Harman Magnun keeps going out...

My Harman Magnum keeps burning itself out. It burns all the way to the hopper. I have it set according to the posts here, plus experimenting. The coal IS dry. I bought it in July and it's out of the weather. Here's what happens. At 1:30 this morning, it was burning perfectly. At 5 AM the fire was down to about an inch long and flames an inch high, all the way to the rear. The feeder is going and it's calling for heat, but no coal is pushing. When I empty the hopper, it's very damp, wet at the bottom, and I smell sulpher. This happened the same way about 5 times in 2 days. I push fresh coal through the feed area and it starts going perfectly again, then the same thing happens. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Check to make sure you don't have a blockage. Fines can build up under the pusher block and stop it. Grab the threaded rod from the back and give it a tug/ push, there should be movement. Check out: Had to shut mag down http://nepacrossroads.com/viewtopic.php?t=1155&start=0
I had a piece of coal 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 inch that jambed the pusher block. Make sure you have a Carbon Monoxide Detector. I had 50 ppm in the house "NOT GOOD"
Stay warm, Jimmy

The pusher keeps moving when I empty the hopper. that's when you can see the moisture and smell the sulper. Yes, we have Carbon Monoxide detectors. When the moisture appears, the coal stops moving, but the block keeps moving, almost like into a hollow area.

how many dots r u pushing?

This is an older magnum with no dots. But the feed is about 3/8 ths of an inch. When you look down into the hopper, does the block push all the way to the stove, or is there a gap?

Don't remember. I'm sure someone here will come along and answer that. Happy Thanksgiving
Stay warm, Jimmy

Thanks Jimmy, I am going to try to clean it better around the pusher next week when it warms up, Happy Thanksgiving...

Hey all,

I am experimenting with adding 20% unscented cat littler to my coal mix to see about absorbing the moisure from the damp\wet coal.

Anyone every try this or similar?

LPD- I'd try turning the feed rate up a couple turns atleast. Just make sure you don't have glowing coal falling off the ramp. Then maybe try turning your "ON" time up a few minutes and "Off" time down a couple. I had similar problems with my Magnum when I got some junky coal.. I don't know what the problem was but this stuff was very very dull in color and almost stuck to itself. The normal coal I burn is glossier and seems to flow much easier..You could also make sure your stove pipe is free of any obstructions.

I actually shut mine down thanksgiving morning due to highs being in the 60's and it was ready for a good cleaning. Probably start it up thursday.

The stovepipe and chimney are all new, with good draft. I tried the feed and the timers. It seems just when it gets perfect, a couple of hours later, no feed. Then I turn it up and a while later, it;s coming over the grate into the pan burning. The coal seems to be getting dampness somehow, somewhere. The feed rod never stops, but it seems the coal gets damp and doesn't drop into the slot to feed.

I'm also going to try buckwheat coal next week. Anyone else try this? I have 2 friends that say it work great.

I've burned buckwheat sized coal. Worked good. I just felt that I had a little waste.. Probably just due to the size of the coal and time (or lack of time) spent on the grates..

You might be getting the moisture from heat trying to escape the firebox (into the hopper) and not the exhast pipe. Try closing down the plate that's mounted on the combustion fan. How's it set now?

This is an older magnum, there is no plate, no dots, etc. It's basically the same stove minus these things. It seems like I get a hollow area where the coal drops in when it gets damp, and the block has nothing to push. Hopefully, the buckwheat coal is bigger and wont stick together as easily. Guess what, it's been working perfectly for 2 days. I was hoping it would go out so I can take the hopper off and clean the inside area of the feed motor. I'm open for more suggestions.

One of the byproducts of combustion is water vapor. Like BinghamtonNY said, sounds like some of the vapors is escaping thru the hopper. Is your draft ok?, should be checked with a draft meter. If the draft is not sufficient vapors could escape from the hopper. You would think that the more you open the restrictor plate on the combustion fan the more draft you would have, it is just the opposite, the more you close it the higher the draft. See if you can borrow a meter and set the draft.
Stay warm, Jimmy

Good explanation Wenchris. Do some experimenting. Like you said the combustion fan has no plate. If you can come across a draft meter you could use a simple piece of sheetmetal or even a piece of cardboard to see what changes happen to the draft with less or more air. My plate is simply attached with a small sheet metal screw. You could easily drill a small hole of the fan housing and use that to adjust and set the plate where you need it too be.