1990s hand fired wont get to temp!! help

OK, That sounds good. How do you like your 50-93? What is a descent burn time without tending and still maintaning good heat?

Wouldn't trade it for the world. Shake & top off every 12 hrs consistently. That's pretty much the norm for this style stove.

Getting back to being upset. I have now just finished burning 3 days in a row. I have come home over the past 2 days with decent heat and long durn times (10-12hrs). But I noticed this morning when I shook down that there seemed to be excesive ash and unburnt coal. It was still burning ok so I topped it off good/after shaking and made sure it was going good before leaving. Come home 11hrs later and there is hardly any red coals and alot of partialy burnt gray/redish coals left and alot of ash as well. Tried to open intake and get it fired up while putting a small amount of fresh coals on top. It just idled there for an hour and could not get it going, then just died. I shoveled out alot of unburnt large coals to empty.
I did notice as well that when i have been shaking down every 12hrs that I must poke from bottom especially around circumfrence of stove to get ash to fall,alot. I dont minde this to bad, but it is a little much to have my wife and son do while I am away every morning and night over several days.

Sounds like all the coal is burning up. Any idea how hot you are running the stove?

Just seems like alot of unburnt coals left on top. But maybe I am burning it to hot and ash is clogging grate and putting out remaining coals? I did open intake 2 turns more each day, trying to get more heat out, witch it did keep house at nice temp. Would that happen if I try to burn it hot over a 12hr period?

Yes. If you run the stove real hard it might need tending every 6-8 hrs. I would adjust the stove to get a good 12 hr burn.

Hey Ridge, welcome to the world of handfired coal stoves. Classic problem. I have a Harman considered by some to be one of the best and this happens to my unit too. The older your coal fire becomes in regards to days, the more ash & clinker build up occurs. You will need to build up the fire very hot and once there, aggressively shake and or poke to remove excessive ash OR ( don't beat me ) allow the fire to burn out. Clean out & relight. Or live with reduced heating capacity. Did you notice how nice & hot your fresh coal fire was a few days ago?

OK, just reread your problem. Sounds like it is being starved of air but my note above still occurs to stoves of our types.

Thanks- I think I new that was my problem but didnt want to no. LOL
I believe I burnt it hot and choked off coal 8 hours or so into it, my guess. Trying to figure out settings to get heat threw house, now without clogging grates!

Rob is correct that if you are burning the stove hot and need to for that amount of heat, you may have to tend it sooner than 12 hours. Nothing is a hard and fast rule but most have a 12/12 routine because it's convenient and possible when the stove is cruising at 350 or so. Like any other solid fuel stove, if you run it harder, then you may need to tend it accordingly be that 8 hr's or 10hr's or whatever it calls for to not have a situation where you nearly lose the fire or have long recovery times. The same is true in spring and fall where you might get 24hr at 200 degrees.

ridgeracing wrote:Thanks- I think I new that was my problem but didnt want to no. LOL
I believe I burnt it hot and choked off coal 8 hours or so into it, my guess. Trying to figure out settings to get heat threw house, now without clogging grates!

A few thoughts:
1. That stove might not be able to heat your entire house, but it will do a fine job of keeping the basement warm and helping to heat the upstairs.
2. Some cold air returns at the opposite end of the house might help move the heat around.
3. Your coal bed looks pretty shallow in the front of the firebox.

Try piling the coal deeper in the front of the stove. You really need to get every piece in there that you can if you are going to run it hard. Reduce the air until you need the burn times you require.

OK, you kinda didn't want to hear those last posts, so I know you won't want to hear this. I feel you have been doing everything you can to get what you're looking for with that stove & it's not working The reality is that particular stoves are made to perform in particular ways---unfortunately, me thinks you are asking the undoable from whatever stove it is you have there. If you are serious in having a stove meet your needs, you need the appropriate stove--I don't think the bastard one you got is it--get on CL or look in the for sale section here & find a hopper fed stove --ex.: the Hitzer 50-93 or a stove along those designs. I've seen them listed for approx. 6-800 $$$-- just an old farmers thoughts--you can't make an old broke down quarter horse into a thoroughbred. Yes, she'll probably work for keeping your downstairs warm with the 5 to 6 hr tending, but as far as upstairs??? I don't think so.

Do you feel a 50-93 or a DS1500/1600wh would heat my house without pushing it to the point of unburnt coals and clogging grate?

Yes, the models you mention are tried & true. I know it's an expendature, but it's a one time deal & would save you a lot of frustration which in my book, is priceless.

Getting a stove that can produce more heat is one thing, but you still need to move the heat throughout the house.

Me thinks it's not so much MORE--it's less tending & heating for a more timely period. In a ranch that size, a couple floor vents & if needed air return ( door to upstairs should cover that) would pretty much be ideal for what I believe you are looking for.