Skutt KilnMaster Kilns Manufactured after March 1 2006 - Manual (Page 38)

38
P
Reventative
m
aintenanCe
p
reventive
M
aintenanCe
a
ll
k
ilns
Vacuum floor and element grooves regularly. Carefully vacuum around thermocouple and elements. Leave KM kilns
plugged in when you are vacuuming to ground any static charges that may occur at the nozzle tip of the vacuum.
Try to keep the vacuum away from the touch pad area.
Inspect Plug and Wall receptacle for any indication of excessive heat. Replace both plug and receptacle if ●
necessary.
kM k
ilns
Inspect the thermocouple for cracks or bends which could cause failure. Check and tighten thermocouple ●
screw connections at the porcelain block. The thermocouple electronic circuitry may drift out of calibration.
You can monitor the performance of your kiln with witness cone placed in the kiln. If the controller needs
adjustment to fire hotter or cooler you can program a cone fire offset adjustment on the controller.
Inspect connections at the terminal strip. If any feeder wire or thermocouple connections are loose you
●
can tighten the screws that hold the tabs with the tabs in the most counter-clockwise position possible. If
the connectors are loose do not pinch the female connectors with pliers. Replace them. Pinching can distort
and minimize the electrical contact area in the connector.
KM1231-3PK and KM1227-3PK have screw type element connectors at the element ends that may need
●
tightening periodically.
k
iln
s
itter
(ks)
kilns
The tube assembly should be inspected and cleaned of any debris in the tube. The sensing rod should ●
move freely in the tube.
The sensing rod should be replaced if the tip is worn too thin or otherwise damaged.
●
The falling weight and claw adjustments should be checked with the gauge washer periodically. ●
t
ightening stainless steel BanDs
This operation is done while the kiln is cool and at room temperature.
s
tep
1
Grasp adjusting screws in one hand with channel locks or a pair of vise grips. ●
s
tep
2
With other hand, Use a large flat screwdriver to tighten adjusting screws. ●
To make bands extra tight, heat metal bands with a propane torch. Be sure to only heat the metal ●
bands, and not the firebrick. Once the band is heated
retighten screws.