Quadrafire Castille Flame ends up low in the pot (What!!!??@@)

[Soup]

Howdy All!
SO this Quadrafire Castille.......

Some issues...

I am understanding that there is a door gasket where the top is not sealed(only on three sides) this is the "airwash"?

Seems like it is inconsistently dropping pellets..... like it is not dropping enough....? (Flamo-flame rises and falls)

I purchased this used. So I am in the process of getting it to run great......

Ran it the first day all night long...... and Well, still trying to understand this pup... Not sure what I want
to write down here, as to not go down the wrong beatin' path.....

Question: It has a manual feed rate bar.... and there is this switch for fanspeed......
Seems like we are speeding up or slowing down the exhaust fan speed? Is that correct?
This would change the vacuum inside the stove( Is that what is intended ?)

If someone could touch on this above point.... that would be a good place to start..

Thanks, Soup

 

[johneh]

Do you have a manual?
Have you read it?

Seems like it is inconsistently dropping pellets..... like it is not dropping enough....? (Flamo-flame rises and falls)

Fire Characteristics: A properly adjusted fire with the heat output control switch set on “high” has a short active flame pattern that extends out of the firepot approximately 4 inches (102mm). If the fire has tall flames with black tails and seems somewhat lazy, the feed rate will need to be reduced. This is done by sliding the fuel adjustment control rod down, which will reduce the feed. If the fire is not 4 inches (102mm) tall, slide the fuel adjustment control rod up to increase the feed. A medium and low setting will give a shorter flame. The flame will rise and fall somewhat. This is normal. Page 24 of the manual

 

[Soup]

That sounds great...

I can play with the feed rate.

I am still wondering about the inconsistency........ flame is up and then it is down...... never the same height

It is not a steady flame.

goes above burn pot.... and then it is lower than the burn pot........

Can you tell me about the Heat output control switch? It seems to affect the flame height as well?

It the vacuum switch which keeps the auger spinning?

The heat output control switch which, seems to change vacuum by increasing the exhaust fan speed,
thus increasing vacuum
enlightne me please, thanks! soup

 

[Ssyko]

Do you know which model you have? The manual?

 

[stovelark]

All Quads flame undulates up and down- the pellets fall in, ignite flame flares up, next pellets fall, flame is knocked down and rebuilds continuously. The heat level (lo/med/high) sets the flame height, you adjust on high setting, should average 4-6" above burnpot by adjusting feed rate rod in hopper. The stove only knows if the thermostat is calling for heat (red light on) and it runs at heat level setting.
I always ran my Castille on Medium heat level, cheating a little on the feed rate giving it a little more, it averaged about height of hopper or slightly above on medium. Initially, it dumps a load of pellet, lights off and until thermocouple hits 200 degs (green light on control board), it does not feed. When thermocouple reads 600 degrees (red light on control board), and unit feeds according to heat level selected. Flame going up and down perfectly normal for that stove. Your feed rate should wind up about the middle of the adjustment scale, slightly more open to "cheat" a little for the low/med settings. Its a great little stove, keep it clean though. S1 controls the convection blower, usually takes about 10-15 minutes of warmup before it comes on. Hope this helps.

 

[Soup]

The manual that I have covers
These models

CASTILE-MBK1
CASTILE-PMH1
CASTILE-CSB
CASTILE-CWL

Don't know which submodel Castile I have, at this time.

 

[Ssyko]

🤣Quads summed up in one paragraph ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[stovelark]

Quads changed little over the 20 years I sold/serviced them. They added the hopper lid magnetic switch no one liked, but parts and pieces did not change much. All those models you listed the last designations are colors ie MBK is matte black PMH porcelain mahogany etc..

 

[Soup]

Mr.Lark,
Yes, that is good info. I am going to print that out.

Regarding reference to Johneh's input regarding page 24 of the manual
Feed Rate Adj:
This is done by sliding the fuel adjustment control rod down, which will reduce the feed. If the fire is not 4 inches (102mm) tall, slide the fuel adjustment control rod up to increase the feed. A medium and low setting will give a shorter flame. The flame will rise and fall somewhat. This is normal. Page 24 of the manual.

I would like know if possible, where the rod should(can anticipate where it is) be before I start changing the feed rate
on this pellet stove. I can start pulling the rod outward(yes) but, can we say(reference a distance) from the retainer clamp
to a point on the rod above the retaining clamp. For example, "The distance from top of retaining clamp to bend in rod above,
to achieve an approximately 4 inch flame above the burn pot is 1 1/2"'s.(One and a half inches).

What is this distance on your stove's (Quadrafire Castile)

Thanks, Soup

 

[Soup]

Ok, no worries then on all those model numbers then.....(that makes sense)

 

[Ssyko]

Start your stove with the hopper rod around the mid point.

 

[Soup]

Ok, I will give that a whirl.

One last question(I think??)
Regarding page 22 in manual

Starting your first fire......

Item # 5.



For your first fire it will be necessary to press the reset button once approximately 2 minutes after start up and again in 5 minutes. This will fill the feed system and allow the appliance to begin dropping pellets. The appliance will continue to run as long as the thermostat is calling for heat.


Without pressing this button the auger will not feed?

If that is correct, then I am asking why is that the case?

CUZ I did notice that I would plug the stove in and then raise thermostat and
the auger would not be turning, only the exhaust fan would be running....

Thanks!, Soup

 

[Ssyko]

The button is to fill the feed tube. You may have to hit it once or twice, maybe not.

 

[Ssyko]

It only applies to empty brand new stoves

 

[Ssyko]

After you plug in the stove the exhaust blower will run for about 12-15 min.

 

[Soup]

All good info, Thank You's...


Yeah, So it is in a cabin...
Inside last time was 20 degrees F.

plugged it in, Finally got the convection to run, took forever.
Snap disc just would not heat up, outside air temps.... just to cold
snap disc was not conducting enough heat......
Next time this happens maybe I should just bypass that snap disc.....
Which disc is it that I would bypass to spin the convection fan?

Thanks! Soup

 

[Ssyko]

The snap disc does not make heat, it senses heat from its mount and surface it touches. It may take a while for everything to warm up.I forget the colors but chk the manual wire diagram