"Yes, that is what i was doing when the trouble started. Inspection using the Mk.I eyeball method, nothing appeared to be amiss, the noise seems to be coming from the motor area."
That's EXACTLY how mine went. Worked fine out of the box, it wasn't until about two hours into operation that things went sour. Terrible grinding noises coming from somewhere and losing power while running slower and slower until it just stopped for good--she ran out of coal I guess--LOL! Seriously though, I completely share your frustration. Certainly for this kind of money, they should behave better than this...
That's EXACTLY how mine went. Worked fine out of the box, it wasn't until about two hours into operation that things went sour. Terrible grinding noises coming from somewhere and losing power while running slower and slower until it just stopped for good--she ran out of coal I guess--LOL! Seriously though, I completely share your frustration. Certainly for this kind of money, they should behave better than this...