Suburban Woodchief CC6-85 not blowing hot air

[Mista']

I have a Suburban Woodchief that is NOT blowing hot air. I have stoked this thing, fire raging but not a significant amount of heat coming from the unit. The fan is blowing, although only on ONE setting, but it is working. At least I think it is. Due to it's age, no one knows a thing about it. Please help.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The fan setup should be pretty easy to troubleshoot.

There are only 3 pieces or so to the electrical system. The fan itself, a rheostat, and maybe a thermal switch.

I’d try wiring the fan strait to the cord. It should run. If not, that’s your issue.

If it doesn’t run, look at the switch(s). Cut 1 switch out at a time to see if that is the failed part.

 

[Mista']

The fan IS running, or at least the motor is energized. Will pull the fan and see if it is spinning

 

[begreen]

It could be that the fan prop or squirrel cage is free-spinning on the motor shaft. If so, check for a set screw on the fan blade to tighten so that it can't do this.

 

[Mista']

Thank you. This will be a venture tomorrow. You friggn rock!!

 

[Mista']

I climbed my fat tail behind the heater and found the open air passage, so I welded it shut. The squirrel cage is turning and blowing air. When I reinstalled the blower and built a raging fire, it was hot at the top and cooler at the bottom. Cool air can be felt blowing from the bottom. The area where the air is passing through is an open area. Again, please help.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Follow the air channel. There must be a blockage somewhere.

 

[begreen]

It's an odd arrangement. It looks like right below the blower outlet at the back, bottom of the stove there is an open channel. Is the air blowing out of there? I'm wondering if there is a cover plate missing there? Or is it designed to pull heat from the backside of the firebox and then blow it out low across the floor? If so, that's a weak design, especially if there are cold concrete floors.

If all else fails it might be easier to remove the front panel and point a table fan at the stove.

 

[brenndatomu]

That looks a lot like the Ashley Wonderwood/coal circulator stoves, the blower on those wasn't of much account either...a small fan blowing on the front of the stove would do more...