Keystoker Feed Mechanism

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sinistrafatboy
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Post by sinistrafatboy » Fri. Jan. 10, 2014 8:30 pm

Hi all
So I have enjoyed 2 months of continuous operation after getting the timer issue fixed. But today out of the blue the feed seems to be binding and therefore low fire. Ive had the adjustment nut at 11ish turns during the bad cold snap weve had. But as the feed rod gets near 3/4 travel it seems to bind and the rod spring starys to stretch. My first thought was some sort of blockage in the throat, so I emptied the hopper but found nothing obvious.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Lubrication, adjustment?
I can sit near it and "assist" while it sticks and I can hear a heavy scraping sound..........?
Thankfully warmer weather is coming so I intend to remove the hopper again and investigate further tomorrow

Thanks for any input

Chris

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Fri. Jan. 10, 2014 10:37 pm

Gearbox??? Maybe?

Remove linkage and see if sound is still there when only motor and gearbox are moving.
Be good time to check or replace that gear oil too. Oil everything. :)

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Jan. 11, 2014 7:18 am

Usually if the pusher block is binding it is due to fines or corrosion. Empty the hopper, vacuum everything, and run it with no coal to take a closer look.


 
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gaw
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Post by gaw » Sat. Jan. 11, 2014 7:41 am

There are not too many moving parts to lubricate but make sure everything moves freely. The pusher bar should be set at ¾” at the closest point to the throat. Make sure the set screws are not slipping.
That’s all I can think of. Rocks or oversize coal can bind and cause the spring to compress; a previous hopper fire can loosen set screws. Should the screws become loose replacing them with new ones is the best course of action, tightening the old ones is only a temporary fix, sometimes very temporary.

 
sinistrafatboy
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Post by sinistrafatboy » Sat. Jan. 11, 2014 11:41 am

I took the hopper off again this morning and observed the movement. I discovered that as suggested a build up of fines had accumulated and hardened. A bit of scraping and cleaning and I think im set.
Now two more questions, how often do users perform this cleaning? I have gone through nearly 4 tons of rice coal since November, so im thinking a cleaning @ the 3 ton mark might be a good idea. That may seem like alot of coal for that time period but im using this boiler for heat and hot water in a 1600 sq. ft ranch house and also in floor heat in our commercial boarding kennel.
My other question is about coal. Does buckwheat coal have the same fines in it that rice does and is buckwheat a better way to go? The rice coal I am currently using is "Reading" bagged coal and has water in it (I think) and actually makes a mess on the floor and has frozen chunks in it (I store it in a unheated area) I would not be real happy if I was storing this in my basement

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Jan. 11, 2014 11:46 am

Your Keystoker will burn buck very well. It might require a slight feed adjustment, and a different timer setting in the summer, but that is all. Buck often had less fines, and is sometimes $10 less per ton.

If you are burning wet coal, that is most of your problem. The moisture makes sludge out of the dust and fines, and it gums up the works.


 
Rick W
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Post by Rick W » Sun. Jan. 12, 2014 8:28 am

You are right on about the mess when thawing out a bag of frozen coal. I am living with the issue until the heating season is over then switching to bulk. I used to burn rice, it did okay but now burn buck. What an improvement, I am getting better burn times (even during the recent 'damn cold' vortex). The only issue I am having is finding bagged buck (at least in my area - north of Binghamton, NY) have to order Reading bagged and it was frozen solid!!!
Any ideas on where to get bagged buck? traveling a reasonable distance is acceptable.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Jan. 12, 2014 8:29 am

Any Kimmel's dealer should be able to order it for you.

 
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Wiz
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Post by Wiz » Sun. Jan. 12, 2014 9:05 am

I've burnt 16 ton so far with no build up. Buck coal always been dry with very little fines.

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