My Dumb Move...

Part of my routine is to empty the ashes and add coal when I get home from work.
Normal activity is to shut down the feed motor and the dist. fan when doing so.
Well I suppose the "dementia" hooked up a little the other nite and I did everything as normal except ... turn on the feed motor
Several hours later , my lovely wife says "it seems a little cold in here".
So I go to check it out. You guessed it, it was stone dead !

The up side ... it gave me an opportunity to give the stove a cleaning late that evening.

Mossy Beard

I never shut mine off, I just listen for it to stop moving, then switch the ash pans. That;s the problem with switching it off, sometimes people forget and then there you go....

I scrape off the leading edge of ash, take the pan and dump it into my ash can and place it back with nearly no ash dropping down. I bought a SS stock pot to place there when I make the change but found I don't really need it if I am quick.

At the suggestion of another forum member - can't remember who - I wired in a switch when I wired a rheostat for the combustion motor. This shuts down the whole stove. Flip the switch, empty the ashes, flip the switch, all done. Can't really forget because the silence is deafening.

kootch88 wrote:I scrape off the leading edge of ash, take the pan and dump it into my ash can and place it back with nearly no ash dropping down.

Used to do this, too, but found that if I don't, there seems to be less flyash build up. Not sure why - it shouldn't make a difference since it's all got to fall off at some point anyway. Maybe I'm just seeing things ....

I just go downstairs, pour a cold one, wait a few minutes until I hear the augger turning (distinctive sound) and when it stops give it 30secs or so, reach in grab the pan, take it outside and dump, bring back in and re-insert. I haven't had any problems with any more ash falling down while doing this process.

I did everything as normal except ... turn on the feed motor

I've done that several times, most recently a few days ago, but I went back into the cellar for something and caught it in time to avoid an outfire.

Am I the only one with two bins?

I take the full out out and the empty one in. Takes less than 10 seconds.

arcticcatmatt wrote:Am I the only one with two bins?

I take the full out out and the empty one in. Takes less than 10 seconds.

Nope I have 4 bins.. they are 2-bushel galvanized tubs.. in temps lower than 15* I have to empty or swap a ash tub every 24 hours. Sometimes I feel like I'm heating a municipality.

Look at my avitar,, if it is painted white, I heat it.. maybe not toasty warm, but heated nonetheless.

Greg L

arcticcatmatt On: Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:44 pm

Am I the only one with two bins?

Nope I have 16 ash tubs
7 Round 1 Bushel tubs 4 days of ash before full
1 Round # 3 Wash Tube 8 days of ash before full
3 Sq # 1 Tubs 8 to 12 days of ash before full depending on what coal
3 Sq # 2 Tubs 10 to 14 days of ash before full don't use them to much to heavy when full Plus must bend the sides in to fit
1 Sq # 3 Tub Heavier then # 2 when full plus they do not fit in the EFM
1 Sq # 4 Wash Tub Real Heavy when full also do not fit in the Efm

You could wire a really small indicator light to the switch and put it at the top of steps. e.g light isn't on stoker has no power.

I also have 2 pans. Just swap them. Take the full one down to the basement to cool before dumping. Every once in a while some ash falls before I get the second pan in but not enough to cause any problem.

I always turn off the dist. fan to keep from blowing fly ash all over. a portion of the fan discharge is blown directly at the ash door.
Additionally, 'turn off the feed as not to get some ash on the stove floor when I'm outside. ( if it runs)
I've only got one pan, never though I need more ? I just take it outside and dump it in a metal garbage can.
As far as standing around drinking a cold one , waiting to hear it run, I don't drink anymore... ( I already drank my railroad car full of beer , over the years)
It was fun none the less. ( p*ssed me off for a bit)
I guess they don't run well without coal....
Mossy Beard