Burning Soft Coal in a Clayton 1600M

Hi I have a Clayton 1600M furnace and are trying to burn soft coal. I just got the Forced air draft system for it and am not sure how to use it. Does anyone have this setup? and if so I have a few questions what is the plate for on the side of the draft motor and should it be open or closed? When I use the forced air draft should I open or close the spin draft on the ash door. Last question is it more efficient to burn hard coal(does it make a lot more heat) My soft coal doesn't always burn completely up thanks for any help you guys can give me.
Dave

DO a search (TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER) on here for CLAYTON 1600, there are some guys using this stove. Not sure about they burning BIT coal, but using hard coal successfully.

CLAYTON 1600M STOVE

clayton 1600 - new to coal

Thanks for the reply I have searched and can't find any info on the fad plate or how to use it. I also cannot find if you shut the spin draft when you use the fad.

Im guessing you would want it closed, bituminus has more heat in it. Play with it and figure out what works best no two setups are alike.

I have burned both bituminous and anthracite coal in my boiler and have found

that the bituminous coal has about 20% more heat in each pound. To get this heat

you have to be able to burn up the all the volatile compounds in the coal. You should

have no or very little smoke from your chimney, by using secondary air to get complete

combustion.The primary air can be set low and the extra air comes above the fire to

burn all of the volatile hydrocarbons that are driven off the coal. You should bank the

coal and only expose a small amount to the hot fire so the volatiles are not driven off

faster than they can be burned, or a lot of the valuable heating gases will go up the

chimney unburned.


BigBarney

Thanks for the reply I actually called US Stove and they told me to open the plate on the force draft motor and said I could open the spin draft on the ash door about 1/8 of a turn. When I opened the plate on the forced draft alot more air was blowing. So far seems to be working better now still have some coal thats not all burning up I have not banked it though. When you say to bank it do you mean to the front to the rear or to the side.