NAPA expensive bearing, don't remember brand, lasted a season. 10 pack of VXB bearings, repacked with grease, and cost the same as one Napa bearing have made it so far this season.

I been through two sets of fan bearings on a Bixby and the noise will come and go. Sometimes run for hours and not a peep then screech so bad that you want to throw the thing out the window. First time was not really a screech but just got progressively noisy. Second time started with come and go noise but steadily got worse.

I had to replace my bearings the first year I used my stove. I got bearing at Napa, forget brand but they lasted 1-1/2 years. This fall I put new VXB bearings in but I removed the seals and packed with grease. Time will tell.

Only thing that will hurt the bearings is hitting/damage the seals.

I would be that idiot from Idaho who burns wheat. I used corn mainly last year and guess what? Back to good hot clean wheat. You guys can keep the corn. I grow both so I can choose and cost is not a deciding factor.

Think this is my 4th year with Bixby and I am asking myself, or maybe should ask the forum, if buying a new model would be wise for parts or future use. I know I would spend 500 or less for a used one. Reason is I don't think there is any replacement that fits my needs.

Thanks a bunch all. Open for corn is the info I needed. Burned great this morning and never had the convection fan run so quiet. Second time of replacing the bearings but this time I ordered the ones with plastic seals so I could pop them off and pack with a good grease. Now to see how long they last. Bought 10 from VXB.

I had to replace the fan bearing and I took my time getting things back together and I am unsure which of the three connections on the switch does the brown wires go to> I know one goes on the center but the other on the wood side or corn? TIA

Welcome back and hello to everyone. Hope your summer went well.

Have not had to use the stove yet but the new bearings are in the fan and the wheat has been cleaned and in storage since early August.

Got up this morning to actually see some rain. Like everywhere else it been dry here for months.

24hours on setting three with pellets would sound about right, not sure? If pot is full you are running on the rich side. To solve the problem for now manually hit the "ON" button and it will dump.

B-Mod wrote:

X2

welcome Olddaze

My requirements are the same as Rona's with the biggest thing being multi-fuel so I can grow my own fuel. Fill it up, clean once in a great while, and know the house is going to be warm. Most of the time warmer then it needs to be. Bixby has filled that task for the last two years and starting on the third.

I have tried Barley and oats would be a close match as my barley was on the light side (45lb/bu). The problem I had was that they would bridge in the fire pot and it would fill up, overflow and the flame go out. I played with it for a few days until I added enough pellets to the barley that i would get one pellet every turn or two of the feed wheel to knock down the bridge, burn good after that. So corn would also serve the same purpose. Not near the heat units as wheat or corn so barley may not keep up here on a very cold day. Good luck and report your findings if you try the oats.

100% irrigated ground here with a full water allotment this year. Down side is we were late to plant do to wet cool weather, are about 3 weeks behind and 500 some heat units behind the 10year average. Corn looks good and so far I am glad I switched to a shorter day at the last minute but at a cost of yield I am sure.

I feel for those who are having trouble affording corn. I had a little bit of corn left from last year and was going to keep just enough till this years harvest when I decided that with corn $50/ton more then wheat that it will be wheat again this year. Filled my wheat contract and had a partial truck left so instead of taking to town we spent last weekend cleaning it and filling the downstairs storage. Should be good to go well into Feb. and I will probable keep a few ton of this years corn to either burn or feed to the pigs.

Glad to hear the wheat is working good for you. Keeps things very warm here also.

Case never should have dropped the Magnum and Maxuum line!
Couldn't agree more. 7250, two 5140's and a 5250

Performs like a typical JD but not near as well as a CIH

Happy Thanksgiving. Yes God has blessed us in many ways and has provided a safe bountiful harvest

I am on my second year burning wheat and it is by far way hotter then wood pellets. I did grow some corn this year to compare with but it I have not given it a try as the corn is 15% and the wheat is 7% moisture. Would not be a fair comparison due to the extra moisture. hopefully by late winter I will be able to switch.

While my stove is a Bixby, and i have a lot more adjustments, I spent a week trying to get Barley burn good. Problem I had, and sound like your problem also, is that barley is so light that it does not have the weight it takes to knock the ashes down in the pot. Therefore it bridges and builds up in the pot. I finally got it to burn by adding in a small amount of pellets, just enough that you will get like one or two pellets every time the stove feeds in. The pellets are heavy enough that they knock down the ash and keeps it from bridging. After that it burned fine but not as hot or good as the wheat I burned up till then.