Grate grief

coaledsweat · By: **coaledsweat** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:04 pm

The rear grate frame split finally last night, everything dropped into the ashpan. It was cracked at one end for years. I have been looking for replacement frames and grates for a couple of years to no avail. It seems like the stove parts joints don't have a source. Apparently, Steel King's old customer service person retired and no one knows which foundry was doing the castings. In other words, they are available, we just don't know where.

Anyway, the frame measures 7" wide and 13" long on the outsides and they are 1" thick all the way around. The grates are 5" X 11". If you know of anything that may fit, I would like to here about it.

If I can't get grates that fit maybe I should modify the firebox to an other type of shaker or change it to a stoker. I can't see keeping 800# of steel around if I can't burn coal in it.

Anyone with a spare stoker they want to get rid of? Any crazy ideas?

steinkebunch · By: **steinkebunch** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:52 pm

Coaled Sweat: Post some photos of the grates/frame to get us thinking.

Steinke

coaledsweat · By: **coaledsweat** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:24 pm

I just switched to oil, when it cools down I'll tear into it and get some pics and dimensions. I should be able to do that in the next couple of hours.

I can see a disaster brewing already, a Rube Goldberg coal boiler runs amok.

Wood'nCoal · By: **Wood'nCoal** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:11 pm

Ian,

Very sorry you have to burn oil, that really sucks. Hopefully someone here will have a way to get the boiler back up and running.

Can you adapt a stoker unit to the boiler, like an underfeed type?

Yanche · By: **Yanche** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:57 pm

Use the old grate to make a pattern and cast a new one. Most mechanical engineering schools have a foundry. Check out if they will cast what you need. My alma mater usually casts things in aluminum alloy but they can do cast iron. Heck, you may be able to recycle your existing grates. A long, long time ago may parents had a coal stove manual draft damper recast at local NJ foundry. Finished job was carried out in a lunch pail. My first introduction to a G job. :-)

coaledsweat · By: **coaledsweat** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:08 pm

Yanche wrote:Use the old grate to make a pattern and cast a new one. Most mechanical engineering schools have a foundry. Check out if they will cast what you need.

A long, long time ago may parents had a coal stove manual draft damper recast at local NJ foundry. Finished job was carried out in a lunch pail. My first introduction to a G job.

I was thinking about getting it recast but figured it would be pricey.
I never thought of the school thing, thats a great idea. :idea:

I'll have to start sniffing around.

Ahh! G jobs, thanks for the memories.

LsFarm · By: **LsFarm** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:48 pm

Hi Ian, sorry to hear you are burning oil.. If you can't find a school to do the casting, I have a connection to some Amish folks who could probably cast a replacement from your pattern.
One of the Antique Car guys who sells antique car tools uses this Amish foundry to make replacement tools, jacks, handles etc.

Greg L

Can you put in a fixed grate in the place of the broken one, and keep the other front shaker grates opperational?? Just use a poker to move the ash through the fixed grate??

.

coaledsweat · By: **coaledsweat** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:11 pm

LsFarm wrote:Can you put in a fixed grate in the place of the broken one, and keep the other front shaker grates operational?? Just use a poker to move the ash through the fixed grate??

The grate itself is worn at the hubs and is missing two finger but will work fine. The frame that supports it cracked in the bearing valley and it caved in. I just finished pulling it apart, in the morning I'll take it to the wizard and see what he thinks. I was thinking of drilling it across and just using a dowel pin but its pretty thin there. I'm going to check if I can back it up with something, there isn't much room. I'll try and get some pics up soon.

LsFarm · By: **LsFarm** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:16 pm

A Rube Goldberg fix 'till spring when you can make it good for another decade or two...
Since I can't visualize the hub or support/bearing/pivot... I can't be much help.. can you scan and post your manual's parts break-down [if it has one] ??

Greg.

.

av8r · By: **av8r** On: Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:19 pm

coaledsweat wrote:
LsFarm wrote:Can you put in a fixed grate in the place of the broken one, and keep the other front shaker grates operational?? Just use a poker to move the ash through the fixed grate??

The grate itself is worn at the hubs and is missing two finger but will work fine. The frame that supports it cracked in the bearing valley and it caved in. I just finished pulling it apart, in the morning I'll take it to the wizard and see what he thinks. I was thinking of drilling it across and just using a dowel pin but its pretty thin there. I'm going to check if I can back it up with something, there isn't much room. I'll try and get some pics up soon.

You can weld cast iron with the right process. Done all the time.

http://www.muggyweld.com/castiron.html

Build it up and grind it down.

LsFarm · By: **LsFarm** On: Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:58 pm

Any news from 'the wizard' on repairing the grate frame??

Got any photos yet??

Greg L

coaledsweat · By: **coaledsweat** On: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:24 pm

Just fired her up. The wizard said no way will it hold welding it, I didn't think so as its about a 1/2" thick where it broke at the belly of the bearing saddle. Here is some pics.

coaledsweat · By: **coaledsweat** On: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:27 pm

The fix. Steel 4 bolt girdles for the mains! They hang down a tad into the ash pan, not to bad. Both of the frames have been cracked at one end for years. I put 4 girdles on, it should make it to spring I would think.

Wood'nCoal · By: **Wood'nCoal** On: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:30 pm

Excellent Job! Glad you were able to fix it up and get back to the Coaled World!

Wood'nCoal · By: **Wood'nCoal** On: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:32 pm

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.

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