Grate Grief

 
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coaledsweat
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Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Fri. Jan. 18, 2008 11:12 pm

Wood'nCoal wrote:Now it's got 4 bolt mains. Can you post a picture of the whole boiler, I would like to see what it looks like.
Thanks.
I suppose its about time for a pic. I'll get one up in the pics thread.

This boiler is very well made, but it seems like the coal was an afterthought. The firebrick on the sides lay at an angle and also rest on the grate frames, no problem on the sides. On the ends, the three bricks are vertical and have to be held in near the top with straps of steel. These do not last long in a coal fire, believe me. To top it off, the ends of the grates are actually under the firebrick. When you shake it it tends to nudge them around and you know where this is going. Bowed bars, cracked brick and brick edging out of place. This things getting an overhaul or replacement.

When I was fiddling around, I found two 1/2" holes in the top of the airbox that feeds the ashpit, gadzooks the dreaded overfire air! Tapped them for 5/8" NC and plugged them. I hope it improves my burn, we'll see.

 
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CoalHeat
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Posts: 8862
Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert

Post by CoalHeat » Fri. Jan. 18, 2008 11:19 pm

I have a few cracked firebrick in the Harman, one nasty one by the rear grate pivot on the left side, broken in three pieces. It happened last year when I had that crappy coal and the grates jammed and I yanked the shaker lever a little too hard.
Some new fire bricks are in order here too.


 
User avatar
coaledsweat
Site Moderator
Posts: 13763
Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
Location: Guilford, Connecticut
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
Coal Size/Type: Pea

Post by coaledsweat » Mon. Jan. 21, 2008 9:37 am

coaledsweat wrote:When I was fiddling around, I found two 1/2" holes in the top of the airbox that feeds the ashpit, gadzooks the dreaded overfire air! Tapped them for 5/8" NC and plugged them. I hope it improves my burn, we'll see.
It looks like I am burning a little less coal and I know there is a lot less ash. Seems like the breakdown let me in on a little something. It took 36 years for this revision to come up, I'll speak to the engineering department. :)

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