Hi All,
Fairly new to burning coal and have been using a Keystoker KA-6-1for 3 years now on Buckwheat. Switched to Rice this year and am having trouble with ash cakes several inches in dia at the end of the grates preventing ash slide off, eventually putting the fire out.
Any thoughts?
Thank You
Ron Jones
Ashes Cake up on Grates
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H.B.DeLaRue
- New Member
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Wed. Oct. 22, 2014 2:08 pm
- Location: Coal Township (Ranshaw) PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystone MFG-KB-8 Two Zone
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: None
Good Morning Hotstoker and welcome to the forum!
Although I'm fairly new to the forum myself, this will be my 3rd season burning rice. I had the same issue for the first and second season and used this forum to fine tune my system for this season. One of the first thing I found out was that the more the amount of the coal being fed to the system, the higher the chances of what are called clunkers. Since I've backed off of my feed, increased airflow, and idle stoke time, the less clunkers I have, and greater burn. Try backing off your feed a turn or two and see how that works for you....
I'm sure there will be a few more jumping in to keep you fired. Hang in there, we'll get you warm!!
Barry
Although I'm fairly new to the forum myself, this will be my 3rd season burning rice. I had the same issue for the first and second season and used this forum to fine tune my system for this season. One of the first thing I found out was that the more the amount of the coal being fed to the system, the higher the chances of what are called clunkers. Since I've backed off of my feed, increased airflow, and idle stoke time, the less clunkers I have, and greater burn. Try backing off your feed a turn or two and see how that works for you....
I'm sure there will be a few more jumping in to keep you fired. Hang in there, we'll get you warm!!
Barry
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WNY
- Member
- Posts: 6307
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 14, 2005 8:40 am
- Location: Cuba, NY
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Keystoker 90K, Leisure Line Hyfire I
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Contact:
Actually called Clinkers, or ash cakes, etc....
Yes, changing the feed rate and air can help reduce them, sometimes when it's burning really hot and it's really cold out, they will form no matter what, my keystoker 90K stove did that only when I was pushing it hard, mixed 50/50 buckwheat/rice and it reduced it down a lot in forming them, some small ones, but nothing major.
Yes, changing the feed rate and air can help reduce them, sometimes when it's burning really hot and it's really cold out, they will form no matter what, my keystoker 90K stove did that only when I was pushing it hard, mixed 50/50 buckwheat/rice and it reduced it down a lot in forming them, some small ones, but nothing major.
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StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- 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
Hotstoker Welcome,
You've got Clinker Syndrome. If air and feed adjustments don't fix it, switch back to buckwheat coal.
Why did you switch to rice anyway?
-Don
You've got Clinker Syndrome. If air and feed adjustments don't fix it, switch back to buckwheat coal.
Why did you switch to rice anyway?
-Don
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Hotstoker
- New Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 07, 2014 9:42 am
- Location: Eaton,NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
- Other Heating: Woodstock soapstone
- Contact:
Hi Don
Initially I bought a full tractor trailer load of buckwheat but transferring it into the coal bin became a chore so bought local for this year. Dealer did not have Buckwheat in stock so did the Rice. Looks like the preference of Buckwheat I had heard was founded on this issue but was unaware of it.
Thanks Ron
Initially I bought a full tractor trailer load of buckwheat but transferring it into the coal bin became a chore so bought local for this year. Dealer did not have Buckwheat in stock so did the Rice. Looks like the preference of Buckwheat I had heard was founded on this issue but was unaware of it.
Thanks Ron
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StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- 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
I'm in the same boat. To get buckwheat, I have to go get it myself, or have it delivered from a supplier much further away costing $50 per ton more.
-Don
-Don