Keystone KA-4 up and running

Thanks! Looks great! Congrats on the buck, too!

I LOVE the hopper lid. I don't think the boilers even come with them from the factory - no real reason to have one. Just don't go throwing the dirty laundry in there, LOL!

Good luck with the unit and keep us posted on the coal burned, etc. and how that secondary blower works out on vs. off.

Flyer5 wrote:In the last 27 hrs I used about 70 lbs . It was 2 degrees this morning so I still think that is pretty good I want to let it go a few more days without the secondary combustion blower . Then I will try it when it is hooked back up and see if it uses less coal . Dave

I am using a KA-6 to heat about 1200 square feet of drafty old uninsulated farm house with old windows and the boiler sits in the basement and helps to heat that space. The past couple of days with the wind and cold she burned about 80 lbs a day. I think your 70 lbs is pretty good.
I added the second fan also. This is a must for summer operation but I see only minimal difference for winter use. I do leave it run all the time. Keystoker believes it helps bring the fire up a bit faster during a call for heat.

You mention overshooting the high limit. I wander if this is why they quit making the KA-4. It seems to be the same stoker as used by the KA-6 in a smaller boiler. The larger volume of the KA-6 would not overheat as quick would be my guess.

Looks good.

Nice setup, that lid is too cool!

Sounds like you have it set up right, using only 70#, probably won't see any less coal use with the other fan running. Is that set up heating your domestic HW as well? If not sounds like you have another little project coming up.

europachris wrote:Thanks! Looks great! Congrats on the buck, too!

I LOVE the hopper lid. I don't think the boilers even come with them from the factory - no real reason to have one. Just don't go throwing the dirty laundry in there, LOL!

Good luck with the unit and keep us posted on the coal burned, etc. and how that secondary blower works out on vs. off.

What works great about the lid is it is a hole that the sides of the hopper are still under something so when you pour the coal in the dust dosen't come up the sides and out in the air . Works better than I thought . Dave

Matthaus wrote:Nice setup, that lid is too cool!

Sounds like you have it set up right, using only 70#, probably won't see any less coal use with the other fan running. Is that set up heating your domestic HW as well? If not sounds like you have another little project coming up.

It is sort of setup to heat the hot water because my oil boiler has a coil in it and am hooked up to it . But the oil boiler only gets to 140 degrees because I am piped in parallel with it so I wont get much If I use it . I have to switch the pipes to the coal stoker its just deer season got in the way . Thanks for the comments on the lid . I will clean the lid up and paint it to match eventually .Maybe before you get here . Dave

Heres some pics of one of my coal bins . Dave

I have a K6 and am burning rice coal . i seem to be getting , what i feel is to much unburned coal . I set the boiler to specs , today i moved the air door on the main blower to wide open , seems to a little better but i think there is rome for improvement . Should i be burning buckwheat instead ?

Flyer5 wrote:Heres some pics of one of my coal bins . Dave

Hi Dave where did you end up getting the coal from

coal berner wrote:

Flyer5 wrote:Heres some pics of one of my coal bins . Dave

Hi Dave where did you end up getting the coal from

There is a Blaschak dealer just 5 miles up the road from me . $ 193/ton ouch .But easier than running allover for it . I still want to take a ride down your way and try some deep coal . Soon I hope .Dave

Ok Dave Just let me know when I got a few next week coming in let me know see ya how's those bags working