St Croix Auburn

I am going to be working on a Auburn that has sat for 5 years. Plugged it in and the distributer fan comes on but not the exh fan. I am thinking remove left side panel and maybe there is a way to turn the fan if stuck or probably remove it and turn it that way. Obviously a good cleaning will be done.
It ran when last used but was in the owners shop and was unused for the past 5 years since he died.
Is the gasket for the exh fan reusable? I would assume a Green Field, Lancaster and possibly others use the same innards as the Auburn.

 

Very good questions... never worked on one of those. Don will have better answers but before you dismantle anything I'd make sure you have power to the fan. IMO exhaust fans have to be abused for a LONG time before they quit. The only other thing I've seen stop them in their tracks is a nest from some sort of animal etc. I've only seen a couple that died from a true mechanical failure.

In a pinch high temp silicone can be used for a gasket, just go easy on it so the next guy doesn't have a bad day

 

Time to break out the handy dandy power test cord and find out if the exhaust fan motor runs with straight 120v.

 

Thanks for the tips. I have seen bird nests and mouse nests cost customers a service call and trying direct current from 110 outlet is also good. He had a Harman PC45 in the same shop and the exh fan was stuck in it but I was able to reach inside and turn it freeing it up and it ran after that so was hoping to do the same trick.

 

Well I cleaned some and made sure the motors turn and fired it up. First time it quit. Now to get serious I read the book and learned how to start it. Second time worked real good. I am going to use a leaf blower just to make sure I got everything out of it. Tried the choke cable and drill, then banged on the back with a rubber mallet today but may as well do the blower to make sure.

 

Agreed.....

 

Since this st Croix stove worked out I got courageous and bought a Used Harman PC45 to play with. The owner told me the dealer told him his igniter was no good so sold him a 200.00 igniter. He got in the back and cut a couple wires then looked at the igniter and noticed it was different then the original so just gave up and hauled it out into his garage where it sat for a couple years before he put it up for sale. I plugged it in and blew that 6 amp fuse so figured there was more to this then what I was told. Started checking motors and the auger motor blew a breaker in the shop. Humm, that may be the problem. As luck would have it I had a spare so found it and tested it to make sure it was good. before installing it I noticed the auger was jammed tight with hard crud so got the hammer and popped the auger out. Then soaked it in water to dissolve the junk. While it was soaking I grabbed a extra igniter for a Bixby and put it in. Then after buttoning everything up I used a ohm meter and that old igniter was good. so all motors are good and only thing left is the board but can't find a 6 amp glass fuse. All other sizes but not a 6amp.
The question is there is 3 bricks that fit in back of the burn pot on a rail Does anybody know the dimensions as a example 3inches across, 6 inches tall and a inch thick? I am thinking Menards might have something like this as Harman was pretty proud of theirs.

 

Looking at it he decided to burn pellets and simply took the agitator out and let the auger put pellets in the pot and eventually it would spill over . I think he let it run out of pellets and shut down whenever he ran it. Eventually the flame ended up at the end of the auger resulting in some terribly hard crud completely filling the hole where the agitator was and making a hard clump directly in front of the auger. I don't know if he tried burning some corn with the pellets but it is clean now.
As a update I plugged it in and the auger turned even with the dial in the off position. Soon found it wouldn't shut off. So I replaced that little potemiometer switch but that didn't do it either. Ended up borrowing a control board and now it works perfect. Oh, If anyone needs firebrick for their PC45 the size is 4X9 by 1.25 inches thick available at Menards for 16.00 for 6 bricks.
If I knew where I could get a board cheap that worked I would smile- Don't think Santa will deliver.

 

My St Croix is doing the same thing… I have to let it run out of pellets to shut it down. Replaced the POF switch but that didn't work… no biggie.

 

For myself I wouldn't mind but when I sell something that is supposed to work to a customer it has to be in good working condition or it isn't for sale. We have to remember that for some people this will be their first pellet /corn stove and if I sell it to them I want it to work like new and be a good experience for them.

 

I love that we have so many pellet stove savvy folks here, always reply, always care because it can always help someone. Good thread!

 

This concept of pellet/corn burning was new to me 11 years ago when a friend showed me his unit. It burned pellets and produced a lot of heat for such a little fire. I was further impressed when he said they even make some that burn corn so that was when I got interested as we raise corn and the price was cheap compared to fuel oil. Looking in the for sale adds I seen a add selling corn stoves so after looking at St Croix and Harman PC45 I decided the auto start and not having to drop a clinker was worth the extra money to me and sprung for the 45. After a year or so I started helping the dealer do service calls after he had shoulder surgery so gained knowledge about both the St Croix and the Harman line. Then tried a Quad AE and a year later got my first Bixby and stuck with that brand for the past nine years. I still remained good friends with the Harman dealer and continued to do service work with him so learned a lot from him.
The past few years has seen the pellet/corn stove industry go through at least three feast or famine cycles due to either rising oil prices- low oil prices or low corn prices and high corn prices. Pellets seemed to bounce around to depending on demand.
During the period approx 2008 to 2010 the gov both federal and many states made laws that allowed you to deduct 30% of the total cost of the stove,hearth pad, exh pipe and installation cost of a new stove. This was quite a savings on the stove and encouraged a lot of people to buy a stove.
Anyway these stoves have become a hobby for me and I enjoy helping people get used to them and help solve problems they might have.

 

"11 years ago when a friend showed me his unit".

I was skeered to read any more!

 

I love my unit as well

Time for another beer, you guys are sick lol

 

No pics necessary. Thank you.

 

Is this pic better Smoke? 2 down, only 4 left from Christmas.

 

Must be the time of day as to how words are interpreted.