Advantage I WP2 Blower removal

[barrywomb]

Hi,
My first post. I have a Whitfield Advantage I WP2. Lately, the suction on the flame in the pot has been poor. Pulling the damper out no longer really does much. I've changed the door gasket (2x), cleaned out the chimney pipe and also the air intake hose that comes from the outside wall of my house to the small pipe just above the ash pit. No change.
So, I figure it's time to get into the blower to make sure that it's clean- or replace it. It sounds ok, but it might be slowed down with junk in there or something.

Honestly, I cannot get this thing out. It is very tough to get to- many things in the way. I'm at that point where I have to pull out that entire round housing that bolts to the back of the fire area. That housing connects to a pipe that goes to the chimney. Where they connect are these very tiny bolts that hold the motor housing to the chimney-connector pipe and I cannot get those loose. There's a coating of heat resistant caulking around them, for one, but I also cannot find a socket that'll loosen them.
My thought is that even if I get the motor housing off of the back wall, that rectangle pipe-to-chimney connection won't let me get the blower out.

Any ideas on how to get those off?

Thank you

 

[Ssyko]

There are 1/4” screws and a gasket then the motor comes out. You dont have to remove the exhaust housing.
https://pellet-stove-parts-4less.co...k6UWPp60__FKHMV8rpJpeAc1nO3chGjWBJJvZPb7UhkN7

 

[barrywomb]

There are 1/4” screws and a gasket then the motor comes out. You dont have to remove the exhaust housing.
https://pellet-stove-parts-4less.co...k6UWPp60__FKHMV8rpJpeAc1nO3chGjWBJJvZPb7UhkN7

Hi. Unfortunately, on mine you do. Mine is one of the very first ones made, apparently. I have the tech manual for it and all through it, everything looks like the examples people and the web cite. HOWEVER- on the very last page, there is this and this is the difference between mine and everyone else's:

Look around the motor in this photo. No 6 bolts to get the motor separated from the housing there.

There are the larger bolts around the housing to remove it (last photo, top) - great. But without removing those 3 others, below, it won't come off.

When I buy the next one, it'll have that 6 bold setup, but right now, I'm stuck.


That is what I'm trying to get an answer for. Those screws go through the rectangle and into the housing of the motor. Once I get those little buggers out, I can do the job.

 

[Ssyko]

Wow it is old. 👍. Most stoves i have worked on have 1/4” , 5/16” , a few 1/2” and some with hex cap screws. thats about it