Upgrading the Magnum Baby CountrySide Auger Motor Stop Bolt

[Don2222]

Hello

This is the 15th Magnum Baby Countryside I have seen and the 1st time I have seen the stop bolt broken. Just my experience. I have also seen less expensive auger motor shafts snap off. This maybe a severe case, but also it is the original 7/16" stop bolt on a 7 year old stove. See pic 1. One of the previous babies I worked on was a newer stove and as you can see in pic 2 has two stop bolts. The newer bronze color looks a little thicker and heavier. This customer had this stove for approx 3 years and no problem with the stop bolts. There are a two options in upgrading the stoves with the original stop bolt that may be older, stressed and possibly weak.

1. The first suggestion is to simply go to the hardware store and purchase a Grade 8 hex head bolt and replace the existing bolt. Grade 8 is stronger.
Example
http://www.allensfasteners.com/sear...tnSearch.y=6&gclid=CJmYhM663bcCFZOk4AodthYANA

2. As a more permanent fix, Magnum has a replacement bracket with new auger backing plate. This is a very strong bracket and the very best fix. I installed the plate per instructions and found it was still easy to get the allen wrench in there to tighten the auger collar set screw. It is also still easy to get the exhaust blower out, but you may have to remove the vacuum switch to clear the new auger motor mounting bracket. See pic 3,4,5

So far in testing I do not see any issues. Has anyone else tried this new bracket?

Pic 1 - Original 7/16" Hex head 3-1/2" long "stop bolt"
Pic 2 - Newer double stop bolt configuration
Pic 3 - New Auger Motor Mounting Bracket Front
Pic 4 - New Auger Motor Mounting Bracket Back
Pic 5 - New Auger Motor Mounting Bracket on stove with auger motor mounted

 

[smoke show]

7/16" bolt, really?

Or is it 1/4" bolt with 7/16" hex?

 

[Don2222]

7/16" bolt, really?

Or is it 1/4" bolt with 7/16" hex?

Thanks Smoke, I believe you are correct. It takes a 7/16" socket. I did not check the threads on it but it is 3-1/2" long.

 

[smwilliamson]

1/4 with 7/16 hex.

 

[Don2222]

1/4 with 7/16 hex.

1/4 with 7/16 hex Head


Is it 20 or 28 thread?

 

[smwilliamson]

Ill say 20 but it can be whatever you want via the hardware store

 

[Don2222]

Ill say 20 but it can be whatever you want via the hardware store

I think you are right.

I am going to hang these on the workshop wall for convenience.
http://www.amazon.com/METRIC-Gauges...1371092610&sr=8-12&keywords=bolt+thread+gauge

 

[smoke show]

C'mon Don an engineer type like yourself should be able to eyeball national course or fine thread fasteners...

 

[Don2222]

C'mon Don an engineer type like yourself should be able to eyeball national course or fine thread fasteners...

I am an Electrical Engineer and a Software Developer but I am getting familiar with nuts and bolts real fast with rebuilding these stoves!
Besides, it is always nice to have the bolt gages as a double check, I just have to find a place in the little shed/workshop to hang them. That is the tough part. LOL

 

[smwilliamson]

For those who don't know what we are talking about...

AES uses a stop bolt that would stop the auger motor from over rotating. Basically it's a long bolt that hangs off the feeder body which interrupts the auger motor from endlessly spinning around. This bolt also is the fastener for the plate which seals the bottom of the hopper. Problem is, the auger motors have soooooooooo much torque, the bolts break. So they send a "fix" with a new bracket to stop the motor from turning.

...and they didn't use this technology when the units where made because?

 

[Don2222]

and they didn't use this technology when the units where made because?

Because they probably never had that bolt snap in the engineering test lab. Understanding how companies design and build new devices for a purpose in a certain region is a good skill America is loosing. :-(

I have only seen 1 bolt in 15 machines snap using wood pellets.

However my educated guess from a global perspective is that since these units were originally made to burn corn, that the corn being smaller and easier to auger, the stop bolt does not break when using corn.

Another factor in causing the snap bolt to break is using wood pellets where the bags are loaded with fines. Sometimes there are bad batches even though the wood pellet brand is not too bad.

 

[smwilliamson]

Then they should not sell the unit in NE for use with wood pellets. Just about every Baby-m I have seen has the broken bolt. You know...they could just use an auger motor with less torque...

One skill still alive and well in America is selling yer wares wherever you can as much as you can and doing the least amount of R&D as economically possible.

 

[Don2222]

I totally agree, if the stove is sold in a different region more money should be spent on R&D and area usage. More Dealer training is also needed! The engineers that started many large companies have since retired and now they are being run by bean counters, but don't get me going on that! :-(

 

[smwilliamson]

Not so with AES. I think Mike Hoffner (SP?) who started the company is still there...counting beans I'm sure.

 

[Don2222]

Ill say 20 but it can be whatever you want via the hardware store

Ok, nice to get the same one so it will fit the hole without re-drilling. In the future, these gages will be handy dany in the workshop.

Above the door and window is out of the way.
These bolt gages are big! Easy to read for old guys. LOL
1/4 - 20 Course thread - That is it!