Whitfield Advantage II - running again like 1996 !

[MButkus]

Never had a problem with my Whitfield Advantage III stove. On the third auger though, after the original lasted some 15 years, the second one from E-bay always made a noise and only lasted 6 months. I started having trouble last Jan. and Feb. The original controller went, had to replace that and get my old one fixed as a backup. I also would not burn all the pellets in the pot. Had to clean the grate every 20 hour of unburn pellets. So yesterday I changed the exhaust fan I bought a year ago. Open the side fan area since 1996, and it was jammed with ash. Got my ash vacuum and cleaned it out good. Can't believe it was so packed in there. Replaced the fan and I'll keep the old one as a backup. Started it up and it's running perfect, ran all day at number 2. Just had it on low overnight and the ash pot is clean. Everything is burning all the way down. The room fan is next for replacement. That is original too.

So if you have a Whitfield, I guess it would be a good thing every 4 - 5 years to remove those 5 nuts and clean out that fan area. You can get the gasket separate, make sure you buy the correct size.

 

[Stovensen]

Both blower motors on my Quest Plus are the originals from 1998. They show absolutely no signs of wear ( excessive bearing clearance or noise ).
In the first couple of years I lubed the bearings with automotive engine oil. Not the best oil. On this forum I learned that the optimal oil should be this:
https://www.eastcoasthearth.com/pro...ing-oil-for-pellet-stove-motors-1-7-oz-bottle

Does your Advantage III have a bronze auger bearing or the Nylatron type?

I replaced the auger motor in 2008 and it still works perfectly, no noise. Would you recommend to open the gear housing and repack it with grease just as a precaution to make it last longer?

 

[MButkus]

It still has the brass bearing. I did buy the nylatron replacement... it's around here somewhere.

 

[MButkus]

I would never open the gear housing. I had a couple of people write to me asking for help as gears and washers fell out. The problem, as in my photos on my website, the first gear is fiber (on two of my old augers) so they are made to fail as they just wear out the gear. That should take 8 years or more. But I am sure they would give a reason they are fiber. https://www.butkus.org/whitfield_operate/pellet-stove-auger-motor.html
Now my first one lasted some 15 years, after I fixed the problem of the main gear falling back and loosing contact with the main gear.
They are full of grease. If they had a grease fitting, that would be nice !

 

[Stovensen]

MButkus, thanks a lot for the link to your website. Many useful details and observations to study. Yes, the grease for automotive driveshafts appears to be much more fluid and thus less prone to dry out. That grease on your M&K auger sure looks prematurely dried out.
Ok, you won't recommend opening the gear housing in general, but still, studying your website has encouraged me to open, inspect, clean and repack it with driveshaft grease.
I'll get back with my obervations, pictures and all.

 

[Pellet-King]

Running my 1998 Advantage II right now several years ago bought a III for back/parts, still using my original room fan and control board, auger and exhaust fan have been replaced, tried to swap the cool 1 piece glass door on the III to my II, but it wont seal tightly....cant kill a Whit!!
Other day at the store parked next to a pickup with a big box in back, said King Pellet stove....made in china...just chuckled to myself good luck on that

 

[Pellet-King]

MButkus you used to have a website on Whitfield repair.....right? used it many times...Thanks!, As a 40 yr Auto Tech I've had my auger motor apart and regreased, all them gears can get confusing but nothing like rebuilding a transmission in today's vehicles

 

[MButkus]

Still there.
https://www.butkus.org/whitfield_pellet_stove.htm I fixed it up a bit after 14 years.

Maybe you can pull those augers apart, gears and washers everywhere.
The fiber gear as the first gear is the question... planned obsolescence.