New Hitzer 82UL

I started a new thread because my last one referencing my new Hitzer was to give information about my old Warm Morning Stove that is now "retired."

Thank you "Rob R." for your response in reference to starting the Hitzer. I just used the method I used for so many years on the Warm Morning and I had to make some changes. Yes, the grate area is so much larger and that was my problem. I just added some additional wood and slowly added the coal and it is perfect. It's 37 degrees in Delhi, NY right now and my cellar is 70.......perfect!

I have such a large chimney (4 stories) that goes up the center of the house that I reduced the stove pipe to 6" and that's what I've used for years on the WM. The baro works fine, the draft seems to be perfect and all seems to be working fine.

A couple of simple questions.......The spin dial on the feed door........Any suggestions on how much to keep it open? I have it at one turn or less, The manual draft arm that covers the feed door. I now am keeping it closed....when would you keep it open?

The stove seems to be well-built and should last for some time. I hope it lasts as long as my WM did.....25 years.

So far.......so good!

Good to hear that you got the stove running well. The 6" pipe will probably work well for you, that is what I used on my 82 in my last house and it worked fine. The only difference I noticed by going to a 7" was less smoke spillage when I opened the door, and it wasn't sensitive to fly ash build-up inside the pipe.

I always left the spinner on the loading door about one turn open, that always worked well for me so I didn't experiment. The manual damper you are referring to is called the "direct damper," it is normally left in the down position unless you are loading the stove or you just loaded it and want to prevent coal gas from collecting inside the stove. These stoves can create some impressive "puff backs" if you don't follow the golden rule: Always leave some burning (glowing) coal exposed when you reload the stove, this will help burn the gasses off.

Delhi...small world, my grandmother lives in South Kortright.

-Robert

One turn is good. I've gone down to 1/2 but you have a tendency to get coal gas buildup and puffbacks. I've used 2 turn if I got the coal ripping just after loading, and it is drafting strong, and I don't want gas buildup and to tame the fire down, but not needed after it is settled and it can rob you of draft.

Well, I almost dumped the whole fire. I shook the grates last night and loaded the coal….all went well, although it can get pretty messy as there is no back on the ash pan. How do most people empty the ash pan without a back? I used to carry it outside and empty it into a garbage can…….can’t do this with an open backed ash pan!

Because it was warm today, I decided to wait until noon to shake the grates and I must have shaken them too much. I had trouble leveling the left grate and when I took out the ash pan, it was really full with quite a lot of burning pieces of coal. I got it all outside, managed to level the left grate and was able to load the box and keep the fire. In the past, with the Warm Morning stove, the only time I emptied the ash pan was at night. Either I was burning too hot, or I was too aggressive when I shook the grates. I don’t think I should have had to empty the pan twice in 12 hours.

I’m learning…….because it’s over 50 degrees outside and the cellar temperature is 68 degrees, I have the regulator almost closed (set at eight) and all seems ok. The direct draft damper is closed and the spinner draft is open three quarters of a turn.

Suggestions appreciated!

My 30-95 has the 3-sided pan as well and is no problem to carry out and dump. I have not had any incidents that would indicate that this design is faulty. In fact, I like it as it scoops up the overflow when I put it back in the stove and does not create blockages at the back so that you can't get the pan back in. Very nice design.

I run my stove body at 250 or so, and it is a once a day emptying. Start going 400-500 and it is twice a day. I think you may be shaking two much. I don't normally shake it till I see glow and stop. Only if I have alot of noticible dead spots do I start shaking more aggressively.

Santiago wrote: I decided to wait until noon to shake the grates and I must have shaken them too much. I had trouble leveling the left grate and when I took out the ash pan, it was really full with quite a lot of burning pieces of coal. I got it all outside, managed to level the left grate and was able to load the box and keep the fire. In the past, with the Warm Morning stove, the only time I emptied the ash pan was at night. Either I was burning too hot, or I was too aggressive when I shook the grates. I don’t think I should have had to empty the pan twice in 12 hours.

You moved the grate too far when shaking, that allowed the burning coal to drop through and jam the grate. You need to shake with short choppy strokes, just enough to shake the loose ash down. I would try shaking the stove down just once per day. Add coal as necessary to keep the firebox full, but only shake the grates when you notice the stove temperature dropping.

I didn't like the open back ash pan either when I first got my Hitzer. Now I love it. I empty the pan once per day. I cold weather it can be quite full. I tilt it up in the back while carrying it so no ash falls out. No probelms after two years of emptying. What I like so much about it is that I never have to get on my hands and knees, stand on my head an try to shovel the ash that missed the pan back into the pan. The pan just scoops up ash from the bottom of the ash box as I slide it back in.

This is something like getting used to burning coal after burning wood... it is different, BETTER

I don't know about the dial in the front; I had it mostly closed, and mostly opened, and either way don't seem to notice a difference. I guess it helps prevent puffbacks? Right now I have it near 1/2.

Does that affect how the coal burns or is it purely for the prevention of gases going *poof*?

bsilver wrote:I don't know about the dial in the front; I had it mostly closed, and mostly opened, and either way don't seem to notice a difference. I guess it helps prevent puffbacks? Right now I have it near 1/2.

Does that affect how the coal burns or is it purely for the prevention of gases going *poof*?

1/2 to 1 turn should be good, it is to help prevent puffbacks. It also helps when burning wood.