Van Wert VA2400 Burning Only Half the Pot

Post by **StokerDon** » Tue. Dec. 15, 2015 7:33 pm

There's a guy that commented on one of my Youtube videos. He has a Van Wert VA2400 that half the pot is not burning. He has replaced the pot auger pipe because it was worn through. Last I heard he had ordered a new pot worm.

He said he had some of the pot apart to replace some rings. He didn't say if he cleaned and vacuumed the air chamber out though. Looks to me like the air to one side of the pot is blocked. Fines? Melted rings? Mouse nest?

That thing is a Monster! Even on half a pot!

-Don

blrman07 · Post by **blrman07** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2015 7:36 am

What the heck is he heating with that thing? I couldn't believe that fire on 1/2 the pot?????

Post by **Rob R.** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2015 8:00 am

Looks like some sort of feed problem...which may have caused an air problem by now. I think he is on the right track with a new auger and tube, but we will see. Joe has a lot of experience with Van Werts, so he will probably be able to get it diagnosed. If not, call Arnie...the Van Wert King.

http://www.vanwertboilers.com

blrman07 wrote:What the heck is he heating with that thing? I couldn't believe that fire on 1/2 the pot?????

Did you notice that the boiler top is actually two pressure vessels bolted together?

Arnie told me he sold a VA2400 to a local highway department to heat their garage, he set it up with 2 tankless coils so they can wash down all their equipment with unlimited hot water.

Pacowy · Post by **Pacowy** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2015 2:06 pm

I'll agree with Don on the possibility that accumulated fines in the air chamber are causing much/most of the problem. The auger might be a contributing factor.

Mike

Post by **StokerDon** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2015 6:58 pm

It looks like He is heating a bus garage with it. Probably uses it for unlimited washing water. Did you see above the top of the boiler? It's a poured concrete slab with holes for the plumbing.

If his pot feed pipe was worn clean through, the pot auger is probably pretty sharp. It's seems like a good start that he is replacing them. Makes me wonder though, how worn out is the bin pipe and auger? All that ware will grind up coal causing enough fines to choke the fire.

-Don

Post by **Rob R.** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2015 7:04 pm

Seems like a very small bin for that machine. I think the stoker burns around 60 lbs per hour of operation.

Post by **StokerDon** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2015 7:20 pm

Rob R. wrote:Seems like a very small bin for that machine. I think the stoker burns around 60 lbs per hour of operation.

I noticed that to. I couldn't see the back of it though. Maybe it's bigger or attached to something bigger.

-Don

Post by **StokerDon** » Fri. Dec. 18, 2015 7:21 pm

I watched the video again. That is to pressure vessels bolted together. You can see over top of the boiler, above the concrete, 2 supply lines that get Tee'ed together.

That thing that looks like an Iron Fireman bin is all there is for that monster to feed out of. I doubt if that would last 1 day!

When he shows the fire pot before the blower comes on, you can actually see a load of fines on top of the unburnt coal. I wonder if he got it fixed yet?

-Don

Olllotj · Post by **Olllotj** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2016 7:16 pm

Post by **StokerDon** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2016 8:22 pm

NICE!,

I'm glad he got it running right again. Those burn rings didn't look bad to me though?

-Don