Mr. Blake Writes-
I have a Harman XXV pellet stove that is about 6 y/o. I believe I may need a new feed motor. There is a low level grinding noise that occurs each time the feed motor is turned on. I’ve cleaned the chain and sprockets. The cam arm works w/out any apparent resistance. Periodically there is a “bump” noise that comes from what seems to be a miss alignment of the chain on the center sprocket. This is new as is the feed noise. If you have any thoughts on the source of the problem, I’d appreciate it.
Mr. Pellethead Replies-
Thanks for contacting us. By the description of it I would say the noise is coming from your auger motor gear box- my guess is that the grease inside has dried up and the gears are getting quite worn. Average life on those auger feed motors is 6-8 seasons. The ‘Bump’ noise is more than likely coming from the chain/sprocket and the chain jumping track.
1.Make sure the alignment of the sprockets appears in sync.
2.Check the teeth on the big and small sprocket.
3.Check the sawdust clean-out box in the feed system (door with wing nut behind auger motor) make sure it’s clean and that the slide plate doesn’t appear to be obstructed (Easiest to do with no fuel in the hopper).
More than likely the weak auger motor is what’s causing the chain to jump, but we do want to check those other items as well.
Click Here for the Chain Driven XXV Auger Motor
Click Here for the Harman Parts Webpage
My feeder stopped feeding. I have power out of the pressure switch to the motor but the auger is not moving.
I need to determine if the motor is bad or if I have a jam in the auger area.
I cant move the chain or sprockets.
How do I disconnect the auger motor from the Harman XXV?
How do I disconnect the auger from the Harman XXV?
Andrew,
Thanks for contacting us, happy to assist. Yes, I think the best option will be to pull the auger motor out and test to direct power. You can use an old extension or lamp cord, put two connectors on the end, attach to the motor leads and plug direct into the wall. This will let you know right away if the motor is working or not.
For removing the auger motor you will loosen the 4 bolts that hold the auger motor to the mounting plate. This will allow the auger motor to slide forward and your chain to have slack. Use an Allen wrench to loosen the small sprocket and it will pull off of the motor. From there you can disconnect the electrical wires and pull the auger motor out. MAKE SURE your stove is unplugged when working back there. Any questions let us know, we are happy to help.
Thanks,
Taylor-ESESstoves
I’ve searched everywhere for info on adjusting the sprockets and the cam claw behind the sprockets.
After installing a new feed motor my chain (Harmon Accentra 1st model) gets hung up on the cam apparatus behind large sprocket. I can’t figure it out….the small bearing on the back of the large sprocket catches and stops action
…no videos or info anywhere? I need help lol….driving me nutz lol
Thanks for contacting us Tim. Unfortunately Harman does not offer a guide sheet or video for the chain and sprocket kit, however we do have a video replacing the auger motor with the chain and sprocket system and this should be helpful as you get everything lined up correctly. https://youtu.be/AeuekPHdoCs?si=rqAN_a1zbocLISyv
Keep us posted, happy to assist however we can.
Thanks,
Harman XXV…4 yes old. Clean inside, back panels left & right removed. Hopper all pellets removed…just “Hums” nothing
Will start up…before it stopped the stove was extremely loud…almost like something was really strained on the inside to operate.
Hi Joy,
Sounds to me like your exhaust/combustion blower has stalled out. Be sure to check this motor and housing out. Without this blower, nothing in the stove will progress any further.
I have a Harmon Accentra Pellet Stove and was curious if the feed and auger motor are the same things. My chain pops and jumps occasionally and my feed motor is only about 3 seasons of use. How do you tell if your feed motor/auger motor is bad and is this what is causing my chain jumping?
Auger motor is often referred to as feed motor too. The chain jumps because the chain can stretch with time and start to “walk” on the gear(s). Simply making simple adjustments to the chain tension and alignment will go along ways but likely will be needed season after season. 2nd option would be to purchase a new chain and sprocket kit {Insert Part number and link}
Auger motor is often referred to as feed motor too. The chain jumps because the chain can stretch with time and start to “walk” on the gear(s). Simply making simple adjustments to the chain tension and alignment will go along ways but likely will be needed season after season. 2nd option would be to purchase a new chain and sprocket kit.
Replaced the auger on my Harmon XXV pellet stove, now as it turns, the sprockets with the chain seem to stick, and when it releases, makes a loud popping noise. Any thoughts?
Hi. On the XXV the chains tend to stretch over time. Check for proper alignment between the two gears. The chain tends to “walk” up the gear until it gets tight and snaps back into place causing the popping sound. Look for ware marks on the teeth of the gears. This is a good indication of the problem. Options are: to align chain and gear assembly so noise goes away or purchase the chain and sprocket kit from Harman – Here is the link for that new kit should you need it.
How do you align the gears?
Thanks for contacting us Blaine. Here is a video showing the replacement of the auger motor in a chain drive Harman model. This should be helpful in getting the sprockets aligned and secured properly. https://youtu.be/AeuekPHdoCs?si=RfAZp11F2d6PTl8G
Keep us posted, happy to help.
Alright, first and foremost your videos for performing service on pellet stoves have been absolutely fantastic. I had a few different noises coming from my pellet stove, which is pretty old at this point, so I took the drastic measure of replacing many parts, freshening my pellet stove up a bit. I have the Harman Advance with the indirect auger feed motor.
Auger motor is new, both sprockets were replaced with new ones along with the chain and tensioner. After installing the new components, my chain is walking off the new sprockets. The leading edge of the sprockets (both are doing it) are periodically catching the chain until it pops off. There appears to be no specific rhythm to the popping and it occasionally pops harder than the other times it does it. I watched the video for installing the auger motor and the sprocket attached to the motor was installed such that the face of the sprocket is flush with the end of the shaft. It seems like it would be a chain tensioning issue. After rewatching the video I felt that my chain did not have as much play as the video described so I tried to loosen some tension from top and bottom. Still having the same issue.
Question is: to correct this condition is the idea that the motor and tensioner should be removing slack from the chain to fix this problem or would it be that more slack needs to be put into the chain. Is there any sort of “break-in” period for new chains and sprockets?
Thanks for contacting us Chris. Happy to help and glad the videos have been helpful as well. Should not be any kind of ‘break-in’ period when replacing the chain and sprocket kit on your Advance. Slack in the chain should be normal – movement of about 1/2″-3/4″ or so up and down. Let’s take a close look at the auger motor mount to make sure everything is even and we don’t have a cocked bolt in there. Line up a flat edge, such as a ruler against both of the sprockets – We want to make sure they are perfectly in alignment with each other. Once everything looks good, finish tightening the motor and nylon tensioner wheel – Again we want a little bit of play in the chain. If it’s continuing to jump off, Let’s A. Thoroughly inspect the new chain and sprockets for any manufacturing flaws, and then B. Get in there with a good light and see if there’s a specific action or trigger point that happens when it jumps on the sprocket. In most cases this is just a matter of fiddling with the sprockets to get them even and making sure the auger motor is evenly secured. Keep us posted, happy to assist and make sure you are 100%.
Thanks,
I have a Harman Advance-2 that i have been working on for a while now. The chain keeps popping off. I replaced the feed motor and put a new sprocket kit on it, both I purchased from you. The chain has popped off again ( yes I cleaned the fines box) and I was wondering if you can think of a reason why or something I’m missing. ( yes the sprockets are in line and tension is fine)
Thanks for contacting us, happy to help. Yes, alignment and tension of the motor and sprockets are key. Did you install the mounting bracket that came with the chain and sprocket kit? If the original bracket is in there and has even the slightest bend, the chain will keep jumping off.
Keep us posted, happy to help and make sure you are back to 100%.
Thanks,