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Ezdan · 10-14-2021, 02:17 PM

Hi there, I have a 2000 Fleetwood Discovery 34Q with an Atwood 8520-IV-DCLP that was working fine last spring. I tried to turn on yesterday and blower came on and I could hear the burner come on, after a few seconds it shut off. It cycled like that a couple times and I could hear that it quit cycling but the blower stayed on. This last summer I noticed that the screen that keeps the bugs out had fallen off and that there were wasps coming and going. I took the cover off and shined a light down the exhaust and could see that the wasps had apparently built a mud nest in there.
I have three questions,
First, Could this be the cause of my problems?
Second, How can I clean that out without removing the Furness?
And Third, if I have to remove the furness how difficult is it?
Thank you for any info you could pass on.

Old-Biscuit · 10-14-2021, 02:43 PM

First, Could this be the cause of my problems?
YES.....

Second, How can I clean that out without removing the Furness?
Long stick to stir/loosen and then suck out with vacuum cleaner

And Third, if I have to remove the furness how difficult is it?
Remove exterior access panel. That gives you full access to motro, burner assembly etc

Ezdan · 10-14-2021, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

First, Could this be the cause of my problems?
YES.....

Second, How can I clean that out without removing the Furness?
Long stick to stir/loosen and then suck out with vacuum cleaner

And Third, if I have to remove the furness how difficult is it?
Remove exterior access panel. That gives you full access to motro, burner assembly etc

Thanks for your reply.
Is it possible to remove the exhaust pipe? It is held on with a wingnut but when I took off the nut and tried to remove it it's very tight. I didn't want to screw up anything so I didn't force it. The nest is barely visible deep inside, I could never get a vacuum in there without removing.

Old-Biscuit · 10-14-2021, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezdan

Thanks for your reply.
Is it possible to remove the exhaust pipe? It is held on with a wingnut but when I took off the nut and tried to remove it it's very tight. I didn't want to screw up anything so I didn't force it. The nest is barely visible deep inside, I could never get a vacuum in there without removing.

Press fit.....heat/contraction and a bit of corrosion make them hard to remove

Ezdan · 10-15-2021, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Press fit.....heat/contraction and a bit of corrosion make them hard to remove

Thanks for your help Old Biscuit.

I put a little more effort on the pipe and it came off.
Sharpened the end of a long dowel pin and got all I could. Put it back together and fired it up No dice. Took back apart Taped a dental mirror on the dowel and had a look. Massive mud dauber nest. I took the wire bale from a 5 Gal paint bucket and straightened up a little, bent a hook on it, curved it a bit, and taped the end of a cutoff garden hose to the shop vac. Moved that wire around and could hear the nest get sucked up. Put back together and it worked perfectly.

I hope this info will help anyone else in the same predicament. I will always make sure the anti bug screen is covering the exhaust