Cleaning the 110 Exhaust Manifold

The area behind the tubes goes back about 4"

- Be sure to get all the way to the rear.

To effectively clean the Bixby 110 MaxFire to allow maximum burn efficiency, the
exhaust manifold BEHIND the lower portion of the convection tubes must be kept clean and
open. If the exhaust manifold becomes clogged, the stove will not perform properly or even
may not start at all.
To clean this area, cut a 12-14 inch long piece of a heavy coat hanger. On one end
bend a handle. About ½ to ¾ inch from the other end, bend a 90º hook. This hook can than
be used to get BEHIND the convection tubes to scrape and to loosen any buildup in the
exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold runs the total length right to left. On the right side
is where the exhaust enters the exhaust pipe and then into the exhaust fan cleanout box.
After scraping this area clean, it then can be blown clear using the exhaust clean
out. (Instructions are included if there is no cleanout plug installed.) After the cleaning is
completed, adjust the stove using the included trim pot knob adjustment sheet.
It is quite important to keep the exhaust manifold area clean as the performance of
the stove relies on the total area of the exhaust manifold for top performance.

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 Installing Exhaust Clean Out

This procedure should be done to all stoves anytime a service call is done to them.

Tools Needed:

1/8” – 27 NPT tap

21/64” drill bit
¼” wrench
¼” ratchet with 3/8” socket and 6” extension
Electric drill
1/8” – 27 brass pipe plug

Purpose:

The purpose of this procedure is to create a way to clean out the exhaust manifold.
This procedure should be done on all model 100 and 110 stoves that do not already have
a cleanout installed. The exhaust manifold should be cleaned out once a year minimum,
or as needed. Remove the convection plates from inside the stove, this allows the ash to
go into the firebox, and then close the door. Remove the pipe plug and use a blower
nozzle to blow compressed air (15 psi max.) into the exhaust manifold (an air tank will
work well). Be sure the door, exhaust venting, and exhaust fan cleanout are all secured!
Replace the plug and vacuum out the exhaust cleanout, venting (unless you have
horizontal venting) and firebox.

Procedure:

Drill a 21/64” hole near the center of the exhaust manifold end cap. You may
need to remove the convection fan blower hose on that side. Now use the ¼” ratchet,
with the tap in the end, to tap the hole you just drilled. A pipe tap has a taper to it, you
should run the tap in about ½ way. Now install the 1/8” pipe plug and tighten with the
¼” wrench.

Tools Needed Untouched exhaust manifold

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 Drill 21/64” hole in exhaust manifold Tap hole in exhaust manifold

Install 1/8” – 27 NPT brass plug

If you have any problems contact:

Justin Thompson
Technical Support Manager
877-500-2800 x1046
justint@bixbyenergy.com

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 PREPARING THE BIXBY 110 MAXFIRE STOVE FOR BURNING

If this stove is new to you, be aware that the Trim Pot Knobs come set from the factory set at
+/-0 and +/- 0 do to a test we perform.

First a few things about the stove: (As applied to burning corn and will be similar for wood pellets)

THIS IS NOT AN INDICATION OF A SETTING WHERE THE STOVE WILL PERFORM WELL.

1) The stove does not react quickly to any changes made to it.

2) When making any adjustments to the Trim Pot Knobs, only turn them 1 line or number at a time.
Each line / number is a 6% increase or decrease.

3) After making any adjustments….DO NOT MAKE ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FOR AT LEAST
30 MINUTES!

4) When first setting up a MaxFire for a proper burn, start out with the Trim Pot Knobs set at:
Exhaust Fan: +/-0
Feed Rate: +/-0
This is a good starting point to start the stove at and not necessarily when the stove will perform
well. (Very rarely do we set the Exhaust Fan to other than the +/-0 or +1)

5) The stove has a 20 minute startup period in which it ramps up to Heat Level 4. Set the heat level
on the stove to Heat Level 4 during the adjustment period. After you have the stove adjusted, set
the Heat Level where you want it to run.

6) If you are making adjustments after the stove has been running a while – make them at the Heat
Level you are running at the time.

7) After about 10-15 minutes into the startup of the stove, you may start to watch the flame for
characteristics of the burn.

8) Watch the flame for 10 minute periods. During this time look for the burn characteristics as
explained in the “Trim Pot Adjustment.”

9) Indications of a Lean Burn are:

a) Hard Clinkers (cookie, hockey puck, hamburger, biscuit, wafer or any other name you
wish to use)
b) An oscillating flame – slowly graduating from a high to a low to a high to a low flame
over a period of 3 to 8 minutes. (High flame decreasing to a low flame (5 min.) going to a
high flame (5 min.) etc.
c) A build up in only one side of the Burn Pot
d) The flame seeming to come out of only one side of the Burn Pot only.

NOTE: Colder air contains more oxygen per cubic foot of air than warmer air. A cold snap
(weather) can cause the stove to run Lean and you may have to increase the Feed Rate
for a while.

NOTE: The outside air temperature, the corn moisture content, the corn type and the conditions
in which it was grown in will all be factors in how the stove will burn.

10) Indications of a Rich Burn are:

a) An even build up in the Burn Pot sure as water fills a glass of water.
b) A darker, lazier flame.

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 How to adjust the Trim Pot Knobs

It is best to work only with the Feed Rate Trim Pot knob. Both the Exhaust Fan
Trim Pot knob and the Feed Rate Trim Pot knob accomplish the same thing. BUT
they work inverse to each other in the way they work. Thus, if both trim pot knobs
are turned in the same direction, they cancel each other's effect on the flame.

It would be best to write down the changes you make. This will remind you of what you
have done last and its' effect on the flame.

A good burning flame will be yellowish in color and very lively.

Rich Burning Flame:

• If the flame is consistent and the ash is slowly building up evenly in the bottom of
the fire pot, turn the feed rate knob down.
• The flame will be orange in color - the darker the orange, the richer the flame.
• It is best to adjust feed rate, one notch (6%) down at a time, to maintain flame
control. This adds fuel less often thus "leaning" the flame out.
• Moving the exhaust fan knob in the positive direction (adding more air) will have
a similar effect.
• If this is the case, the ash may be more of a black color instead of grey.

Lean Burning Flame:

• If the flame varies from a very small flame to a larger than normal flame, then the
feed rate is too low or lean.
• There may also be an ash buildup on ONE side of the burn pot.
• The stove may go out at times when this happens and may also give a #2 or #2
& #3 error indication.
• The problem is that the stove is burning the available fuel at a rate faster than it
is being delivered, burning down to a small flame and then as more fuel is
delivered, the fire becomes larger than normal. To fix this, turn the feed rate trim
pot knob up one notch (6%) positive at a time until the stove becomes consistent
or move the exhaust fan knob in a negative direction one notch (6%) at a time
(less air).

It is most important to wait 30 minutes between adjustments to

allow the stove to stabilize at the new setting.

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