Axeman 130 Running Rich

Hello All, I just fired up a 130 for the first time this weekend and can't for the life of me figure out why it is running so rich. I have read many of your posts and understand the ashing settings and so forth but it is dumping enough coal into it in 15 minutes to run for another hour with the auger belt off. I have burnt the fire pot down twice and had a roaring inferno about 3" deep, put the auger belt on and in 15 minutes time buried the fire with green coal. I have been hand ashing when the feed belt is off as to keep the anthrastat happy at a setting of 140. I have checked the pulley, gearbox and sprocket specs and all seem to be in line with the parts manual. I am running the auger into a trash can with no doghouse etc. Could it be that I have the auger shoved in the trash can to far? Does the doghouse somehow govern the amount of coal allowed in the tube? I know that sounds stupid but I am grasping at straws. I know you guys like pics, I am processing a video and if I can figure out how to upload it I will do so.
Kevin

I have a Axemann 130 also and
the fire is always topped with fresh
unbernt coal.Maybe you should put
put the belts back on and just let it cycle
for awhile.I run mine out of a plastic bin also,
that doesn't have anything to do with it.It
takes a while for everything to even out when you
light up.I takes time to build your confidance.

Hi Gizmo, Thanks for the reply. I have read many a post that says to let them be and they will work things. I have been running it for two days now and after three 15 minute runs I have green coal piled to the auger inlet and darn near put the fire out so I suspect something is wrong. Oddly enough when I put the auger tube on and started the feed it wasn't feeding at all and I found a large stove coal sized chunk of coal jammed in the auger about a foot from the head. I am wondering if the previous owner had problems with the feed and it had been altered in some way to compensate for it.

The coal comes up the flitting of the
augar.When the fire pot is FULL the
space in the center of the augar allows
tha coal to fall back so it doesn't jam and
pack everthing tight.You still have to have the
fire chamber full of coal.It doesn't burn off the
top.You will have a column inside the fire pot
producing heat.

It is supposed to fill with coal all the way to the auger. Once it gets that full it can't add any more until the grate cycles and removes ash.

So let me get this straight, I should just let her run until it can't pack any more coal into the firebox? No wonder they backfire.

No packing can occure...the only amount of coal that can ever be added is equal to the volume of ash that has been removed. Auger being hollow allows coal to simply tumble inside auger tube once transfer head becomes full...then as coal drops down in tube the void is filled by gravity.
If your auger is causing coal to be packed...SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY...as your auger has a defect and needs to be repaired/replaced.

Are you sure your auger flighting is now clear all the way thru into your barrel?

As far as previous owner not knowing of partial blockage you found in auger tube; a higher setting could have been used in an effort to increase coal feed to compensate for partial blockage. Now w/ blockage cleared the setting is way too high.
So, have you counted the number of clicks you are ashing presently? If so, how many?

Mine has never backfired or carried on in the 5 years
I have been running it.

Wow kind of like learning to use a smart phone, I've had my head shoved in that porthole for two days watching that fire and it sounds like I should have left her alone and let her do her thing. I had no idea the feed worked that way. I guess it will take me awhile to get over the hand firing thing. It is set at 3 clicks on the ashing, that is where it was when I got it. The anthrastat was at 120 and I have moved it up to 140. I would put the belt on and let her go at it but with temps in the 40's and a lot of wind on the way for tomorrow I think I'll let her set the night out and crank her back up tomorrow after work. Kind of funny how some guys have the puffback problem and some don't. Lots of variables I suppose. Thanks for the help guys.

My .02 cents...set on 120* and take it down to 2-clicks and see how it is in 2 days.
When it is said, Coal is slow to respond to changes...well, this will be even s l o w e r r.

Did you build your first new fire on top of nearly 5 gallons of ashes added beforehand?
Things get a little screwy if one uses all coal. but in due time will work it's self out.

Yes I had some ash that I saved from my hand fired stove. I put about a bucket full in before starting the fire.

The puffbacks are not in AA units, however they could occur. You are learning quickly that the best action may be no action at all. LEAVE IT ALONE. I recommend that you don't try to 'outsmart it, and I also suggest that you might want to try the original settings. I find that 2 clicks on the ashing is a good place to start, however change one setting at a time.....only one, Let her run for 48 hours and recheck. The auger cannot jamb, and I've never seen one that did. It is possible that a piece of flighting could wear out, but in 48 years with AA's, I've never seen it happen. If you have been using a Memco, you are in a different solar system with an Axeman. That unit is not and was not one of the better units ever built. Yes, I've played with 3 and talk as many out of them as ask. Ask questions along your way,and we can quickly provide guidance.

Hi Whistlenut,

I am working from home for awhile this morning so I put my belt on and let her go at it. The only one I ever saw in operation was Freddies and I had no idea what I was looking at but knew I wanted one. I had no idea the coal was supposed to fill all the way to the auger port. Now that I know that I'll leave things alone and see what happens in a few days. The whole concept really defies my logic but I am more than impressed with engineering in this animal. Been feeling like a kid with a new go cart the past couple of days.

It is a pretty neat contraption isn't it?

Yes Cabinover it sure is, I am gaining confidence and just changed my profile, Whistlenut will be happy to see the Axeman in and the Memco out.