Wet Coal

anyone ever have problem with burning wet coal I have a Harman magnum would not push up the wet coal fire went out

As far as burning it that should not be problem at all, but by your description it sounds as if it's clogging it up?

Welcome to the Forum Mugsey,

The Harman manual has a few choice words about burning wet coal. Among them "We do not recommend burning wet coal" and "This will cause rust and corrosion and it's totally the operator"s fault". The manual states that wet coal will not push as easily and requires higher feed rates to keep the fire going.

I would guess that in this warm weather and and lower corresponding feed rates, that your stove is going out because the feed rate is too low for wet coal. IMO it would be better to find a way to dry the coal before using it.

would not push up the wet coal fire went out

Hi there Mugsey,

do you mean (a) the coal hung up in the hopper and would not drop down to the pusher, or (b) the coal fed ok but the fire just died?

If (a), the best and only thing to do is get that coal dry! The really wet coal will hang together like mud and won't feed no matter what language you use on it . if (b) try turning up the feed rate like Matthaus suggests. Just be ready to adjust back when you feed it dry coal

I had both problems my first year when I bought in bags until the bin got built; that stuff was drippy wet sometimes and I ended up making a "drying floor" to dry the coal out before loading it into the hopper. My mag was much happier after that...

yeah my Magnum hates wet, even damp coal. I always need to turn the feed rate up. Just make sure to watch it cause next thing you know burning coal is falling off the grate.

When my coal's wet. I open up the push rate on the stoker a couple turns. This moves the push block farther back so the sticky coal can fall into the gap better. Once it starts heating up, the coal starts to dry out and I'll turn the pusher back down.

I've learned now not to let the hopper empty, because the last little bit of coal in the hopper will be dry, and burn to dry out the new/wet coal.

good luck
pb