VA 600 WON'T STAY LIT

I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE IN THE SCRANTON AREA THAT KNOWS COAL STOKERS AND WILL HELP ME SOLVE THE PROBLEM WHY MY STOKER WILL NOT STAY LIT. I HAVE CLEANED THE CHIMNEY AND PIPES AND HAD THE RINGS IN THE POT REPLACED BY A FRIEND WHO KNOWS A LITTLE ABOUT STOKERS. THE FIRE ONLY BURNS IN ONE QUARTER OF THE POT AND THEN IT JUST BURNS ITSELF OUT. HE SAYS IT IS GETTING PLENTY OF AIR IN THE POT BUT WE CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING IT NOT TO STAY LIT. ANY SUGGESTIONS OR DO YOU ANYONE WHO CAN SERVICE IT? I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF A FURNACE. PLEASE HELP.

Call Arnie Huntley and ask if he is aware of any Van Wert Guru's in your area, his number number is 315-653-7883.

In the meantime... Did you start having problems with the fire going out before or after the pot was rebuilt? Do the rings appear to fit properly (no gaps), and are they clear of fines?

Are you sure the coal is feeding up the auger properly? If the coal continues to push up through the pot after the fire is out, it is probably feeding correctly. If everything appears fine with the stoker, I would check the timer to make sure it is working properly. It should run the stoker once or twice per hour to keep the fire burning.

THE FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE THE RINGS WERE CHANGED AND THEN AGAIN AFTER. THE SAME SCENARIO, IT WOULD ONLY BURN IN THE ONE QUARTER OF THE POT BUT WHEN IT DID IT HAD A GREAT FLAME GOING. THE AUGER IS FINE BECAUSE IT KEEPS FEEDING THE COAL EVEN THOUGH THE FIRE IS OUT. AS FOR THE TIMER, I AM NOT SURE THAT IS THE PROBLEM EITHER BECAUSE THE FIRE DOESN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO CYCLE AND COME UP TO TEMP BEFORE THE FIRE GOES OUT.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL TRY THE PHONE NUMBER YOU GAVE ME.
THANKS, AND ANY OTHER IDEAS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.