Keystoker KA-2 Will Not Come up to Temperature

Pacowy · Post by **Pacowy** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 4:35 pm

Sting wrote:is the load on line and is the pump pulling cold water into the vessel faster than the appliance can recover?

I'm not a hydronics guy, but I think Chief Brody covered this in 1975.

Mike

Sting · Post by **Sting** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 4:56 pm

Seriously

was it that long ago

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 8:26 pm

One other thing no one, including myself had mentioned. Is the stoker working? Can you see the push block traveling back & forth? If not, does the stoker motor run? Condition of nylon cam?

AdkCoal · Post by **AdkCoal** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 8:49 pm

stovepipemike wrote:Just out of curiosity, what are the burn characteristics? How wide and long is that fuel bed? Same coal as before? Any flame above the burning coal? Mike

Fuel bed fills 3/4 of the stoker area, the rest is ash. There is no region of unburnt coal. The fire goes all the way up to the plate on top of the stoker that levels out the coal.

There are blue flames but not as high as it used to be.

Using the same coal as last year.

AdkCoal · Post by **AdkCoal** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 8:52 pm

dave brode wrote:adk,

Just a thought, you *may* be able to remove the bolts holding the grates with the stoker in place. Or, cut/grind them off on the bottom, and use new ones.

What brand/part number replacement fan did you buy?

I suspect that my grates are leaking a good bit of air at present too. I can't get near the air through the fire as when the unit was new. I should have R&R'd them in sept.

Btw, you can clean fines out below the grates by fashioning a small hose from a "shop vac" or small vac and suck it out through the hole for the blower. I use a piece of 1/2" alum tubing duct taped to the shop vac hose.

Dave

I used the same ASCO fan that they sell to Keystoker. Same part number and everything.

Post by **Rob R.** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 8:56 pm

Could you have changed the air adjustment by accident?

AdkCoal · Post by **AdkCoal** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 9:49 pm

Rob R. wrote:Could you have changed the air adjustment by accident?

Rob: I don't understand. What air adjustment? Are you referring to the tab that slides over the opening in the fan.

If so, yes. I play with that all the time depending on outside temps.

Post by **Rob R.** » Tue. Nov. 26, 2013 9:57 pm

Yes, that is what I am referring to. You should not be playing with that. You adjust the coal feed based on how much heat you need, and adjust the air so the fire turns to ash just before the last set of air holes on the grate. You don't want burning coal falling off the grate, and you don't want to be blowing a lot of air through ashes since it will just take heat out of the boiler.

Get your grates sealed up properly, and then start over with the factory recommended settings.

AdkCoal · Post by **AdkCoal** » Wed. Nov. 27, 2013 6:58 am

Rob R. wrote:Yes, that is what I am referring to. You should not be playing with that. You adjust the coal feed based on how much heat you need, and adjust the air so the fire turns to ash just before the last set of air holes on the grate. You don't want burning coal falling off the grate, and you don't want to be blowing a lot of air through ashes since it will just take heat out of the boiler.

Get your grates sealed up properly, and then start over with the factory recommended settings.

Thanks for the info.

This activity is scheduled for this Friday.

Have a happy Thanksgiving and one again thanks to all who have helped me here.

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Tue. Dec. 03, 2013 6:53 am

Are you still working on that stoker?

How are you making out? Results?????

AdkCoal · Post by **AdkCoal** » Tue. Dec. 03, 2013 6:22 pm

Sorry.

Been enjoying the warmth.

As soon as I sealed the stoker up, it works just as advertised.

Thanks for all the help and guidance.