How to Fix a Stuck Auger on an American Harvester Pellet Furnace

Close the hopper lid and front viewing door to ensure the auger will function properly.

Unplug the American Harvest pellet furnace if closing the lid and door does not correct the problem. Making adjustments to the auger or hopper while the unit is plugged in may result in bodily injury.

Open the fuel hopper and check for a bridge of pellets keeping fuel from feeding into the auger. If a bridge exists, shift the pellets with a shovel or other long-handled tool. Plug the furnace back in and see whether the auger operates. If it does, you've fixed the auger problem. If not, unplug again.

Remove all fuel from the pellet furnace, using the shovel. Place the pellets into a bucket to save them for future use.

Remove the auger from the furnace. Rotate the auger back and forth in the hopper's auger tube until it becomes unseated and then pull it out of the unit. Check the auger for blockages or obstructions and remove them.

Vacuum any sawdust from the auger and auger tube, as well as all other areas in which sawdust has built up.

Spray the auger, auger tube, hopper area, agitator shaft, bearings and firepot area with a light cooking oil.

Push the auger back into the auger tube and rotate it until it becomes seated in the coupling. If reinstalled correctly, you should not be able to move the auger by hand.

Replace the pellets in the hopper and plug the American Harvest pellet furnace back in. Turn it on following the normal start-up procedure for your fuel type.