Enviro auger bushing.

Got up this AM and notice a smell of burnt wood. Stove looked to be running fine but the close I got to it the more I smelled it. Grabbed my light and sure enough inside the chassis had lots of fines/saw dust and some had hit the combustion blower housing. It was smoking off some of the dust.

Looked at the auger bushing and it was spinning with every auger turn. Luckily today was fairly warm and the house was 74°F. So I shut down the stove. Made my morning coffee and did some thinking. I figured I'd hit the stove shop down the road once they opened up at 8:30 AM.

After a cup I decided I better take it apart to see if something else was fudge'd. Of coarse I had filled the hopper before bed so I had to scoop about 2 bags out before I could do anything. Vacuumed out the rest and also vacuumed the dust and fines in the chassis. Dropped the motor and pulled the auger and mounting plate. Well all it was is the auger bushing seized to the auger shaft and spun its way out of the auger plate. Everything came apart easy and nothing was broken. Took a bit to get the bushing unstuck from the shaft. Soaked it with some PB blaster and wiggle it with some vice grip pliers. Off came the bushing. If you look at the pic you can see the wear on the top were it was spinning in the plate.

Off I went calling to find parts. Stove shop didn't carry them and wanted $39 plus shipping to get one. The other in the next town was closed on Saturday. An Industrial supply house was also closed on Saturday. Now what the heck am I gonna do? Had another cup a joe and the light went off. Just flip the bushing as the other end was fine and would still press back into the auger plate.

This time I put some cooper never seize on the shaft so hopefully it won't seize again. I'll visit the Industrial supply house on my way home one night after work and pick a couple up. I doubt they cost $39 each like the stove shop wanted. But we'll see. I'll take some more pic's once I get a new bushing.

 

PB Blaster? Yeah, its smelly but works. I liked the Kroil, But can't find it locally!

The bushing literally rusted to the shaft. I didn't get it as its supposed to by an oilite bushing.

Stove just started and is running like a champ again. But this was a scare, Gonna get some spare bushings and maybe even an auger motor. I see some money being spent after the holidays.

 

Took longer to clean the hopper and vacuum up all the mess than the actual repair. I got a little workshop so these things seem easy for me. But a hammer and a common socket could have driven in the bushing. I got a small press to do my bushings and such.

One can never have too many tools!

 

Some pic's of it running and the old bushing still working. Thats MWP on medium heat setting 3(feed trim 3).

 

I'll replace it once I hit the supply house. Either a new screw or a flat headed bolt. If I gotta I'll make something. Love having access to a mill/lathe to do my gov stuff! Shhhh, I'll do it on my break!

 

Looks good on paper.

All I know is I'm glad I listened and kept my stove out away from the wall. The foot I left was just enough to get my keyster back there. I can laydown and work on this puppy. Just needed a pillow

 

I think it must a been spinning for a while and wore it off. Once it wore off the auger dropped down and let the pellet dust loose on me. Right now its not stuck to the shaft and isn't spinning so it should stay put for a while. Actually press fit on the auger plate pretty tight too.

I'll replace it with a flanged bushing.

 

Or I'll make one!

Mc Master Carr price $1.94 plus shipping.



Stove shop from link over $40.00