Keystoker Koker Vs Hitzer 710 Maintnance

 
samhill
Member
Posts: 12236
Joined: Thu. Mar. 13, 2008 10:29 am
Location: Linesville, Pa.
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: keystoker 160
Hand Fed Coal Stove: hitzer 75 in garage

Post by samhill » Fri. Feb. 22, 2013 10:04 am

I have a koker for five years now with no problems, as with anything there will be some maint. involved I looked at the new hitzer furnace when I last got coal & if anything it may be built a bit heavier duty than the koker but the wear items are going to be pretty much the same. I would go for the best price & feel of the dealer service & location, don't think you can go wrong with either.

 
cd79ny
New Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue. Feb. 19, 2013 9:04 am
Location: westerlo ny

Post by cd79ny » Fri. Feb. 22, 2013 9:21 pm

thanks again guys looks like the keystoker is availible again,going to look at it sat morning,is there anything I should look for?unit is 4 yrs old and iam told it is in perfect like new condition said he will take no less than 2000,does that seem like a good price?

 
WNYRob
Member
Posts: 264
Joined: Thu. Apr. 14, 2011 12:13 pm
Location: Springville, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker Koker controlled with CoalTrol

Post by WNYRob » Sat. Feb. 23, 2013 8:34 am

That price seems reasonable. I bought mine for $3,425 two years ago. With their known long life (as long as they are maintained) a 4 yr old stove is barely broken in.

I am no expert but I would check the following:

1) condition of the interior, especially excessive corrosion. If you see any fly ash laying around (I am assuming it is currently being stored and not used) than its maintenance may come into question. These stoves need to be wiped totally clean at the end of the season.

2) look down the exhaust tubes (through the 6" nipple you attach the stove pipe to) with flashlight, again checking for corrosion. These should also be brushed as clean as possible after each season.

3) check to make sure the burn plates aren't warped

4) check the stoker hardware. You may be able to get pictures off these forums showing you what they should look like.

5) check the coal bin for corrosion. This sometimes is a problem area, again due to poor maintenance. Coal can't be left in them all summer long, they need to be cleaned up just like the stove.

6) You could try out the motors (fans), but being only 4 yrs old, they should be ok and should give you a number of more years of service.

Stay tuned, others with more years of knowledge will probably be able to add to this.


 
cd79ny
New Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue. Feb. 19, 2013 9:04 am
Location: westerlo ny

Post by cd79ny » Sat. Feb. 23, 2013 6:50 pm

thanks for the info,i picked up the keystoker,i didnt have time to really look into what everthing should look like before I left and didnt really know what I was looking at,diff set up than my alaska,hopeing everything is good w it,was in a rush to get back home as I was informed of a death in the fam 3/4 of the way down to look at it and just wanted to get home.can anyone recomend a good keystoker service guy to ck it out and make sure I set it up correctly,iam near albany ny.

 
Former WoodHog
New Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed. Oct. 09, 2013 8:15 pm
Location: Harford County, MD
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Koker Lite
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Vermont Castings Vigilant- Wood

Post by Former WoodHog » Sun. Nov. 03, 2013 8:19 pm

good info all, I'm taking this all in as I visited the dealer yesterday and am seriously considering a Koker.

I noticed the Koker in the showroom had no flange on top for ducting. :? One question I failed to ask: How do you securely duct into your system? I would have figured there would be a 1" or so flange to screw into???

BTW, jrw thanks for the cleaning info, I had not considered exactly how to handle that job....

 
WNYRob
Member
Posts: 264
Joined: Thu. Apr. 14, 2011 12:13 pm
Location: Springville, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker Koker controlled with CoalTrol

Post by WNYRob » Sun. Nov. 03, 2013 11:26 pm

I originally ordered my koker with three holes cut into the top to accommodate round ducts. I ran like that my first year and then decided to put a plenum in place for the second year. I ordered the plenum (two piece, snap together) on line (Audubon Supply) and attached aluminum 90 degree "angle iron" to the bottom end of the plenum to serve as a makeshift flange. Then I used exterior mounting tape (to help seal the angle iron flange against the top of the koker) and self drilling screws to attach the angle iron to the koker.

It seems like I am getting a little better air flow with the plenum, as there is less resistance to flow now directly off the stove top.
Hope this helps.


 
Former WoodHog
New Member
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed. Oct. 09, 2013 8:15 pm
Location: Harford County, MD
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Koker Lite
Coal Size/Type: Rice
Other Heating: Vermont Castings Vigilant- Wood

Post by Former WoodHog » Mon. Nov. 04, 2013 4:09 am

WNY,
Yep, helpful. I didn't know you could choose variations in cut outs on order. I realized I could drill and tap the top of the unit,but would prefer they did it.
I'll add that to my options list.
Thanks!

 
oilman
Member
Posts: 214
Joined: Sat. Feb. 04, 2006 6:19 pm
Location: Central New York

Post by oilman » Tue. Nov. 05, 2013 9:30 pm

jrn8265 wrote:I believe Reading is now using China in some of their metal frame work. Keystoker 100% American.
Actually, they stopped doing that. They hooked up with a stove company out West to improve the unit. The chinese doors were cracking.

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