Plan to service your pellet stove...

[DAKSY]

Had an auger jam yesterday in the P61A. The EX-girlfriend, who is staying in MY house until she can move in the Spring (LONG STORY, there), emailed to say that the auger wasn't feeding pellets. She had enough sense to scoop out the hopper & vacuum out the burnpot to see what was causing the jam, but Nada...So I bailed from work & played a little with the control board switches to see what was up. I could see the auger TRYING to turn, but it wasn't turning very much. So, because I wanted the unit tight to the wall, I had to lie on my side to get the rear shrouds off. Then hadda get more tools to remove the auger motor. Then more tools to get the auger out. Cripes. The flight on the auger had a deep gouge in it about 1/2 way along its length so I grabbed a smooth file & benched it as best I could. After re-installation it moved freely, so I reassembled almost everything & filled the hopper. I have no IDEA what got into the pellet mix, but it must've come from the mill that way. It was definitely harder than the auger, based on the damage I saw. What ever it was must have fallen to the floor when I finally got the auger out.
I am not as young as I used to be & playing contortionist with tools is difficult to say the least.
Bottom line is, make sure you account for service work when you install one of these babies.

 

[Crazy Ivan from CT]

Maybe an engagement diamond ring found its way in the pellets?

 

[Delta-T]

if i had a nickle for every time I suggested not installing to the minimum requirement I'd have enough for half a cup of coffee by now. Excellent suggestion to account for serviceability. Congratulations on success!

 

[fmsm]

Had an auger jam yesterday in the P61A. The EX-girlfriend, who is staying in MY house until she can move in the Spring (LONG STORY, there), emailed to say that the auger wasn't feeding pellets. She had enough sense to scoop out the hopper & vacuum out the burnpot to see what was causing the jam, but Nada...So I bailed from work & played a little with the control board switches to see what was up. I could see the auger TRYING to turn, but it wasn't turning very much. So, because I wanted the unit tight to the wall, I had to lie on my side to get the rear shrouds off. Then hadda get more tools to remove the auger motor. Then more tools to get the auger out. Cripes. The flight on the auger had a deep gouge in it about 1/2 way along its length so I grabbed a smooth file & benched it as best I could. After re-installation it moved freely, so I reassembled almost everything & filled the hopper. I have no IDEA what got into the pellet mix, but it must've come from the mill that way. It was definitely harder than the auger, based on the damage I saw. What ever it was must have fallen to the floor when I finally got the auger out.
I am not as young as I used to be & playing contortionist with tools is difficult to say the least.
Bottom line is, make sure you account for service work when you install one of these babies.

What are you burning for pellets?

 

[DAKSY]

Cleanfire Hardwoods from www.woodpellets.com. 5th year burning them, first issue I've had...

 

[ZBrooks]

This reminds me of the piece of metal I found last week in the auger tube of my Traeger. It must have been in a bag of pellets.

 

[rickwai]

At least she sounds pretty handy...... I would have just got a call saying the stove is out and I am cold!

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

At least she sounds pretty handy...... I would have just got a call saying the stove is out and I am cold!

That's better than why is it cold in here?

 

[stoveguy2esw]

had a set of masterlock keys (3 on a wire ring) go through my PDVC back in 05. had to have copme out of a bag of pellets as the serial on the one key that was still legible didnt match my padlocks (i have all of them keyed the same)

 

[Stevekng]

had a set of masterlock keys (3 on a wire ring) go through my PDVC back in 05. had to have copme out of a bag of pellets as the serial on the one key that was still legible didnt match my padlocks (i have all of them keyed the same)

It probably wouldn't hurt to run a metal detector over a bag before you put the pellets in the hopper.

 

[bob huehne]

Had an auger jam yesterday in the P61A. The EX-girlfriend, who is staying in MY house until she can move in the Spring (LONG STORY, there), emailed to say that the auger wasn't feeding pellets. She had enough sense to scoop out the hopper & vacuum out the burnpot to see what was causing the jam, but Nada...So I bailed from work & played a little with the control board switches to see what was up. I could see the auger TRYING to turn, but it wasn't turning very much. So, because I wanted the unit tight to the wall, I had to lie on my side to get the rear shrouds off. Then hadda get more tools to remove the auger motor. Then more tools to get the auger out. Cripes. The flight on the auger had a deep gouge in it about 1/2 way along its length so I grabbed a smooth file & benched it as best I could. After re-installation it moved freely, so I reassembled almost everything & filled the hopper. I have no IDEA what got into the pellet mix, but it must've come from the mill that way. It was definitely harder than the auger, based on the damage I saw. What ever it was must have fallen to the floor when I finally got the auger out.
I am not as young as I used to be & playing contortionist with tools is difficult to say the least.
Bottom line is, make sure you account for service work when you install one of these babies.

You are absolutely right. I was new to pellet stoves this heating season and now I feel like a seasoned veteran after purchasing 3 pellet stoves and fighting with each one and learning all the in's and outs of the stoves since about last October. One thing for sure you best be able to work on them yourself and I see why craigslist is always full of people selling used pellet stoves. Don't even have to go to craigslist far as that goes even word of mouth will find you stoves for sale and I see why. If you can't work on them yourself you better have a fat wallet to pay for the service calls. I don't regret it though, love my stoves and I am able to fix about anything myself. My Harman pc45 is by far the best one I bought and even it has some issues at times.

 

[PoolGuyinCT]

Had an auger jam yesterday in the P61A. The EX-girlfriend, who is staying in MY house until she can move in the Spring (LONG STORY, there), emailed to say that the auger wasn't feeding pellets. She had enough sense to scoop out the hopper & vacuum out the burnpot to see what was causing the jam, but Nada...So I bailed from work & played a little with the control board switches to see what was up. I could see the auger TRYING to turn, but it wasn't turning very much. So, because I wanted the unit tight to the wall, I had to lie on my side to get the rear shrouds off. Then hadda get more tools to remove the auger motor. Then more tools to get the auger out. Cripes. The flight on the auger had a deep gouge in it about 1/2 way along its length so I grabbed a smooth file & benched it as best I could. After re-installation it moved freely, so I reassembled almost everything & filled the hopper. I have no IDEA what got into the pellet mix, but it must've come from the mill that way. It was definitely harder than the auger, based on the damage I saw. What ever it was must have fallen to the floor when I finally got the auger out.
I am not as young as I used to be & playing contortionist with tools is difficult to say the least.
Bottom line is, make sure you account for service work when you install one of these babies.

Hah! Golden words.... I always wonder if a crew of midgets or 6" elves install a lot of mechanicals. I'm 6ft 1 and spent better part of yesterday morning on my side accessing a pool pump with one arm... The Screw the service guy mentality has left me bumped and bruised more than I need to be.

We do our installs (pools) with easy service in mind, it's nice when fore thought is rewarded.

 

[PoolGuyinCT]

Hmmm .. On second thought , "was dean Martin playing " baby it's cold outside" when you got there?

Just saying.... Sometime you have to think like an international playboy...

 

[skrypj]

At least she sounds pretty handy...... I would have just got a call saying the stove is out and I am cold!

Seriously, the first thing I thought was, "Wow, she knows what an auger is and emptied the hopper for him." She sounds like a keeper.

 

[DAKSY]

Yeah, she was with me for 15 years & was handy as HELL. She's pretty good with a Paslode Framing nailer, too.Problem is, I've been C&S for 17.5 years & got tired of smelling Guinness & other IPAs on her breath. It was time for a change.

 

[Lake Girl]

had a set of masterlock keys (3 on a wire ring) go through my PDVC back in 05. had to have copme out of a bag of pellets as the serial on the one key that was still legible didnt match my padlocks (i have all of them keyed the same)

Did you call the pellet company to see if they were missing some keys?
Edit: Not that it's funny to find it in the bag but would be pretty hard to deny...as they usually seem to do.

 

[Lake Girl]

It probably wouldn't hurt to run a metal detector over a bag before you put the pellets in the hopper.

While it may help with metal objects, doesn't rule out the rocks that sometimes find their way into the bags

 

[tjnamtiw]

At least she sounds pretty handy...... I would have just got a call saying the stove is out and I am cold!

My response would have been 'Then get your ex-butt out of my house and find a warm motel'.

 

[tjnamtiw]

Yeah, she was with me for 15 years & was handy as HELL. She's pretty good with a Paslode Framing nailer, too.Problem is, I've been C&S for 17.5 years & got tired of smelling Guinness & other IPAs on her breath. It was time for a change.

At least she knows what GOOD BEER is!!

 

[Stevekng]

While it may help with metal objects, doesn't rule out the rocks that sometimes find their way into the bags

ROCKS? What brand of pellets has a record of rocks in the bags? I have found pieces of plastic from the pellet plant in bags before (nothing that would jam the auger) ; but rocks...? If I ever found rocks in my pellets, I would load up the pellets I had left and return the lot of them to the store I got them from. I never heard of rocks before.

 

[Indiana]

Had an auger jam my first season. I found a 1/2" × 1" bolt in the hopper. Had to come in a bag of stove chow. Since then I pour slow into the hopper.

 

[saladdin]

Yeah, she was with me for 15 years & was handy as HELL. She's pretty good with a Paslode Framing nailer, too.Problem is, I've been C&S for 17.5 years & got tired of smelling Guinness & other IPAs on her breath. It was time for a change.

Can I get her number?

j/k

 

[Lake Girl]

ROCKS? What brand of pellets has a record of rocks in the bags? I have found pieces of plastic from the pellet plant in bags before (nothing that would jam the auger) ; but rocks...? If I ever found rocks in my pellets, I would load up the pellets I had left and return the lot of them to the store I got them from. I never heard of rocks before.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/ecoteck-elena-auger-issue.104128/#post-1350070
I'm pretty sure I saw another thread but can't find it now. It happens....

 

[nayslayer]

Yeah, she was with me for 15 years & was handy as HELL. She's pretty good with a Paslode Framing nailer, too.Problem is, I've been C&S for 17.5 years & got tired of smelling Guinness & other IPAs on her breath. It was time for a change.

Congradulations