Power Vent and Fly Ash build up

I have a SWG power vent that I use w/ a Hyfire II. I've found that I get what I consider a lot of fly ash build up. I have to shut it down and clean the fly ash out of the pipes and power vent about every ton of coal burned. I use rice coal and have the power vent and baro set according to the directions Jerry at LL provided. Most of the winter I've got both burners running. My friends who heat w/ coal all have chimneys so they aren't able to give me any input. This is only my 2nd season burning coal so I'm still a rookie. Does this seem like excessive fly ash build up to any of you?

I get quite a bit of fly ash in my Keystoker direct vent, especially considering I've only burned about 500# so far. I believe it's the rice coal size that causes the fly ash, along with the forced draft of a stoker stove. I think the "manly-men" hand fed stoves that burn pea or nut don't create near the fly ash.

maybe i should check mine

The coal being burned can be one of the biggest variables in the amount of fly ash. The deep mined coal I purchased this year allows me to empty the ash pan only every 2.5 days instead of every day , however I have noticed that I am cleaning up fly ash on a more regualr basis.

Besides vacuuming the stove every week I have been running the SWG at full speed and holding the baro shut while tapping on the flue to loosen up the ash. Much of it flies right out the vent (both my stoves use a SWG power vent). You need to lubricate the motor with the SWG super lube every 3 months as well as blow out the ash from around the cooling fan on the motor. After that a quick shot of WD 40 or similar on the cooling fan keeps it from getting corroded. I know of folks who have had to replace the motor assembly in less than 2 years on a SWG just from corrosion caused by the fly ash in the little aluminum cooling fan on the motor assembly.

Turning it on high once a week is what I do. I oil with 3 in 1 once a year. Going on fourth season with the SWG in stainless. The regular didn't last only about three years or 10 to 12 tons of use. I also blow the outside fan with my vac/blower once in a while.