Removing Auger???

[trudd321]

Looks like there are just two screws holding the motor and auger to the feed tube inside stove. From what I see it looks like I should not have to take the motor off. I should be able to remove the two screws and slide the auger with the motor still attached out of the feed tube. Does this sound right to you guys? Anything I should know before I attempt this tonight? Thanks.

Oh, It's a 2006 Harvester. The auger is completely clogged, won't turn at all. First, it was turning (struggling) but no pellets would drop. Emptied the hopper, messed around with for an hour last night. Tapping on the tube trying to loosen things, compressed air....

It would turn a little, then struggle. Then the auger was turning pretty good, then I heard a grinding noise that sounded as if there was a pebble or something in there, and then the auger completely froze. I burn only wood pellets, had some bad ones, and am used to hearing grinding noise but this was a completely different noise.

Anyway, Thanks again for any advice/tips.

Dave

[tallcorn]

Try it. Maybe you can back the auger down enough to free it up so you can blow it out.
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Countryside 3500P (pedestal version) used 8-9 yrs, 24/7 during days requiring heat. All original motors. Burns moldy corn, and pellets equally well. Burn it if you got it.

[trudd321]

got it out, bunch of pellets came out but nothing else.

Hopefully it'll be alright once I get it back together.

[trudd321]

Unbelieveable! The stove has been running for two hours on level 5 and is barley dropping any pellets. The auger is turning fine. There is some light grinding noise between the pellets and auger about every other turn. I don't get it. It's turning no problem but not forcing any pellets out.

I've turned the feed rate up full blast just for the hell of it, this is by no means the solution i'm looking for. Just want to see if it makes a difference. It doesn't appear.

If anyone has had any experience with this or has any advice please chime in. Thanks

[tallcorn]

Is there anything jammed at the top of the tube? Pull the auger and motor out and check the coupling between the auger and motor. What kind of grinding noise? Use a hose or dowel and hold against the gear motor and listen for grinding noise in the case.
_________________
Countryside 3500P (pedestal version) used 8-9 yrs, 24/7 during days requiring heat. All original motors. Burns moldy corn, and pellets equally well. Burn it if you got it.

[trudd321]

Nothing that I can see in the tube, it looks clear as it could possibly be. On the bottom of the auger, that mounts to the motor, the plastic bushing looks pretty worn. I did not notice before but, the round piece of metal right above the bushing with the two screw holes that the motor mounts to, wobbles when I spin it. Is it possible, that when everything is connected the auger is wobbling slightly inside the feed tube and that this is the reason pellets are barley feeding into the pot? When I turn the auger by hand, pellets come pouring out into the pot and there is no resistance so it can't be clogged. I was going to post a pic but it looks like I'm not allowed.

[tallcorn]

You can post pictures using a photo host like Photobucket. Register, login and start an album. Select the lowest link and copy the link to your post.

http://forum.iburncorn.com/wiki/index.php/Forum_pictures
_________________
Countryside 3500P (pedestal version) used 8-9 yrs, 24/7 during days requiring heat. All original motors. Burns moldy corn, and pellets equally well. Burn it if you got it.

[trudd321]

http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/trudd321/100_4980.jpg

http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/trudd321/100_4987.jpg

Hope this works...

[tallcorn]

[trudd321]

The closest guy, a magnum dealer, who admitantly doesn't know much about CF had no idea what it could be. He was very nice but just couldn't help out. Brought the part, explained everything and he was truly dumbfounded. How can the auger turn freely and NOT drop pellets??? Turn it by hand and they pour out. Yes, the auger really is turning when the motor is hooked up.

The closest CF dealer is 40 miles away but they don't carry the Harvester. They carry the little rascal and the crossfire. I don't expect them to be of any help because I've spoken to them in the past. As soon as I mentioned Harvester they acted as if I was speaking a different language. I'll give it a shot anyway..........

[tallcorn]

trudd321, some service people frustrate me. I don't know if they can help but this is AES/Country Flames number-Order Toll Free/Questions? 1-800-495-3196.

Does your camera have features you can get sharper images with? Maybe a "Text" feature?
_________________
Countryside 3500P (pedestal version) used 8-9 yrs, 24/7 during days requiring heat. All original motors. Burns moldy corn, and pellets equally well. Burn it if you got it.

[skilborn]

Any update on this? You seem to have jinxxed my stove - it seems to be doing the same thing. Only will burn for a few minutes - not much drops out. Auger is turning like normal. Please let me know what you find.

[trudd321]

Unfortunately, I have nothing to report. Perhaps, 3rd time was a charm???

After not finding any help, I put it back together for a third time. The only thing I did different was before hooking the motor up, I poured some pellets into the hopper and cranked the auger by hand to fill the feed tube up. Essentially I primed it by hand. I hooked the motor back up and its been running ever since *knock on wood. \

I still hear a grinding noise every now and then but, thankfully it hasn't completely jammed or stopped the auger from turning. Haven't had the fire go out on me either

I burn wood pellets and I always thought the grinding noise was pellets inside the feed tube. However I now think the grinding is happening at the base of the auger where it mounts to the motor. I've been paying real close attention whenever I hear it. I figure that if something is "grinding" I should be able to feel a vibration somewhere. I feel nothing when touching the feed tube but, when I touch the base of the feed tube where the motor mounts up I can feel a vibration.

I DO NOT think it's the motor. The only thing I can figure is that maybe the nylon bushing is shot, saw dust gets into the bottom of the auger, and causes problems every now and then. I don't know just my 2 cents.

My only question is; Can I replace that nylon bushing?

Or perhaps a more powerful motor? Something that could just plow through any potential obstruction.

[skilborn]

Well my problem has cleared itself up too. It appears it was caused by 'trash' in with the corn. It had accumulated by the infeed area of the auger and was just feeding all trash I guess. Stirred it up in the hopper and all is good!

[Dr. Duck]

I had the same problem last year. When a small piece of corn stalk, was cut by the auger it became real stringy and wrapped around the end of the auger. Took auger out and really had to look for the problem. Local CF distributor told me what the problem was when I called him. NOW I CLEAN MY CORN.