Quad Castile Auger Stopped Working

[scagger]

When I turn the thermostat up, call light comes on and the auger makes a funny grinding noise. I cleared out all of the pellets to make sure it wasn't jammed. The auger definitely is not turning, but I can hear the motor trying to do something but doesn't sound good. Is the motor shot or is there some cheaper way to fix this than buying a new auger motor?

 

[Former Farmer]

Did you take a small mirror to look up inside the auger tube to make sure that there isn't anything in there? Sounds like maybe something stuck in the auger or time for a new motor. You could try pulling out the auger motor and see if it will run.

 

[scagger]

I pulled the auger out today and tested it while it was out by jumping the vac switch and reconnecting the auger. Auger works, so I thought maybe the auger tube was clogged. Cleaned that all out as well as blowing through the rubber hose that connects to the vac switch. Note, I did not blow into the vac switch itself. Put it back together while the stove was still pull out and the auger does not run unless the vac switch is bypassed. Would this definitely be the vac switch as the cause?

 

[scagger]

I also tested the vac switch by pulling one end of the rubber hose off the auger tube and sucking in just a little bit to create negative pressure. The vac switch clicked and I could hear the auger turn on. When I stopped sucking air in the tube, the auger did not immediately turn off, but did after a few seconds. It's either the stove is not getting negative pressure for some reason or the vac switch has a leak in the diaphragm. I cleaned out my vent tube and the stove, but still no luck. I did notice that the inside of the stove had some black residue which I never saw before. I knew it was time for a cleaning, but was trying to hold out until end of season. I'd go get a new vac switch, but I've read that vac switches hardly ever go bad.

 

[Former Farmer]

What condition is your door gasket in? How much of an opening is on your pot floor plate? It sounds like the vac switch is not see enough vacuum. The vac switch rarely goes bad. If you heard it click, it seems that it is functioning okay.

 

[scagger]

The pot floor plate closes as it normally should, so I don't see any issue there. The door gasket has seen better days I guess so perhaps I should start there.