Ash Build up on Grate
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
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- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Yes, that is "Clinker-ing" if that is a word.
-Don
-Don
Ok, I've blocked the air almost totally off, raised the rear of the stove up and still have the same thing happening. Only difference that has happened is its pushed the fire lower down on the grate. Burning around 60-80lbs a day the stove is only around 240 outside temp. Any other suggestions? Thanks
- McGiever
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- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Now slow the coal feed a little and wait a half hour to see results...repeat, until position is correct.jbc8000 wrote:Ok, I've blocked the air almost totally off, raised the rear of the stove up and still have the same thing happening. Only difference that has happened is its pushed the fire lower down on the grate. Burning around 60-80lbs a day the stove is only around 240 outside temp. Any other suggestions? Thanks
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Don't give up!jbc8000 wrote:given up, feed down to a ilde or up, air blocked off and still just builds on top of itself on the grate.
There has to be a reason.
Is this a new stove or did you buy it used?
If it is a used stove just maybe someone previously replaced the combustion blower/fan.???
If this is a possibility, please go read the motor tag and tell us the mfg'r, model number and the RPM's.
At this point I suspect you have too big of a fan on this.
- McGiever
- Member
- Posts: 10130
- Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
- Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
- Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
- Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar
Well, if equipment all checks out and not the issue...how about try another coal source.
Pickup a bag of different coal and see the results.
White ash perferablely...Blashack's
Pickup a bag of different coal and see the results.
White ash perferablely...Blashack's
Have burnt blashack in all my past yrs and kimmels this yr all with the same result. No other sources to try in my area that im aware of. The stove is just so much hotter for the few mins its burning clean then when the coal is burning on top of some ash, just wish I could get to do that all the time.
- Doby
- Member
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Tue. Dec. 02, 2014 9:57 pm
- Location: Elysburg PA
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kast console and Alaska Channing III
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: oil but not much
I have a kast counsole, different stove same setup, I have the same problem but learned to controll it. Are you using a thermostate or the standard controll box?
Assuming a controll box,set on #2, knock all the clinker and ash off then spread the red coals out a bit and let run for 15 min or so to build a normal coal/fire bed. Now turn it up to #4 and let it burnfor a hour, the stove should get good and hot, knock any clinker off that forms. Then set it back to #3. The stove now should stay good and hot without any clinkers for hours, maybe 10 or 12 or at least till its time to fill the hopper
I never run above#4 and only for short hour long or so bursts when I do, depending on outside temp I ususally have to turn it down to 21/2 or even 2, I heat a ranch with stove in basement, 2400 sq feet for both floors thats the upper range for this stove.
If this don't work there is another underling problem and we'll have go over everthing from scratch,cleaning,gaskets,grate ect.
But don't give up it will get better
Assuming a controll box,set on #2, knock all the clinker and ash off then spread the red coals out a bit and let run for 15 min or so to build a normal coal/fire bed. Now turn it up to #4 and let it burnfor a hour, the stove should get good and hot, knock any clinker off that forms. Then set it back to #3. The stove now should stay good and hot without any clinkers for hours, maybe 10 or 12 or at least till its time to fill the hopper
I never run above#4 and only for short hour long or so bursts when I do, depending on outside temp I ususally have to turn it down to 21/2 or even 2, I heat a ranch with stove in basement, 2400 sq feet for both floors thats the upper range for this stove.
If this don't work there is another underling problem and we'll have go over everthing from scratch,cleaning,gaskets,grate ect.
But don't give up it will get better
- Doby
- Member
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Tue. Dec. 02, 2014 9:57 pm
- Location: Elysburg PA
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kast console and Alaska Channing III
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: oil but not much
Your not using wet coal are you? If so try a hopper full of bone dry coal to see if there is any improvement.
When you replaced the grate gaskets did you use Alaska gaskets?
When you replaced the grate gaskets did you use Alaska gaskets?
- Doby
- Member
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Tue. Dec. 02, 2014 9:57 pm
- Location: Elysburg PA
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kast console and Alaska Channing III
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: oil but not much
Sorry for all the questions but trying to get a full understanding I have this stove and with white ash coal this is rare so more questions,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
1 When you leave the controller set on 4 or above for 1 hour does coal spill off the side of the grate?
2 On 4 or above for 1 hour does the grate fill with fire except for about 1 inch at the end?
3 When on 4 or above does the fire darn near touch the top of the stove?
You mentioned in one of your posts stove temp, where is this taken from? If its above the fire door I could compare it to mine
1 When you leave the controller set on 4 or above for 1 hour does coal spill off the side of the grate?
2 On 4 or above for 1 hour does the grate fill with fire except for about 1 inch at the end?
3 When on 4 or above does the fire darn near touch the top of the stove?
You mentioned in one of your posts stove temp, where is this taken from? If its above the fire door I could compare it to mine
1 No the coal doesn't spill of the side of the grate
2 on 4 its prob closer to 2" away from falling off the end
3 no the flame doesn't come close to reaching the top of the stove.
When I took that temp I believe it was just shooting the side of the stove itself. I can get a different reading else where if you prefer? Thanks for your suggestions
2 on 4 its prob closer to 2" away from falling off the end
3 no the flame doesn't come close to reaching the top of the stove.
When I took that temp I believe it was just shooting the side of the stove itself. I can get a different reading else where if you prefer? Thanks for your suggestions
Doby wrote:Sorry for all the questions but trying to get a full understanding I have this stove and with white ash coal this is rare so more questions,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
1 When you leave the controller set on 4 or above for 1 hour does coal spill off the side of the grate?
2 On 4 or above for 1 hour does the grate fill with fire except for about 1 inch at the end?
3 When on 4 or above does the fire darn near touch the top of the stove?
You mentioned in one of your posts stove temp, where is this taken from? If its above the fire door I could compare it to mine
- dutch
- Member
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- Joined: Mon. Dec. 11, 2006 4:38 pm
- Location: UPstate NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Alaska Channing III
i am wondering what happened last year after this thread died in december, we had a very cold
winter the 2nd half of winter but I don't see where you came back and posted any more issues.
is there a chance that this is a condition of the stove trying to run slower while demand is low,
but during colder weather the increased coal moving thru kept the ash moving also?
winter the 2nd half of winter but I don't see where you came back and posted any more issues.
is there a chance that this is a condition of the stove trying to run slower while demand is low,
but during colder weather the increased coal moving thru kept the ash moving also?