Trouble Starting Big E

[hotstovecoolmusic]

Lately I've been having trouble starting my Big E (direct, horizontal vent).

The pellets keep piling up and it's not starting. Or, the pellets at the bottom of the pot finally ignite but the pellets on top of them cause a lot of white smoke to fill the chamber and come blowing out the vent, alarming our neighbors.

The smoke problem only lasts about ten seconds. As soon as the top pellets ignite, the smoke clears instantly.

Should the damper be pushed in all the way when starting the stove?

Also, when I scrape the pot, I worry that ash is blocking the igniter port. SHould I be concerned about that?

Thanks

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Pull the damper 1/2 way when lighting. Is it a cast or stainless steel burn pot?

Eric

 

[mischinski]

Keep it clean - weekly at most. Make sure the igniter area is clean and free of ash

 

[rove44]

I had this problem the other day after my wife cleaned it. it turns out the burn pot and the metal piece that the burn pot fits into were not pushed all the way back like it should be. I emptied the burn pot pushed it in correctly and no more problems.

 

[hotstovecoolmusic]

Pull the damper 1/2 way when lighting. Is it a cast or stainless steel burn pot?

Eric

It's a cast burn pot.

 

[jtakeman]

Clean the burn pot well, Get all the frag out of the holes. I used a wire brush in my drill and a small grinding stone in my dremel tool. All the holes need to be open. Don't take off any factory material, Just clean out the junk in them.

Should help.
jay

 

[kinsmanstoves]

Pull the damper 1/2 way when lighting. Is it a cast or stainless steel burn pot?

Eric

It's a cast burn pot.

Most of the cast burn pots that had similar issues needed the ignitor hole drilled out to slightly smaller than 1/2" diameter.

Eric