New Homemade Tool - Top Auger Bushing Insert Extract Tool works!

[Don2222]

Hello

Just a few parts for approx $5.00 from Home Depot and Bingo! Easy Peasy
Stove is a Whitfield Quest.

Note: The Whitfield Pellet stoves have a 3/4" diameter auger shaft where bushing resides, one of the main reasons it is such a great stove!
Therefore, I choose 2 feet of 3/8" Threaded Rod. I did use extra thin nuts and put the grinder on them to fit 5/8" auger shafts
However, If your stove has a:
5/8" auger shaft for bushing, I recommend 1/2" threaded rod
1/2" auger shaft for bushing, I recommend 1/4" threaded rod

Pic 1 - Threaded Rod , Nuts and washers , coupling nuts
Pic 2 - Threaded Rod Tag
Pic 3 - Assembly completed
Pic 4 - Insert tool and a few taps
Pic 5 - Bingo - bushing slides down
Pic 6 - Dry and dirty auger bushings
Pic 7 - Dull, Dirty and rusty auger with auger pox! (Sharp bits of welding slag that rip pellets)
Pic 8 - By flipping the tool around, Inserting a new top auger bushing with a few taps is Easy Peasy!

 

[Lake Girl]

Interesting gadget Don. Looks like you've got some cleaning to do on the auger

 

[Don2222]

Interesting gadget Don. Looks like you've got some cleaning to do on the auger

Yes, I ground down the auger pox (sharp splashes of slag from sloppy welding) and buffed out the auger and sprayed it with dry moly, then I put in a new bronze top bushing, then upgraded the bottom bushing to Nylatron per Dr Whitfield's dealer technical bulletin.
That heavy Stainless Steel 3/4" diameter auger and permanently lubricated hardened high temperature Nylatron bearing make it by far the most rugged Top Feed auger system in the Industry! I wish other manufacturers would learn from that! The early Enviro EF-2's have a 3/4" diameter auger and are still working fine! Maybe they wanted the stoves to break down and realized the 3/4" diameter augers were just way too good? ! ! ! What do you think?

 

[Lake Girl]

Based on the service life I've seen here, the Whits are simple but robust ... so many around 20 years old!

 

[mralias]

I wish other manufacturers would learn from that! The early Enviro EF-2's have a 3/4" diameter auger and are still working fine! Maybe they wanted the stoves to break down and realized the 3/4" augers were just way too good? ! ! ! What do you think?

Perhaps they will learn from it...just never give you the credit that you deserve. Nice job!

 

[bcarton]

Great idea, Don! I might have to build me one of these this summer. My 20 year old Enviro might like to be treated to a new top bushing.

 

[Don2222]

Great idea, Don! I might have to build me one of these this summer. My 20 year old Enviro might like to be treated to a new top bushing.

Thanks, You can also upgrade the bottom bushing to Nylatron on that stove. If you are in Salem NH sometime, you are welcome to see it. Just PM me.

 

[smwilliamson]

Hello

Just a few parts for approx $5.00 from Home Depot and Bingo! Easy Peasy
Stove is a Whitfield Quest.

Note: The Whitfield Pellet stoves have a 3/4" diameter auger shaft where bushing resides, one of the main reasons it is such a great stove!
Therefore, I choose 2 feet of 3/8" Threaded Rod. I did use extra thin nuts and put the grinder on them to fit 5/8" auger shafts
However, If your stove has a:
5/8" auger shaft for bushing, I recommend 1/2" threaded rod
1/2" auger shaft for bushing, I recommend 1/4" threaded rod

Pic 1 - Threaded Rod , Nuts and washers , coupling nuts
Pic 2 - Threaded Rod Tag
Pic 3 - Assembly completed
Pic 4 - Insert tool and a few taps
Pic 5 - Bingo - bushing slides down
Pic 6 - Dry and dirty auger bushings
Pic 7 - Dull, Dirty and rusty auger with auger pox! (Sharp bits of welding slag that rip pellets)
Pic 8 - By flipping the tool around, Inserting a new top auger bushing with a few taps is Easy Peasy!

Make a tool to extract the top bushing from and EF2 or EF3 and I'll buy it from you. Those are the worst.

 

[Don2222]

Make a tool to extract the top bushing from and EF2 or EF3 and I'll buy it from you. Those are the worst.

You can pick up the parts at Home Depot and let us know how it works.

 

[Advisor]

I will be doing that sometime in the next fiew days thank you for the tip!

Enviro EFII FS