Harmon ST8-VF8 Coal Stove Manual and Replacement Motor

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 1:47 pm

I have a Harman ST8-VF8 Coal Stove - Coal Stoker and cannot find the manual. If anyone has one could you please send me a copy? Thanks!
Another issue - Just finished cleaning the stove to prepare for the upcoming cold weather next month here in the Eastern PA Mountains. I Found that the motor for the feeder is not working. Any ideas on where I might find a replacement? I have checked everywhere that I could but no luck. Thanks, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 3:44 pm

HMkirk_2014 wrote:I have a Harman ST8-VF8 Coal Stove - Coal Stoker and cannot find the manual. If anyone has one could you please send me a copy? Thanks!
Another issue - Just finished cleaning the stove to prepare for the upcoming cold weather next month here in the Eastern PA Mountains. I Found that the motor for the feeder is not working. Any ideas on where I might find a replacement? I have checked everywhere that I could but no luck. Thanks, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark

Welcome

That stove is the early predecessor to the Harman Magnum...not the current Super Magnum.

Someone will have to post a copy of old Magnum Stoker manual.

Parts for your model are very rare to find these days, since there has already been 2 generations come after it. And the company that produced the stove just changed hands...but dealer network is still intack...Legacy Stoves.

Unless your stove got the upgrade package to the Vert I Flow stoker, not sure what feed motor you got there. Add some pictures and we'll see what we might point you to.

Seagrave1963 · Post by **Seagrave1963** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 4:08 pm

Here is the link to Legacy Stoves by Harman a Division of AHS: http://legacystoves.com/index.php?page=downloads

Hope it helps.

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 4:19 pm

Thanks so much for the quick response!

I've attached two pictures. One is of the stove from the front. The other is a top view, cover has been removed for cleaning - this is when I found the motor doesn't work anymore - was just fine last winter???

Where can I find the manual you mentioned?

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 4:32 pm

I looked on an information plate, on the side of the feed motor compartment, and this stove is listed as the ST8-VF8 but also says, on the compartment itself, it is a VERT 1. I think this may be what you mentioned about the added unit to the stove. This is the motor that has stopped running. I even tried adding a bit more lubrication and cleaning it as best as I could but it still won't run. Do you know if these can be rebuilt or purchased somewhere?

Seagrave1963 · Post by **Seagrave1963** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 4:44 pm

HMkirk_2014 wrote:Thanks so much for the quick response! I've attached two pictures. One is of the stove from the front. The other is a top view, cover has been removed for cleaning - this is when I found the motor doesn't work anymore - was just fine last winter???

Where can I find the manual you mentioned?

The "Installation Manual" link on the Legacy Stove Magnum Stoker page is the operating manual also.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Thu. Oct. 02, 2014 10:51 pm

HMkirk_2014 wrote:I looked on an information plate, on the side of the feed motor compartment, and this stove is listed as the ST8-VF8 but also says, on the compartment itself, it is a VERT 1. I think this may be what you mentioned about the added unit to the stove. This is the motor that has stopped running. I even tried adding a bit more lubrication and cleaning it as best as I could but it still won't run. Do you know if these can be rebuilt or purchased somewhere?

I have the same exact stove as you describe. And it is a Verti Flow stoker too.
Inside the stove, does it have thw "A" pent shape or is it a flat deck? Since yours is a single glass door my guess is it has the "A" pent shape.
The 3 glass door model had the flat shelf inside,(see fig. 10) and collected a lot of fly ash I'm told.

The "A" pent w/ a chain jigglier hanging on each side of the "A" kept the fly ash moving into the ash pan.

Your motor may just be stalled w/ a froze/stuck pusher block...or need a capacitor, possibly. Try freeing up the pusher block and then see if the motor will run.

Here's that manual...

.PDF | 3MB | Harman VF8 Manual.pdf

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 8:49 am

I have the same exact stove as you describe. And it is a Verti Flow stoker too.
Inside the stove, does it have thw "A" pent shape or is it a flat deck? Since yours is a single glass door my guess is it has the "A" pent shape.
The 3 glass door model had the flat shelf inside,(see fig. 10) and collected a lot of fly ash I'm told. The "A" pent w/ a chain jigglier hanging on each side of the "A" kept the fly ash moving into the ash pan.

Your motor may just be stalled w/ a froze/stuck pusher block...or need a capacitor, possibly. Try freeing up the pusher block and then see if the motor will run.

Thanks for the manual and advice. I am able to move the pusher block manually but when I turn the motor on with the switch it doesn't do anything. Where would I look to check if it's a capacitor (I'm not to swift with electrical things except for the basics

). My wife and I discussed this entire scenario last night and are thinking about replacing the stove. We didn't know it was that old since it came with the house when we bought it 14 years ago. Unfortunately we're on a fixed income so price is limited. What would you suggest if we go in this direction? I'm having trouble finding someone in our area that works on coal stoves. Thanks again, McGiever, for your help and knowledge. Oh another thing, you're correct in that our stove is the "A" pent shape with the chain jigglier.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 9:05 am

I wouldn't see any reason to replace the stoker as long as the firebox and stoker housing are in good shape.

All the other parts can be maintained / replaced as necessary and they are a lot lighter to carry in and out of the house than a complete stoker!!

Some things to check & maintain... (other can add what I have forgot making up this list off the top of my head)
Oil the motors and clean the fan blades
check and replace gaskets if necessary
vac out fines in feeder motor area
clean fines out of pusher block area
check hopper for rust and clean up / paint if necessary (especially the outlet)
clean out air holes in grates and under the grates
check grates for warping and replace if necessary

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 9:06 am

That motor new is somewhere around the $250.00 price range.

Remove the motor and take it to any motor repair shop (in the yellow pages)...they will quickly diagnose it and be able to offer a fix.

You have a very good coal stove there...I recommend you get the motor repaired and keep it going.

One thing, Have you tried plugging the motor in straight to a wall outlet? (bypass the controller)
That would be a test if the controller were the issue.

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 9:47 am

One thing, Have you tried plugging the motor in straight to a wall outlet? (bypass the controller)
That would be a test if the controller were the issue.

I tried the direct plugging and nothing different but when I plugged it back into the unit the motor started. ???
It seems to be working but there is a very loud noise coming out of the motor area - not sure where since nothing seems to be stuck. I sprayed the entire area where moving parts are with WD40. The noise seems to be gradually lessening but still there. Not sure why this is happening. Never had this sound before... I am going to clean the area back of the pusher block again and see if this helps. Any idea what might be causing this loud noise?

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 10:11 am

Since you say loud noise coming from motor area...here is what comes to mind:

That is a "gearhead motor"...maybe needs gear lube checked...any signs of leakage?

I would not recommend WD40 for long term lube on linkage...fine for quickly unsticking stuck items though.

Capacitor may still be suspect for inconsitent starts if/when all lube has all checked good.
BTW: The capacitor is pictured in the manual...in motor end cap with wiring there too.

Can the "fork" linkage be jiggled freely?

Keep fiddeling with it...you'll find where it's tight or loose.

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 10:31 am

I'm able to easily move the fork ( I think you're talking about the one that rides around the gear on the left end (if you're looking down on the feeder area from above) , I'll have to run out and get some lubricant. I noticed that there are two caps where, it seems, I would squeeze some lube into? Any suggestions for what type of gear lube to buy?

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 11:30 am

Don't know if it is preferred or not, but I have used Hoppes #9 on all stove motors (fan and feed) since 1992 and have never had a motor fail. I know, I know... I just jinxed myself

HMkirk_2014 · Post by **HMkirk_2014** » Fri. Oct. 03, 2014 11:36 am

No way you just jinxed yourself after having done a tremendous "Good Deed" by helping me!

Are you saying you use Hoppe's 9 gun grease?

Harmon ST8-VF8 Coal Stove Manual and Replacement Motor

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