Chappee stove, hard to keep going

For the last five years or so I was using an old Petit Godin, and it was great. But, the fire brick got too messed up and we were having a hard time shaking the coal down. I realize this was probably due to overfiring. That little baby had a hard time keeping up with the cold here in Maine. Anyway, I picked up a nice Chappee last year and finally gave it a try this winter. It would run great for about a day and a half then would just choke up and die out. Am I not shaking it enough?. Initially it would take off and be going so well I didn't want to shake it too much and mess it up. It seemed like it would be going so good, then AAGHH!. Anyone have any experience with these. Thanks, Wayne

Not familiar w/ the chappee--BUT--most hand fired go with a shake down (5 or 6 quick jerky shakes till you're showin embers in the ash pan) & then top off--- EVERY 12 hrs---worth a try--post a pix of the stove if you would

You are not clearing the ash enough. You will have to use a flat poker to slide under the front grate to break up the ash. The original system probably worked OK with the coal briquets they use in Europe but not American hard coal.

Put Chappee in the search box and you will read about others experience.