1300 Hrs.
Test3

I have replaced several ceramic ignitors, and a board. Spoke with Blume, and purchased, and replace the ceramic. I have had no problems with the metal units. They are a cheap cost considering the ceramic longevity.

I agree with Rona. I have had more problems with fines this year than last. Fines in the bottom of the bin are more frequent this year. Additionally when I pull the feed wheel, the fines are well packed under. Empty the bin, vacuum the fines, and clean under the feed wheel. The settings are different for the 2 setting than higher settings.

After removing the feeder wheel, remove all the "fines" in the bottom of the hopper. When using pellets, all the dust collects at the lowest point, and can prevent pellets from being picked up.

Unions were good, and needed 100 years ago. Today it is a different story. Where is Hoffa? There are enough laws on the books to protect employees from employer problems. If you do not like your current job, change job, not the business. You should be employed in a profession you are happy with, not one you are PO'd at and want to reform it. The hard core employee needs to go out into the real world and try on different shoes.

I am ignorant of this grass. What is it, and would it make a good ground cover??

I think you are speaking about a VAT.

Rona,

What is the new style feeder wheel gasket? Maybe something I need to do. The pellets tear up things pretty good, as you know.

Remember, Occam's razor;

"The razor is a principle that suggests we should tend towards simpler theories until we can trade some simplicity for increased explanatory power."

I can feel your frustration. This exercise, stove adjustment, is an on going process. Next year you will feel better. I would like to add, to heck with the numbers, look at the flame, and move knobs as necessary for the burn.

This year I am on pellets, as corn is a little costly. However corn heats better, though more labor intensive, and uses entirely different settings. At the moment I am set on #4 burn level, and the adjustments are just about 9PM, and 3PM [or AM]. The burn is good, and the dumps is successful.

The knob numbers are a reference, just like your thermostat. Just because you set the thermostat at 70*, does not mean the house is 70*, it might be 68*, so you modify the thermostat to 72*.

Do some more adjustment, and report back with the details, so the experts on this forum can offer help.

DG,

You should pose your question in the Bixby forum, you will have many questions and answers from the experts. None the less, check the Wiki for information. You need to give the Bixby forum more information, so your exact issue can be addressed. But it sounds much like your settings. What rate are you running at? Still reduce air, and increase feed. When did you clean last? Are you burning pellets, or corn? There are a number of variables involved

Ralph,

What does the upgrade consist of, and due you put 271 on it?

Off season is the best timing.

Notice what is printed on the bag, less than 1% ash. Pellets are not supposed to produce clinkers, if they have too much adhesive they do. If your stove is not self cleaning, you have to shut down every other day, or so, and do a manual clean, and restart.

Janesville,

Can you be more specific, price, cleaned??

Thanks

I just went through this exercise. Last season my fan would shut down for 15 - 20 seconds try to restart a couple of times, and then run on. A couple of days later it would do the same. I gave it no serious thought.

This season, the issue came up again, after a month of burning. But, this time when it began, the shut downs became very frequent. I called Bixby for a replacement ignitor, and Mike said the cause was bad bearings, and not to use cheap ones. He sent me a pair of bearings. I have no fan bearing noise. I replaced bearings last year, and the new pair were the same as those that I installed last year. I put in the ignitor, and the ignitor board. I had to wait two weeks for a board, and replaced the bearings during this time. When the board arrived, I got the stove back on line.

BUT, the convection fan problem persisted. I did as Blume suggested,and ran with the side panels off, with no problems, meanwhile I called Bixby, Wednesday before New Year, for a third time, for a fan motor. Mike sent out a replacement motor the following Tuesday, after a $170.00 core charge. I pulled the fan again, and swapped motors, and the stove has been running with no problem, for 8 days. Sent the core back for $10.00 shipping.

Stove in my shop has been running the same number of years as the Bixby, and so far has required no repairs. Arg!

Thanks for the suggestions. I hate to admit it, but I have yet to attempt to connect my Win 7 laptop to the stove.

This is the first of 4 seasons this problem has manifested itself, therefore I do not believe it is a settings fault. I have run the stove at all settings for long periods of time.

Corny, thank you for the reference. I skimmed the WiKi and did not find the said reference.

It has been about 90 minutes, and no shut down, with both side panels off. I left Mike another message, telling him he owes me another motor. I love pulling the motor. It gets easier each time, as you only put the bolts in finger tight. I hope I do not wear the threads off the nut plate.

Ralph, thanks for the reply. OEM material for the filter. I will try running with both side panels off. I too was suspecting a overheating fan.

This problem started last year. The stove can run a number of hours, setting 4, and the convection will shut off. The fan bearings are quiet, and no lights flash. After 30 seconds and some clicking the fan will get a bit of power, and shut down for 30 seconds, and finally start back up.

This year the stove ran a month before the ugly reared its head again. About this time I had an igniter go out, and I called Bixby for warranty. When Mike returned the call I spoke with him about the fan, and he said it was due to overheating bearings, even if they made no sound. He sent me an igniter, and replacement bearings. I replaced the igniter, and the board went out. After sending my board in, it took Mike 2 weeks to send a replacement. Meanwhile I changed the bearings.

After putting in the new rebuilt board, and running a day, the fan has begun to shut down, and restart again. It would seem the bearings were not the cause of the problem. Any ideas, please.

UPDATE to my previous post.

My stove ran 20 hours on the ceramic ignitor, erred on a 1-3&7, and shut down.

Now it is on to an ignitor board.......