Whitfield Quest

[Patio]

Hey all, new to Forum. I hope someone can point me in the right direction. I have an older Whitfield Quest that was given to me. It has worked well for 5 years. Recently the auger has been jamming. After some research I believe I need to replace bushing. The bigger issue presently is no power. While trying to get auger moving I gave the stove a “Fonzi” to the side. Seems to work on everything else I try to fix but not my poor stove. It went powerless. I haven’t been able to figure it out. This is what I’ve done to try to eliminate possibilities. At first I was thinking exhaust motor so I cut wires and pigtailed a power cord to motor and plugged into an outlet. It ran fine. I pulled vacuum hose off to manually pull in switch, which it did but not sure if that means it’s working. I tried to find a fuse but had no luck. I’m leaning towards control panel but could use some advice before I spend the dough. Please help and thanks in advance!

 

[Patio]

Hey all, new to Forum. I hope someone can point me in the right direction. I have an older Whitfield Quest that was given to me. It has worked well for 5 years. Recently the auger has been jamming. After some research I believe I need to replace bushing. The bigger issue presently is no power. While trying to get auger moving I gave the stove a “Fonzi” to the side. Seems to work on everything else I try to fix but not my poor stove. It went powerless. I haven’t been able to figure it out. This is what I’ve done to try to eliminate possibilities. At first I was thinking exhaust motor so I cut wires and pigtailed a power cord to motor and plugged into an outlet. It ran fine. I pulled vacuum hose off to manually pull in switch, which it did but not sure if that means it’s working. I tried to find a fuse but had no luck. I’m leaning towards control panel but could use some advice before I spend the dough. Please help and thanks in advance!

Also I know I have good power cord and plug is good.

 

[Ssyko]

Did you check the fuse?

 

[Patio]

Couldn’t find a fuse​

 

[Ssyko]

Unplug stove. Should be on the back side of the control board.

 

[Patio]

Unplug stove. Should be on the back side of the control board.

I’ll look again. I had control panel off but not out so I couldn’t see the circuit board. I’ll try that. Thank you

 

[Patio]

Found it. It looks smoked. Hopefully that’s it. I’ll let you know. Thanks you’ve been a great help

 

[Patio]

That was it Ssyko! Finally got her firing! Still having an issue with the auger but that’s the next project. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Ssyko]

At least augers are more reasonable to replace, but as long as the drive gear isnt missing teeth a drop of 3 in1 oil on the shaft bearings will do wonders

 

[Patio]

Hey Ssyko!, I have a new one for you or the members. With new fuse, the Whitfield Quest fires up and ran for a bit. I’m experiencing jamming of the auger a lot! I’ve replaced the brass bushing which seemed to have a good deal of wear. I put it back together and it ran okay for a little while and them jammed again. I notice 1) a lot of play up and down on the auger once it was put back together ( maybe 1/4”) or better. 2) when I had the auger our I field tested the motor and appears fine ( could not hold it with pliers from turning) however it does make a lot of noise and I’m thinking it may not be strong enough to keep from jamming. Any advice is welcome.

 

[Ssyko]

The up and down play I don’t know what the specs are. Stovenson, Bob know more about them than i do. But like i said augers pretty reasonable now i would put in a new one keep the old for a spare. Im sure one of the others will pipe in with the info.

 

[Mt Bob]

Sounds like stove has a lot of miles on it,and it needs the upper auger bushing replaced.I assume it is same as other whits,and has an upper bushing.

 

[MButkus]

When you moved the auger, when powered, you shorted the auger connection... only popping the fuse. When running a lot of the connections are live 120V. Always unplug.
Auger jamming. How long (in size) are the pellets you have in there ? I don't believe you can change the top bushing. The bottom is easy. If your auger is slipping (push on the back of the motor armature, there should only be a very tiny movement) then the auger gear could be skipping the first gear inside the auger. Happen to me. Used a fiber washer to push the auger back up into the gears. Worked for another 6 years or so. A tiny bit of high temp grease at the top.

 

[Mt Bob]

When you moved the auger, when powered, you shorted the auger connection... only popping the fuse. When running a lot of the connections are live 120V. Always unplug.
Auger jamming. How long (in size) are the pellets you have in there ? I don't believe you can change the top bushing. The bottom is easy. If your auger is slipping (push on the back of the motor armature, there should only be a very tiny movement) then the auger gear could be skipping the first gear inside the auger. Happen to me. Used a fiber washer to push the auger back up into the gears. Worked for another 6 years or so. A tiny bit of high temp grease at the top.

LOL,yep.To me,up and down play would be the auger in relation to the tube body,but I can see where some would think in and out ,up and down the auger tube.The OP will have to clarify.

 

[Patio]

Bob bare, it does have an upper bushing but not sure I can replace, There is " a lot "of play in the auger when powered up. At this point the auger is almost continually jamming. I have to physically move motor to get pellets moving again. I'm thinking I have a very tired motor. Is that a possibility? Is that how these motors go... slowly?

 

[Mt Bob]

Bob bare, it does have an upper bushing but not sure I can replace, There is " a lot "of play in the auger when powered up. At this point the auger is almost continually jamming. I have to physically move motor to get pellets moving again. I'm thinking I have a very tired motor. Is that a possibility? Is that how these motors go... slowly?

Some just die,but seems lately lots of combustion and auger motors just keep getting weaker with time.