Franco Belge: coal does not seem to drop

Does anyone have any "tips" on getting the hopper to drop the coal on an old Franco Belge. We have not had trouble starting the stove but the coal does not seem to drop. We have tried all sizes. Also, does anyone know where I might look for the model number?

Hi Coaled:
Check your PM regarding the manual.

ON my stove, there are three height settings for the hopper plate. Years ago a dealer advised me to always set it on the highest setting. That certainly would provide the largest space for allowing the coal to feed down. Pea size coal is what is required for proper coal flow and a long, slow burn. Where is your hopper plate set? Are you burning pea coal ?

John C.

Our Franco was retired at the end of last heating season due to many cracks through the body it seems the french cast iron isn't as durable as American, my American version of the Franco The Victory 700 is still going strong. The Victory plate is not adjustable and I never paid any attention to the Francos adjustability so I will assume Maximum, always burned Pea and it dont drop till ya shake it . Thats how it works . Keep the flue manifold clean is the most important tip with these the rest couldn't get any simpler.

The F-B stove has a self-feeding hopper BUT, it is not self-shaking. After an 8-12 hour burn, when you shake the rotating grates, the ashes drop out into the ash bin and as the bed of burning coals drops down to the grates, THEN the fresh coal in the hopper drops down into the firebasket. If you were expecting the coal in the hopper to feed down continuously, your expectations will not be met. Only when you shake out the ash will there be room for the new coal to feed.

On the very back of the stove, not on the cast iron but on the sheet metal jacket, there is usually a metel plate which bears the model number of the stove.

Hey CoalinPa, you also have to slice the coal bed before shaking. There are 3 holes that open up when you push the shaker handler to the left. You need the long thin curved tool to do this, also! Two at the handles and one hidden in the center under the magnet! I find if you cut it first, then shake it down right after. I also leave those holes open for extra air after closing the ash pan door. Maybe Jersey can add his 2 cents here! He's the pro!

Jim:
You are absolutely correct. There is nothing more I can add.
John C.

I am having the same problem with my Surdiac model#713 . I have used this stove for almost 20 years but the last couple I have not been happy. Instead of the coal burning and being replaced with fresh coal from the gravity fed hopper. The hot coals migrate up the hopper leaving a bed of ash and clinkers. I have tried everything but I have come to the conclusion that it must be lower quality coal. I burn pea coal. I am curious if others are having the same problem.

coalstoves wrote:always burned Pea and it dont drop till ya shake it . Thats how it works . Keep the flue manifold clean is the most important tip with these the rest couldn't get any simpler.

Sounds like it's time for new gaskets all around

The manifold is clean and I changed all the gaskets and the chimney has been cleaned. I understand how the stove works as I have used it successfully for 20 years. The only thing I failed to mention is I used to be able to turn the stove down when the weather was more temperate now it tends to want to go out in warmer weather and it requires a lot more attention in cold weather without producing as much heat as it used to. I just hoped someone here had some similar experience and how they solved the problem . Thanks

If you've been running the same stove for 20 years and it is properly maintained, then I would look at the coal you are burning. Even if you get coal from the same dealer, you don't know if the dealer is getting it from the same source/mine. Furthermore, as our Leader has stated several times, there can be significant variation in coal from the same mine.

See if you can pick up a few bags of coal of known, predictable quality and give it a try. It could be that this year's batch of coal is simply not as good as the coal in prior years.

If the gaskets are good then you need to check it over top to bottom for a crack in the body sounds like why we had to retire the Franco B. if all is good Blame the Coal

I had the same problem, and the bottom of the hopper casting was bowed out toward the glass door. It resulted in the ends being bowed in, and the coal didn't drop right. I replaced the bottom piece, and it works fine now. The cast iron piece should be straight, not curved. If you need to order one, I'll look for where I bought it from. It was in PA somewhere.

I have the same problem re: coal not dropping in my F-B.

I found two plates in the F-B. One is visible from the from -- it has three settings. Mine is on the lowest. BUT - there is another plate in the back. This has warped from the heat and isn't letting the coal drop properly on the left side. I found this forum whilst trying to find a place to order the part. If anyone has a source for parts, I'd appreciate it. I **think** my model is a 13.190.

I found the name and address where I got my lower hopper for my Franco Belge. They were great about ordering and shipping it.

It is:

Coal Heat Inc
120 North Main St
Alburtis, PA
18011

Tel # 610-966-3556