feed pellets for hours.

Should I replace auger and/or something else? If auger are there other parts I should order and replace at same time?

Thanks

 

[Ssyko]

When was the last thorough cleaning? removed blowers cleaned? Vent/ liner cleaned?

 

[cparts]

When was the last thorough cleaning? removed blowers cleaned? Vent/ liner cleaned?

New exhaust blower about 4 tons ago. Liner cleaned with brushes at beginning of season. I vacuum the combustion blower, but have not pulled it. I may need to remove side bricks and clean behind them, as I did not realize the come out until reading some here.

Would that explain the weird auger rotating, but not dropping, issue?

 

[Ssyko]

Yes the vacuum controls the auger. Stove should be tore down every ton and cleaned thoroughly. Check you manual for maintenance requirements.

 

[cparts]

I will be giving it a good cleaning next week.

nevertheless, I don’t understand the seemingly impossible physics of the auger turning, but no pellets falling, though - but only sometimes! Other times when the auger turns pellets fall.

 

[Ssyko]

quad's use a tempered spring style auger instead of a shaft with flute's so it isn't a positive feed auger like the shaft is. pellets can actually shift in the tube. does your stove have a small brown capacitor on the auger connector?

 

[cparts]

Hi,

I cleaned the entire stove. I'm sure it will help, but it did not change the behavior.

I can confirm that I do have the capacitor on the auger connector.

I have watched the stove again after it is cold and sometimes it will start and then the auger motor will make noise but not drop pellets for multiple times in a series and the stove will go out.

Is there a way to test the capacitor. Is there a place I can buy the capacitor and just put one in to see if it fixes it.

The stove is running fine now and will run for hours. Then the old behavior will occur.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Ssyko]

my old cb1200 would have what we call a quad cold start, where they fail to start the first time but start the next when you hit the reset. watch you motor as it runs if the cap is bad the motor will change directions each time it cycles. if it don't then its fine also if the pellets are small they don't travel up the chute quite as well.

 

[rickwai]

With side off the stove shine a light back there and confirm the auger is actually turning when you hear the sound.
Ssysko, Is that a DC motor like the AE or a AC? The only Quads I have worked on are Mt Vernon AE, We sold them the first couple years they came out.

 

[gfreek]

my old cb1200 would have what we call a quad cold start, where they fail to start the first time but start the next when you hit the reset. watch you motor as it runs if the cap is bad the motor will change directions each time it cycles. if it don't then its fine also if the pellets are small they don't travel up the chute quite as well.

Ssyko, good call, possible since it does have a capacitor..

 

[Ssyko]

Ssysko, Is that a DC motor like the AE or a AC? The only Quads I have worked on are Mt Vernon AE, We sold them the first couple years they came out.

Pre 2002 all of them were AC. The telltale sign is the cap, ( capacitors will not pass DC voltage) thats why the motor will reverse when the cap goes bad. I believe they are a 104, 100,000pF or 0.1uf.

Now for the OP when was the last time the stove was gutted and cleaned on the inside? Is the thermocouple cover clean inside, wire touching the inside and over the pot about an inch? Liner been brushed and cleaned ? Combustion blower brushed and vac? chamber It goes in cleaned?