Yellow Flame

normpurc · Post by **normpurc** » Mon. Oct. 24, 2011 9:39 pm

I was just wondering if anyone here uses a Yellow Flame stoker.

I purchased a small apartment house back in 1983 and a Yellow Flame boiler was installed as the
single heat source for all 5 units.

But it was converted to fire with oil. I was working for the oil delivery company and found out that
they had converted it the year before and still had the stoker unit.

I purchased it and put in the back cellar and forgot about it until 4 years ago when the price of oil
was out of sight and climbing. I had a hopper fabricated and installed the original stoker unit. Put
coal in the hopper, lit the fire and it has been working great ever since.

I heat a 7000 square foot building with about 10 ton of rice coal at about $165 a ton instead of
1000+ gallons of oil at 3.40+ a gallon

I know its old but it sure is reliable. I don't think they make them anymore but I was told that
a Keystoker unit will work if I ever need to replace the stoker unit.

whistlenut · Post by **whistlenut** » Mon. Oct. 24, 2011 10:18 pm

Sweet stoker for sure. I use one, and it definitely has Keystoker written all over it. I think Keystoker was after Yellow Flame, but there sure were a lot of bright guys working out of the "Haven" back then. Their stoker is robust and operates slightly differently then Keystoker since the sides actually move, but the inclined grate and blower systems are very close to the same design. Bulletproof and Lifetime...........what a reputation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Tue. Oct. 25, 2011 4:16 am

I have a Yellow Flame hot water boiler that was in the house when I bought it 7 years ago. I was told it was over 35 years old then. The old gal is hard to kill.

It was in pretty bad shape as it had been neglected for a LONG time but it still churgged along. I rewired it, change the controls and timer, drive coupling and the gear box. Other than that I clean it three times a year, keep it oiled, and it burns all year round. It will do some serious long term heating. The boiler itself is sheet steel and can be welded should it spring a leak.

Marks Supply in Shenandoah Pa. bought up all the parts and the rights from Yellow Flame when they went out of business in I believe the 1980's. You can get grates, stoker motor/fan drive couplings and rebuilt gear boxes from Marks Supply. The drive motor is a standard oil burner motor. It's about as close to bullet proof as a stoker fed boiler can get.

And I already talked to Keystoker about in the future when Marks doesn't carry parts anymore. They said that you can buy a complete stoker unit from them and all you would need to do is make a mounting adapter plate for the Keystoker unit that will bolt up to the boiler.

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Tue. Oct. 25, 2011 5:41 am

Welcome! if you do a search on Yellow Flame, there are a few people that have them.

A few threads to get you started.

Just Fired up My Yellow Flame Stoker Warm Air Unit

Yellow Flame Boiler

normpurc · Post by **normpurc** » Tue. Oct. 25, 2011 10:28 pm

Thanks for the replys

Does anyone have the phone number and or the address of Marks supply

My grates are a little warped and I probably should replace them

Thanks, Norm

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Wed. Oct. 26, 2011 5:53 am

Here you go.... they say on their website that if they don't have it, they will get it or make it for you.

Mark's Supply Company

(570) 462-0748

230 S Main St

Shenandoah, PA 17976

normpurc · Post by **normpurc** » Fri. Nov. 04, 2011 10:17 pm

Thanks for the info on Mark's supply.
I'll be contacting them on Monday,
might even go visit as it's only about 40 miles.
Norm

MATTHEW D. · Post by **MATTHEW D.** » Sat. Nov. 05, 2011 7:03 am

The nice thing with a Yellow Flame is that you can burn Barley, Rice, or Buckwheat. I like the fact that the entire grate moves. That helps if you want to burn Barley. Joe at Mark"s Supply will hook you up with parts. I call him The Coal Stoker Guru.

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Sat. Nov. 05, 2011 7:14 am

I have never burned barley before. What is the advantage over rice or buckwheat?

gaw · Post by **gaw** » Sat. Nov. 05, 2011 7:24 am

blrman07 wrote:I have never burned barley before. What is the advantage over rice or buckwheat?

cost

MATTHEW D. · Post by **MATTHEW D.** » Sat. Nov. 05, 2011 7:30 am

Depending on where you get your coal it is cheaper and not so much in demand. Something to keep in mind. If Obama gets his way suppyl will decrease!