Pellets not staying in the burn pot

[Hockeyplayerjeff]

I have an M-55 enviro cast iron that I just purchased a couple of months ago. It was burning fairly well and I've taken the burn assembly out for cleaning about 6 times now. For some reason, the pellets have started to fall thru the space between the back wall and the burn pot causing a fire in the ash pan. I've checked to make sure the assembly is properly seated on the hooks provided. Any ideas?

 

[bostonfan49]

I have an M-55 enviro cast iron that I just purchased a couple of months ago. It was burning fairly well and I've taken the burn assembly out for cleaning about 6 times now. For some reason, the pellets have started to fall thru the space between the back wall and the burn pot causing a fire in the ash pan. I've checked to make sure the assembly is properly seated on the hooks provided. Any ideas?

....I have the M55 (insert).....not sure how the pellets can fall straight down out of the chute and not go into the burn pot because of the lip on the burn pot. Most M55 owners I think will tell you that with this stove it is normal to end up with a small pile of pellets in various stage of burn on both the right and left side of the ash pan. With the fan set at position 3 (kind of a default setting) and the feed trim also set at 3 the agitator bar will routinely push pellets over the right and left edges of the burn pot and also through the center cut out where the bar part of the agitator turns! Unless it is below zero, I usually have the feed at position 2 or 1. Get plenty of heat with less pellet spillage. I am sure you will hear from other more qualified M55 owners.....Happy Holidays, Bill

 

[JHASS]

If this link works it takes you to the sticks at the top of the page and you
can see what JTakeman and I did to our burn pots for this issue.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/81875/

 

[bostonfan49]

Or you can do this....I still get a little spillage mostly through the small space where the auger turns...

 

[Hockeyplayerjeff]

Not sure exactly what you did with the grate there, but it looks to me like the lip needs to be longer on the part that sits right under the chute where the pellets come out. I like the stove, but the engineering is very poor. There is a hook and tongue that sets the burn pot, but the rest of the pieces don't have a very positive fit. I was just interrupted from typing because my smoke alarm was going off. I had fire coming out of the exhaust port and the duravent T on the exhaust was cherry red.This is not a good situation. I take it back...I don't like the stove anymore. Pulling the pin on a fire extinguisher just changed my opinion.

 

[Lake Girl]

Hope all is OK at your house . Was going to suggest a clean of all exhaust pathways and vent to start (might have to clean more frequent because of more low level burns since you are more moderate in Virginia than where I live) Prefer the more expensive stoves due to all the extra safety sensors - Safety of family and home.

Keep us posted ... love the pup in the avatar.

 

[Hockeyplayerjeff]

I put some high temperature tape in the space between the burn pot liner and the back wall of the stove to deflect the rogue pellets back into the burn pot. Seems to be working at least for a temporary fix. When in doubt, bring out the duct tape.

 

[Hampstead M55 User]

I had a very similar situation occur with my M55 insert. It was totally my fault when I put the burn pot parts back in after a cleaning. I was not careful to insure the last piece was secure in place and the "lip" was actually slightly forward of the chute where the pellets descend.. Take a look at how you put the parts back in place. This might be a very simple fix. It was for me.