Hi, I Just Bought George Racho's Building (Racho Coal)

 
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joethemechanic
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Post by joethemechanic » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 5:42 am

Hi, my name is Joe and I just bought George Racho's building.

I have a Furnace in the back that is missing the combustion air blower and the gear-train to run the shaker. I'm posting some pictures of the unit because I can't find the manufacturer's data plate. If anyone can tell me what this thing is, and where to buy parts, I would appreciate it.

Really any info or advise anyone has would be great.

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Scottscoaled
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Post by Scottscoaled » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 5:59 am

Yellow Flame

 
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Post by Scottscoaled » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 6:06 am

I have a Keystoker stoker that would fit in there with little modification. BUT,,,,,,,, that unit needs to be taken to the scrap yard. By the looks of all the bad rust on the bottom and the standing water on the floor, I would think that the burn chamber and heat exchanger sections are severely compromised. I would like to tell you to get a Pro to give it a look before you dump a monster amount of money into it. Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear.

 
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Post by joethemechanic » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 6:28 am

Yeah thanks. I want to hear what's right. Water was from a garden hose that leaked, but there is some rust on the bottom. Normally it's dry back there. I have a 520 heating the offices and pumping some heat into the shop with a Modine, but I want something to make it nice and warm in here. One guy did look inside and he said it's not too bad looking from the inside. He was supposed to come back, but never showed.

I've got 9,000 sq ft of building to heat and it's going to get cold soon. Some of the coal brokers in the area have stopped by to say hello. A few of them say they can get me whatever I need, but we got involved in other stuff and more or less forgot about the heater. Now it's getting cold so I've really got to get moving on the heat project.

BTW, I've got the equipment in here to lift that unit out and replace it with another, so that's a non issue.

I didn't buy Hazleton to play games and jerk around and be petty over nickles and dimes. I want to heat this place right. I'm 54 more or less need a warm shop in my old age.

 
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Post by McGiever » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 6:54 am

Matt Direnzo will or can set you straight, he's the stoker repair doctor.

Here is his board profile:
MATTHEW D.
Last edited by McGiever on Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 9:50 am, edited 2 times in total.

 
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Post by blrman07 » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 7:59 am

Matt can get you fixed up. If it is repairable he will tell you. If it's not he won't. He's good people.

Looked closer at the photo's. Were are the controls for the unit. The one photo shows where they used to be?

 
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Post by StokerDon » Thu. Oct. 08, 2015 8:31 pm

That's a BIG Yellow Flame hot air unit. Looks like the stoker is a 5 grate, that's big. If the fire box doesn't leak into the air handler, put the blower, gearbox, timer and controls on it and fire it up. That thing will put out a lot of heat. It will dry up that water and everything else real quick to.

-Don


 
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Post by joethemechanic » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 5:01 am

Why the controls are off the unit is anyone's guess. I've got 2 brand new timers still in the box that I found in the parts room. The control that goes in the plenum is there and tests ok.

Keystoker said they think they can supply parts, but they wanted to charge me to come look. Really? Charge me for a sales call,,,,,,GFY

 
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 7:43 am

Sounds more like a service call, and I don't think you have many other options if you want to use this furnace. You could try calling Joe at Mark's Supply. If the stoker linkage for this unit is the same as some of the smaller models he might have something in the yard/shop that will work.

In the meantime, I would loosen the reins on that 520 EFM. :)

 
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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

Post by StokerDon » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 9:24 am

joethemechanic wrote:Why the controls are off the unit is anyone's guess. I've got 2 brand new timers still in the box that I found in the parts room. The control that goes in the plenum is there and tests ok.

Keystoker said they think they can supply parts, but they wanted to charge me to come look. Really? Charge me for a sales call,,,,,,GFY
It's a Yellow Flame unit, not much point in calling Keystoker. As Rob recommended, Mark's Supply is the only place I know of that stocks/makes Yellow Flame parts. If you have the blower, gearbox, motor and linkage you have it made. Just do a cleaning on it check to see if the grates are warped, if they are get new ones from Mark's Supply. Bolt it together and fire it up. You will be glad you did, that thing will make an impressive fire!

This is what it looks like.
LoschPlacement 005.JPG
.JPG | 119.9KB | LoschPlacement 005.JPG
-Don

 
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Post by McGiever » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 9:34 am

I recall someone telling earlier of Keystoker grate sections and possibly other parts associated being interchangable in some cases to the YF.???

 
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StokerDon
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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

Post by StokerDon » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 9:41 am

McGiever wrote:I recall someone telling earlier of Keystoker grate sections and possibly other parts associated being interchangable in some cases to the YF.???
Having seen them side by side, I don't think that is possible. The sizes are a bit different and the mounting is different.

-Don

 
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Post by joethemechanic » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 11:56 am

StokerDon wrote:
joethemechanic wrote:Why the controls are off the unit is anyone's guess. I've got 2 brand new timers still in the box that I found in the parts room. The control that goes in the plenum is there and tests ok.

Keystoker said they think they can supply parts, but they wanted to charge me to come look. Really? Charge me for a sales call,,,,,,GFY
It's a Yellow Flame unit, not much point in calling Keystoker. As Rob recommended, Mark's Supply is the only place I know of that stocks/makes Yellow Flame parts. If you have the blower, gearbox, motor and linkage you have it made. Just do a cleaning on it check to see if the grates are warped, if they are get new ones from Mark's Supply. Bolt it together and fire it up. You will be glad you did, that thing will make an impressive fire!

This is what it looks like.
LoschPlacement 005.JPG
-Don
Look what I just found in a cabinet in the parts room

Image

Image

Image

Helps when you know what you're looking for. Thanks

Does that look like the right unit?

 
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StokerDon
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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

Post by StokerDon » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 1:55 pm

Good job!

That rubber coupler is bad. It looks like it will work for a while, at least for a test if you need it to. You can get a new style coupler from Mark's Supply easy enough though.

Keep look'in, you're almost there!

-Don

 
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StokerDon
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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

Post by StokerDon » Fri. Oct. 09, 2015 1:58 pm

Wow! That's a big wheel on there. Nine feed rate settings, nice!

-Don


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