Whitfield Advantage II burn question.

[Yardbird]

I picked up a whitfield advantage II that was sitting in a barn for a few years ($100). I tore it apart to clean it and have it installed. One problem I have is the burn pot eventually fills up with pellets on any setting unless I have the damper open full bore. ( I set it to 2 inches)

I don't think it's a problem with the auger motor because based on the search I did, it seems my times are correct for the auger. If I open the ash door a little, the flame acts like my Harman Advance, and the burn pot doesn't over flow.

On the tear down, I removed the combustion blower, cleaned and oiled it, and removed and cleaned the limit switch with iso alcohol. I removed the fire brick, the ash baffles, and made sure the exhaust passages were clean to the blower. I used the same gasket on the blower because it was in good shape, and applied new black RTV to both sides. I have a good seal there.

I removed the ash pan, and cleaned the intake passage back to the limit switch. I removed that limit switch and cleaned with iso alcohol. Inside the ash pan area, I have the two slides for cleaning the ash baffles. I have been running the stove with those closed.

I did not removed the convection blower. I did blow back the the passages with compressed air, vacuum it and continued until there was no dust or debris coming out anymore. I have decent pressure coming out from the convection blower on the sides and front. I removed the hopper limit switch and cleaned with iso alcohol.

The previous owner has the convection blower wired to a separate switch and plug, so I am guessing the fan rheostat is bad on the board. Otherwise, the control board appears the be working. The feed rate rheostat works properly, and I have the light every time the auger engages.

What am I missing?

Thanks

 

[MountainSean]

What burn grate/pot do you have? Is it the old style burn pot with the tube that nestled into the intake pipe or do you have the newer style grate that sites into a flat plate? If you have the old style, inspect it for any cracks around the seams and make sure you have the round gasket that went around the intake in place. If you have the new style drop in grate on the plate, make sure the gasket around the edge of the mounting plate is in good condition and that the opening the grate rests in hasn't warped which can cause air leakage around the burn grate. Also check that the three bolts that hold that plate down are nice and tight.

 

[Pellet-King]

I have this stove and love it, I never adjust my damper as it really doesnt do much after 1" out, you either have ash somewere or your combustion blower is lazy/slow, I never have pellets build up even on a 3.
Also hows the door gasket?
Which model is this?, freestanding or insert?
What piping are you using, I never open the ash door, does this stove have a lighted control's or knob control's?

 

[Yardbird]

The door gasket is brand new. Free standing stove with Duravent piping, no OAK. Knob controls (rheostats).

 

[Pellet-King]

How's your flame?, is it lazy or raging?, do the pellets in the hopper dance?

 

[Yardbird]

The flame isn't lazy, but it's not quite raging like my Advance. I don't understand the question about the pellets in the hopper...

 

[Northeaster2010]

Yardbird, if you stove is clean I would check to make sure your combustion fan is working properly it may not be running fast enough or is getting bad. If you have the control board with control knobs you will see 3 silver buttons pop off the second on down this is your adjustment for combustion fan speed clockwise to increase, its possible someone messed with it and turned it down. Also check all of your gaskets; door, ash pan door, and like above if you have the burn pot that comes out make sure that the round gasket is in good shape. What Pellet-King was talking about if you look at the burn pot you should see the hot burning pellets kinda dancing in the pot (but not jumping out which would me too much draft), if there not your not getting enough draft pull out rod on left side of stove, but you said you had this out 2" that a lot if your stove is clean, so look at combustion fan and gaskets.
If you need the manual I can email you one.

 

[Yardbird]

Thanks for the replies. I have the newer style burn pot that sits on a plate. I did remove it to clean and check the gasket, and it seemed in great shape, plus I made sure the three nuts were nice and snug.

I decided to do the dollar bill test on the door, even with the new gasket, and found that the upper part of the door was way loose. I turned in the door hinge one revolution, and so far today, it seems to be running much better. I see what you mean by the pellets dancing in the burn pot, and they weren't doing that before. I have to fine tune the damper now because it seems 2 inches is too much. It's set at about 1 inch for now, so I have to keep an eye on it to make sure it's good, but the pellets aren't overflowing running on three, so it seems like all is right with the world.

Once I am sure all is good, I am going to put this thing through some tests and see just how warm I can get it. It's installed in our basement so I have heat down here while playing on the computer, or kids are working out. The house was built in 1900 so it's not the most energy efficient place to heat.

I hope everyone's having a Merry Christmas

 

[DirtyDave]

there is a good cleaning section here on the hidden ash trap areas of that stove. but mine collects in top corners of the heat exchanger. pain to get that out