On A Roll, P43 Acting Up Again
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There is a tube in those units that was nicknamed the muffler I believe it is part of the gummy stove fix.
mepellet
Minister of Fire
That is likely it, but I don't follow those finicky stove's proper part names I like the nicknames better like gummy stove, muffler, burn pot bubbles (in the trade this is known as creep failure), flapper, etc ...
the precursor to the hopper lid pin switch....the muffler itself was connected via air tube to the vac sensor to interupt the auger when the hopper lid was opened...a sort of short lived set up, replaced by classic pin switch mounted under hopper lid...muffler sometimes get plugged with ultra fine sawdust and then does not sense the vac pressure of the hopper, and then it no feed pellets..
Maybe the tech didn't change the dip switch settings on the control board? Did he hook up the Harman DDM tool or do a draft reading?
I had this same issue one time only about a month ago when I did my full tare down up to the elbows in soot one ton cleaning. When I realized the pellets were falling into the ash pan nu-burned I quickly put the stove to manual and shut it off until the flame burned the full burn pot of pellets then turned it back on issue went away. This was the only issue I have had and never found root cause. Interesting to find out
So, I have tried different feed rates, going all the way down to a 1, which had made no difference, other than making for a sad amount of heat after it gets going. On Tuesday, I switched pellet brands. Guess what? Problem is gone. I am quite confused, but I guess it just proves again, cheaper is not always better. I have burned the same pellets on and off all winter. I still think there is some underlying issue. The repair guy is planning to come back out next week. I guess I will have to try the pellets that caused this issue again. I am also finally adding my OAK this afternoon I hope. Curious to see if that has any effect.
76brian
Feeling the Heat
Just wondering if you could update us on this issue?
My P43 is doing the same thing, and I'm ready to throw it in the damn river.
My P43 is doing the same thing, and I'm ready to throw it in the damn river.
Bioburner
Moderator
hockeyfan
Member
Ignitor issues ruled out?
I used to have very late ignition due to the ignitor not sitting correctly in its cradle. The pictures you show looked similar to the situation, burnpot full of pellets and the fire lighting only toward one side.
The ignitor was just fine in every way, only the improper cradle placement made the fire start very late.
After adjusting the cradle, it's been 100% correct ignition for two years without issue.
I used to have very late ignition due to the ignitor not sitting correctly in its cradle. The pictures you show looked similar to the situation, burnpot full of pellets and the fire lighting only toward one side.
The ignitor was just fine in every way, only the improper cradle placement made the fire start very late.
After adjusting the cradle, it's been 100% correct ignition for two years without issue.
hinkle
Member
I was gonna go back a re-read the earlier post on this, but see this was from last year.
To the others commenting, follow the steps mentioned in this thread, clean everything, twice. Try starting again? Check and see how hot your pellets are if it doesn't ignite. Don't be a jag off and stick your finger straight in the pile of pellets either.
Mine will be very hot. I blame it on the junk pellets I buy from TCS, HD, and Lowes. When I buy the pellets at the fireplace store, they'll ignite no problem. I don't know if thats a good enough excuse for yins, but it's enough excuse I can waste 30 mins drinking a couple beers, watching the fire burn and not be doing some other choir. 
Hockeyfan probably posted the real solution btw.
76brian
Feeling the Heat
The ignitor has never been removed since new, it's still in the factory location, and the stove is spotless. Original poster said he switched pellets, and it was fine... I switch pellets and it still does it. Only the left side of the burnpot ignites, and then the auger overfeeds. I can leave it on manual and it'll be fine, but I have to intervene if I shut it down and want to start it up again, so auto is out of the question. Incredibly annoying.
Brian.
The next time your stove is cold make sure that all of the holes in the burn pot are clear. Also make sure all of the creosote is scraped off of the burn pot all the way down to the auger opening. You should be able to feel this with your fingers with a cold stove. I found I have to scrape mine every two month with a flat head screw driver to get it all. The scraper that came with the stove just doesn't work. Let us know
76brian
Feeling the Heat
Thanks, but I've had this stove for a while, I know how to clean it. Trust me, when I say it's clean, it's clean. I scrape the burnpot regularly, and when I shut it down to empty the ash and do the rest of the routine, I use a mirror to make sure I can see a flashlight through the holes. I've never seen one plugged up.
I have the exact same issue as the OP. His stove was clean too. I was really just wondering how he made out with his issue in the end, as mine is identical. If it's recurred, what kind of pellets made it happen, etc.
I have the exact same issue as the OP. His stove was clean too. I was really just wondering how he made out with his issue in the end, as mine is identical. If it's recurred, what kind of pellets made it happen, etc.
hinkle
Member
Also, if your going to write off it being the pellets, don't go from one junk pellet to another. I could be completely wrong, but I never had a problem with the pellets I got from the fireplace store vs box stores never wanting to ignite. IMO this years pellets from the box stores are the worst I've seen. I still get decent heat, but lots of ash build up on the burn pot.
hockeyfan
Member
My stove was new when I had the cradle problem with the ignitor. It took a few weeks to notice it because after all, it still did light and it didn't happen every time. The dealer made a small adjustment and ever since, all's been well.
This may not be your problem, but unusual ignitor placement/orientation can definitely be a contributor to an uneven fire and an over firing burnpot.
did you use a small mirror and look at the hole in the burn pot all the way down? I just had one w/ similar issues and used a small allen wrench to open cloged holes, probably 30% of them were carboned over that you could not see with a mirror. Have not heard back from customer since...
Since installing the OAK, this is an entirely different beast. I am burning less pellets, it burns hotter, virtually no ash after 3 weeks or better, and most importantly, it just runs! What ash I have now is a much finer, lighter, fluffy stuff, unlike the darker, chunkier stuff I used to dump out of the ash pan. The glass even stays clean for weeks. We have been running it daily in auto for about a month this fall, and I am extremely excited about how it is functioning. I just wish I would have installed the OAK before last spring. I am sure I have paid for the $100 I spent on the OAK in saved pellets. And never once has it overfilled the pot and spewed pellets. I am an OAK believer!
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