K8 Hopper Feeding Issue

This is my first year burning coal as my main form of heat. My boiler is a K8 and I am using Blaschak rice coal (bagged). What I am finding is the hopper will not feed uniformly but instead it 'funnels'. Therefore instead of days burning before refilling the hopper, I find myself daily pushing the coal down to fill in the funnel so the pusher doesn't go empty.
Is this a common issue with this unit? Right now I am contemplating (over the summer months) building a new hopper with all the sides angled inwards to the pusher opening. Thanks.

I have the same problem with my KA6. As soon as the coal drops below the level of where the hopper begins to flare in, I have to push some coal towards the funnel. I check the boiler at least twice a day so it's not really a problem. Haven't had an out fire yet. My first season with stoker as well. I think it's just the nature of the beast. Dry coal seems to help.

Its Bush's fault.

Its the wet coal and the fines it sort of glues itself together. We are all trying to find cost effective solutions. And it is not unique to your appliance.

Do not put wet coal in the hopper.

Boys, that is the nature of the creature. The 'angle of repose' for rice coal is about 60 degrees. If you think it will run like water and burn the very last kernel, then you better list you stove or boiler for sale right now, because even a 57 page diatribe WILL NOT CHANGE a damned thing. Like anything mechanical, it requires daily observation and refilling as necessary. If you calculate the run-time of a 240 lb hopper to be 3 days, lets say, you are in for a HUGE surprise. Nice logic on your part, but step back and use you head.......no vertical feed/refill option, and you have a product that has sharp sides(coal) and like sand, gravel, stone,.......it won't flatten out now will it. you DO NOT have a feeding issue, you simply have to understand that the machine that keeps you warm and provides plentiful hot water, ALL at an affordable price. If you think you can do a better job at designing a hopper that meets your needs, then by all means go for it. As beginners, perhaps it would be helpful to get 'a little' experience before you go off screaming at the design intent. I hope you aren't the kind of guys who drive your car, truck or plane right to the last drop of fuel and laugh at how smart you are when you actually/hopefully make it to a refueling place.......................Like water in your vehicles' fuel supply, it will NOT make for a big 'Smiley' on your forehead. Ever hear the expression: "Keep your powder dry!"??????? Particulate/fines makes a nice slurry when wet......and plugs things nicely when dry.

Did I miss something???

Carbon...I think you knew the deal already, but helping a few others understand the process sometimes entangles you in the slimy web of the learning curve. Perhaps a couple WTFs' would be more appropriate.

When I built my boiler I made the hopper with sloped sides.
It's close, but it still rat holes when the hopper is just about empty.
You would almost need a vibrator to get it completely empty, but
that would move the coal on the grate.

Not sure what the rant and rave is all about, Whistlenut, but I understand. Thanks for the 60 degree slope tip, I'll keep that in mind when I design a new hopper (by the way I don't think I degraded Keystoker in my question, as product improvements are ongoing thru the life of a product).

Some posts mentioned about wet coal, and I agree that Blaschak is. However, reading different posts on coal it seems that it is the most recommended coal to use. So how are you drying it? I do have access to bagged Reading coal which (from what I've seen) appears to be dry. Thanks.

So how are you drying it?

use a container like a tote and drill holes on bottom and sides to allow water to drain. Place tote above catch pan. or Put small holes in bags and let drain off into a container.

No rant RW, just trying to get folks up to speed quickly. Randy has just posted a very handy solution for damp coal, and if you want to try that suggestion, you will improve the burning experience immensely. After many years with solid fuels, perhaps I am too quick to admonish, however understand that the folks who made this possible years ago were no dummies.

I build coal bins with 45 degree slopes, and some folks just want max storage and they are perpendicular walls.....either way, storage is the issue. If you have to shovel in a 10 ton bin when it is -20 outside, you will be happy to have the storage or all that extra coal, vs your buddy who has frozen coal in bags outside. Many of us use Randy's suggestion and have for years........after we lived through frozen coal issues...that become wet coal issues. You are very lucky it is a K-8, because no matter what, it is only 300 lbs to deal with and not ten tons.

Many or us use a screen to prevent the occasional oversized piece from entering the feed system. An auger system would eliminate the refueling responsibility, but add some additional cost to the system. There are many systems out there when you get time to check it out.

If you burn buckwheat, it'll flow allot better in hopper. fyi

I got a free ton of rice from Reading Anthracite with my new K4 two weeks ago and the bags are full of water. Poked a hole and let them drain. As with any coal machine the set it and forget it just doesn't apply.

Thanks for the reply, and by all means I more than appreciate any and all advice given. Never turn away experienced help or advice.
You mentioned something that made me chuckle...the frozen bags as that is what I am dealing with now (the coal is stored in my unheated shed). It's a pain thawing them out to pour into the hopper. I have yet to open a bag to find 'pourable' water but there's enough water to make the rice freeze together.
Thanks again.

Rick another issue with wet coal it'll rotted out hopper and can cause poor feed on grates. Nothing good comes from overly wet coal, some members will dampen coal with water to keep dust down. Key word dampen