Think I should replace my combustion fan motor?

I have the original model year 2000 combustion fan in my St. Croix. It seems to be working fine (last season) but Don's recent post about old fans slowing down has me thinking maybe it's in my best interests to install a new one.

It would be a good time since I haven't even opened the door on my stove since my last fire… may the beatings begin.

Just remembered I have to weld some new metal in my burn pot or open my wallet and buy a new one.

 

I might be tempted to pull it out, blow the dust and what not out of the motor windings, give it a few drops of oil, assuming it can be oiled, and see how it goes.

 

I'm going to fire up the stove tonite since it will be in the mid-30's… it's pretty darn clean since I cleaned it and only ran a few bags thru it before the end of last season. I may even hook up the t-stat that's been installed but not hooked up for five years… but don't hold your breath. Those two screws are a lot of work to hook up.

 

I would wait until it is the dead end of January when it is 11:30 pm and -33degrees (when there is no ≈ ) and it is working wonderf.

 

The stove still has a 'clunk' in it, too… I think it's when the auger feed is on…

 

Well the stove worked fine last night… kept the house at 80F until I turned it down to #1 and slowed the fan speed. Went out and bought ONE BAG of Superior hardwoods… ashy little buggers just like every year. But they burn OK… had a sale going on for $194.50/ton until yesterday. The wife and I decided to wait until we have a little more $$$ then we'll buy two or three tons of a better pellet. This year, with the addition of my F350 to the fleet, I can haul three tons per trip with my trailer following behind.

Just remembered that my old analog board won't let me shut down the stove at will… I have to wait until the pellets run out then it's shuts down like it should. I should probably look into repairing that… may have a bad capacitor or such…. really don't have the $$$ for a $300 board.

Tonite we are keeping cozy with a bag of Marth softwoods… not as many fines in these and they burn pretty good, too.

 

I found that the Curran Softwood pellets burn the best in my stove out of the pellets I have tried so far. Ashy, but the Ash is light and dry. Much easier to clean than some of the other stuff I have burned in the stove.

 

Did you decide to replace the fan motor this year?

I need to replace a bearing on the motor for my boiler soon. Not looking forward to it.