P68 Feeder Won't feed

[mqmtt]

We have a P68 for 4 years, it has been great till today. The feeder stopped feeding pellets. I made sure all doors are shut. Actually it does feed pellets, just not normal, at a very slow pace, I put the feeder dial at 4, and it feeds like 5 or 6 pellets per turn...
What could be the problem? Help!

 

[Overfireinthehole]

Could be long pellets, or your fines box could b full or you could be clogged in the vacuum line or exhaust causing it to barely have enough vacuum to close the feed circuit. Baring all that, auger motor might be getting weak or might be coming loose from the auger.

 

[mqmtt]

I cleared the hopper, and now it works! It actually was just some larger pellets got stuck in there!
Thank you for your reply, it helped!!

 

[Overfireinthehole]

I cleared the hopper, and now it works! It actually was just some larger pellets got stuck in there!
Thank you for your reply, it helped!!

If you haven’t cleaned out the fines box or vacuum line before you might do that too or you’ll likely run into problems soon

 

[mqmtt]

To tell you the truth, I don't even know where is the fines box or vacuum line! I usually hire a Harman technician to do a complete clean in the summer.

 

[corkman]

Where in Massachusetts are you

 

[mqmtt]

I am in Northern Mass, close to Lowell area.

 

[corkman]

I’m in norton right off 495.glad you got things figured out. If I was closer I’d stop by to show you where the fines box is. But having said that if you open up the back of the stove look for a rectangular shaped box with a wing but on it. Open that up and vac everything out.

 

[corkman]

Some pics for you if the fines box and vac switch. Take some pics of the fines box when you open it up. If it’s jam packed then be sure to bring tvto you’re service guys attention. It should be part of the cleaning service

 

[mqmtt]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! It is really helpful! I will be able to locate it this time! I was trying to find it yesterday, but failed. I actually don't remember seeing the service guy open the back and clean in there! So are these pics from a P68 too? Your 3rd pic, what is the red thing? Do I need to do anything about it?
Thanks!

 

[Overfireinthehole]

Those red wires go to your exhaust probe. It’s mounted with a quarter inch screw and needs to be pulled and cleaned up every year. I usually just wipe it down with a damp towel to get all the crud off it so it will read properly.

 

[Overfireinthehole]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! It is really helpful! I will be able to locate it this time! I was trying to find it yesterday, but failed. I actually don't remember seeing the service guy open the back and clean in there! So are these pics from a P68 too? Your 3rd pic, what is the red thing? Do I need to do anything about it?
Thanks!

If your service guy didn’t get into the back of the stove, he didn’t fully clean it. That vacuum line needs pulled off the round grey and black vacuum switch and blown out as well.

 

[mqmtt]

Oh, Ok! Thank you for the explanation!

 

[mqmtt]

I will remember to ask him next time he comes here to clean!

 

[corkman]

Yeah just follow the red wires to where the esp is mounted in the exhaust path. Back the screw out and pull up on the esp. that’s gotta be cleaned periodically. It’s the brains to the stove so if it gets gunked up it can cause the stove to do wacky things. As mentioned above disconnect the tube from the switch and blow into it towards the stove wall. Do not blow into the vac switch. Clean out the fines box and take a look at the blowers while you have the rear covers off. I’m betting that if the fines box isn’t being cleaned then neither are the fans. Give us some pics once you start digging

 

[mqmtt]

Hi corkman! Thank you for your detailed process of doing this! I am going to wait for my husband to come back this weekend to do, maybe, it sounds like lots of work! I am not sure if I want to touch those fragile things in the back of the stove!

 

[corkman]

It’s fairly easy to do just a little awkward. Be sure to unplug the stove