Dell Point Europa 75 startup and maintenance

[EmaZ]

I've owned the Dell Point Europa since 2006 and have had horrendous and "better" years trying to operate it. The "hook" that keeps me trying to make this product work is that when it's working, it really does seem to be a worthwhile stove. Currently, I am having a problem with the startup, which I have never had before.
Background: Since last year, I had noticed that two augurs in the lower ash extraction looked "stripped" or were wearing down. I asked the dealer how to repair it and they said that the augurs would cost $42 each and "were not hard at all" to replace. Two days ago, a professional car mechanic and I did it but the process of replacing the augurs involved a bit too much sanding and chiselling to be described as "not hard at all." We produced an assembly that looked like the original one...but I am not sure if there was something else involved in this replacement that could be causing the current problem. Maybe I'll need to shell out $280 for the entire new assembly, but anyway...
I re-installed the ash extraction two days ago, put pellets and starter in the burn pot, lit the stove and pushed the green "pellet" button. The unit only made a squealing noise at intervals, instead of kicking in with that humming noise that means the stove is in startup mode. I pushed the lower left red button and the "shutdown" blowers worked but the computer control panel somehow does not seem to engage the motor or whatever it is that triggers the startup.
I recently had to replace the F5 fuse. I am not sure if by doing this fuse replacement, I may have knocked a wire loose somewhere, but the panel looks about the same as usual.
I have called the dealer (sigh) and will continue to call them...but the service that I get on this stove is part of its problem. Over the years, I've tried to learn to do repairs myself, because it always takes the dealer a while to call me back. When they do answer, their helpfulness varies. There is also an accountability issue with this stove, where the dealer blames the manufacturer, who alternately blames the dealer, so that in the end it's hard to know who's responsible.
I know...a great puzzle in the quest for warmth. Way too much of a struggle than I bargained for, but as I said -- when this stove does work, it really does work well.
Thanks for listening.

 

[imacman]

Hopefully, member "Franks" will see this post and respond.....he seems to be the resident expert on these stoves.

If he doesn't post a response, you could try sending him a PM.

 

[EmaZ]

Okay, I'll get to work learning about how to send a PM. Is that a private message?

 

[imacman]

Okay, I'll get to work learning about how to send a PM. Is that a private message?

Yes. They can be sent by clicking the "PM" button under anyones post, or by sending one from the "Private Messages" link at the top-right side of the main page.

 

[Exmasonite]

Just an FYI, i think franks might be a pretty busy guy or something right now as I sent him a PM a month or 2 back and never got a reply.

As i've mentioned in another thread, my technical skills are pretty limited here but here's my take on what you are describing:

All of the problems started after 1 of 2 things:

1) changing the fuse

and

2) Replacing/changing the ash extraction auger.

Did you use the stove at all after changing the fuse? I only ask b/c it seems a very big coincidence that this started right after servicing the ash extraction auger. Now, i'm not saying you did anything wrong. To be honest, i don't think i have the confidence to tackle that problem on my own. I just unfortunately think it's a pretty big coincidence that all your trouble started after that... and that you had a lot more trouble making it work than you were told.

I know on pg 20 of the manual, step 3, it talks about cleaning/servicing ash extraction and that there's a "lovejoy" connection that requires special attention when removing/replacing ash extraction system. Again, my limited technical knowlege has NO idea what that's talking about but just remember it stuck out in my mind.

I have 2 things you may want to try:

1) Can you temporarily remove the ash extraction system and just see if the unit fires up? I have never tried this but wondering if your problem could be that the ash extractor is somehow jammed and causing all your issues.

2) I'd replace all the fuses in the unit in case the extractor did jam and blew out the ash extractor fuse (and any other fuses that might be the cause of the problem). To be honest, i'm not sure if this is the problem as i'd expect you to see an F6 error if it was just the ash extractor but maybe if all fuses are blown, that's why you're getting your problem.

Wish i could be of more help... if you find out anything on your stove, please share as it might help the rest of us Europa owners.

 

[EmaZ]

Thanks! I just got a response from the website that Dell Point Europa now uses (Paromax). They are also saying that the connection where the lower ash extraction assembly fits onto the motor, might not be correctly aligned.

This is interested. This means that you can slip on the "lovejoy connection" (ridiculous name, eh?) and fit on the nuts and screws etc. but still not have it correctly aligned

When I go home, I am going to try taking off the lower ash extraction and then seeing if the computer control panel will run better, as you suggested. I will also try re-fitting the lower ash extraction and making sure it's "centered" but, wow! it really is cramped and hard to see down there in that confined space. Well, I'll do my best. I have fitted the lower ash extraction many, many times because after I started posting on this site, I found out that you are supposed to take it out, soak it and scrub it every time you clean the stove. Wow. For the first couple of years with the Dell Point Europa, I NEVER messed with the lower ash extraction ... and I also had lots and lots of problems with "jams" and fuses blowing.

I will do some experiments and post again. I really appreciate hearing from you as I have come to believe that I am the only "unfortunate" who still is trying to make this product work. It's a great stove when it works but it is finicky, unpredictable and prone to mechanical failures of many kinds. Thank you very much for posting.

 

[Exmasonite]

yeah... we're kinda a rare breed (europa owners). I know there's another forum member, gloriajean, who has one and has had some issues. Might be worth PM'ing her, also.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

There are several other folks with the 75 on this forum and the only problem they have been having is moving the hot air around in their large homes.

I know of a stove shop that burned one as primary heat for three years.

There are also a number of folks on iburncorn.com that own them. I think that the folks there have likely seen a lot more issues in particular due to the use of corn as a fuel. I also know that several of them have made a few modifications.

ETA: About that lovejoy connection, it is also possible to connect up the rods on the drive wheels of a steam locomotive and not have them correctly aligned.

 

[EmaZ]

Hi! I'm posting this to ExMasonite and other DellPoint Europa users. After replacing 2 stripped augurs in the lower ash extraction (and after replacing the F5 fuse after getting an F5 shutoff), I had trouble with startup. The control panel would just "squeal" or squeak at intervals and the blowers didn't kick in.

As ExMasonite suggested, I took out the lower ash extraction assembly...to determine if the problem was with an electrical connection. Sure enough, I had the same problem when I did a test by pushing the lower left green "start" button. Same squeal but no activation of blowers to go into start mode.

I took out the back panel to look for loose wires. A loose screw was lying at the bottom of the back of the stove and the Augur motor assembly (where the yellow and black wires connect from the control panel) seemed to be twisted. Especially the black # 9 wire connection (to the ash extraction motor) seemed to be twisted and kind of smashed because of the way it had been screwed in. Also this component was only held in by one screw, instead of two. Could a screw have fallen out on its own?

I (took out ALL the pellets (sigh!) loosened the remaining screw, re-configured the assembly that fits into the chute behind the feed augur and then had trouble getting it back in there tight. I couldn 't seem to get the screws to tighten so that this assembly fit tightly. It is actually still loose and mobile, only kept from slipping out because I propped it up on a metal bar that is back there.

Out of sheer curiosity I did another test, re-connecting the battery and the wall plug, got the same squeal, then replaced all the fuses and got an "F6" reading on the control panel...even though the fuse was DEFINITELY not blown (I could tell) But I changed the fuse again...then did a test, got the same "squeal" and then...as I was pushing the red button to go into "shutdown" mode...I thought I heard the hint of a blower before it went into shutdown mode.

I disconnected the stove, reconnected it, pushed the lower left green pellet startup button, waited for the squeal a while...and the stove control panel eventually lit up with the "A3" startup reading and kicked into start mode. I installed the lower ash extraction, lit the stove, started it and it is working.

I still feel that I have two dilemmas: 1. The way the augur motor assembly is held in is currently faulty. I think I will need to open up the back panel and re-install the screws so that it is firmly in there and not "mobile." Also 2. I honestly still don't know if the problem really was with the fuses, or the black wire connection to the ash extraction motor...or the screw that had fallen off. It just seemed that I kept trying different things and experimenting. This stove is still a mystery to me but it is great when it actually works.

Right now ... it's working and I'll keep you posted. Thanks for support and suggestions.

 

[Fsappo]

Sorry guys, been very busy here at the shop. I thought my email address was in my sig. I'll check after I post this. Thats the best way to reach me, as sometimes dont get a chance to visit these forums for long periods of time. Here is how to get fast (or somewhat fast but accurate) results if your dealer isnt being much of a help. Just call the guy who invented and manufactures your stove. Claude Lapointe. His number is (877) 419-9877 ext 221. He will sell you the parts direct and walk you thru the repairs/diagnoses. (If you can understand him thru the accent, eh?) I would talk to him about how you have the ash extraction installed and see what he thinks.

The reason the ash extraction augers wear out is because you may be letting the ash bed get too low. You want to keep the ash extraction rate slow enough that the ash doesnt build up during burns. You dont want it running so fast that the level of fuel in the pot slowly gets lower.

Keep everyone here posted on what Claude says on your ash extraction mounting.

 

[Fsappo]

I guess me email address doesnt show up, for the record its [email protected]
Also, my number is 315-668-3939. Feel free to use it, even if your not a customer or have just a simple question. (pook calls once in a while, and I hardly hang up on him)

 

[EmaZ]

Thanks very much, Franks, for the phone numbers and email address. If I did call Claude, I would actually ask him about the augur feed motor/ash extraction assembly, that holds the upper augur. It's the one that ... when you unscrew it and slip it out, all the pellets come cascading out of the tube.

This time, I knew to remove the pellets from the stove before I removed the augur feed motor.

BUT...I could not get it to tighten when I re-installed it. The screw seemed like it would not thread. I am close to positive that I did not make a mistake with "which screw" because it was a flat head screw. I am concerned that the augur feed motor assembly is not secure...even though the stove is currently working ok.

Next time I do a shut down and clean up, I want to open up the back again and fix those screws. I just wondered if anybody out there knows the size of screws that secure the augur feed motor...and whether those are the screws that tend to slip out. When I first took the back off the stove, there was a loose screw at the bottom, behind the stove and a missing screw in the augur feed motor assembly.

If I talk to Claude, I'll let you know. Sometimes it is helpful to talk to someone while actually looking at the stove...because I am sure there are times that I am not using the correct terminology.

 

[EmaZ]

Hello all. I have been trying to re-install the upper augur motor assembly in my stove over the past few weeks. (Dell Point Europa 75) I had to remove it because the wires connecting to the control panel were very twisted..
For some reason, can't swivel or rotate the assembly to the right spot where it can be screwed in to a "fixed" position. Instead, even though I screw it in, it stays "flexible" in the sense that it still rotates and the inner shaft still slides in and out.
I propped this mechanism against a metal bar that protrudes from the back of the stove, so it didn't totally slip out. That has worked for the short term. But I want it to be secure!
Member Franks has given me some advice but I just wanted to post this in case anyone else has had this difficulty with the Europa. It is weird because I had to vacuum out the upper augur assembly various times, a few years ago...(when the fuses were blowing because of upper augur jams) and I never had a problem re-installing the augur motor assembly.
I don't know why it is so difficult now. Part of the mystery is that the set screw doesn't seem to be screwing in at that magic angle where the outer cylinder and the inner shaft all align.
So I will let you all know if I can get this figured out. The stove does work, despite the fact that this mechanism is loose...but I have an uneasy feeling about it...kind of like a loose lug nut or something.
Bye for now!