Help with a chirping noise!!

[MrJitters]

My Harman P43 is still running fine currently on it's 17th Vermont winter. A few weeks ago I noticed what I can best describe as a "chirping" noise coming from the stove only during the feed cycle. I pulled the auger and replaced it with a new one I had in stock as spare. Cleaned the auger tube with a 1 1/2" wire wheel. Pulled the sliding feed plate and cleaned the carbon buildup on it which was minimal. Replaced both rubber grommets on the feed motor mounting plate. Of course during that process the fines box was emptied and cleaned.

The chirping noise remains. With a vengeance.

Next up would be replacing the feed motor, but I hate trying to fix something by using the parts cannon and shooting parts at the problem but I am at my wits end to solve this issue. On the other hand, the motor is one of the last original parts on this stove and really the last moving part in this process that I have not replaced or cleaned. The good feed motors are 150 bucks as I refuse to use one of the 50 dollar chinese knockoff POS.

I ran the motor not hooked to the auger and it ran good and totally quiet but of course this was not under load condition so still not sure if the noise is coming from the gear reduction.

This issue is totally different to the so called auger squeal I used to get because the original auger only had two welds on it and produced a harmonic when carbon would build up. A well known Harman issue. Always temporarily fixed that issue with a bit of graphite until I could pull the auger and wire wheel the tube.

I am handy working on this stove have replaced over time the combustion blower, distribution blower, auger, ignitor, control board pots, door gasket, burn pot gasket, esp probe and hopper lid latch.

Any help or feedback would be appreciated. Thanx!!

 

[bogieb]

The only thing I can think of is something is interfering with the little post on the feeder motor that sticks thru the cam block. I clean that every spring or so. But, at the same time, I would think you cleaned that up while you had the auger out. Did you lubricate that part with anything? IIRC, that has some sort of grease on there (that really clings to cat hair that drifts up there). I remember thinking on one of my last cleanings of that I should figure out how to lubricate it.

Hmmm, now looking at the dwg, 2.2 is the cam bearing for the cam block (2.16) and maybe that has gotten worn.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Do you pull your stove out to work on it? Mine is in a corner, and I can't imagine doing the kind of work you do like that.
I have see some basement installs on line where the person seems to have mounted it away from the wall which would be great if you have the space.

 

[MrJitters]

Thanx for the replies.

Cam block bearing was checked and oiled and spins quietly and freely. I keep the whole cam block assembly including the little bearing in a light coat of machine oil.

No need to pull the stove out as it is on our lower level and I installed it planning on enough room to get behind it for servicing.

I shall keep plugging along. Thinking next up would be chasing the chirp before the distribution blower starts up on start up as that is less noise.

 

[Don2222]

Hello
I would pull the auger and clean off any black harden ash and corrosion with a wire wheel on a drill driver. Then check the bearing to see if it spins freely. If if does not spin freely or if does and makes a tick sound, then add high temp grease to the bearing by pulling off the black ring seal or just replace the bearing with snap ring pliers. See pics below.