Keystoker 90 Install

How is your fire going? I have a Keystoker 90 so I'm always interested in reading and seeing pics on these. Your going to know this stove like the back of your hand quickly. I'm not the most mechanically inclined and learned it pretty well in a season or two. It looked/sounded like you definitely needed to play with increasing the coal feed to get the fire further down the grate. My air intake is usually less than half open and never more than half.

Noticed the grate looks like it's split in two rather than just one piece, am I seeing that correctly? I'm guessing it's the newer model...

Also, be sure to keep the holes in the grate clear to get maximum air blowing up through the coal/fire. Couldn't tell if they looked blocked or not from the pic where you resealed..

Thanks for the input. The unit is brand new. The grate is two piece, left and right, and split down the middle. I made sure those holes are clear using a pick.

I had a nice fire the other day, and it is no longer creeping up the grate on me. I increased the feed rate, and it is much better. The fan is still short cycling on and off, so I think I will have do adjust the on/off temps. The weather has been so warm that I haven't been able to play with it for a while. Looks like next week is a different story.

Also I picked up some buck to try after my rice runs out, so that will be another learning curve.

Interesting with the grate. Anyone know why they switched to the 2 part grate?

I'm sure you'll find your groove once the temps stay consistently cold enough for heat. I have yet to try mixing some buckwheat into mine. I've always planned on doing this during the coldest part of winter but never come across bags of buckwheat when I looked for it. I believe I've read on here that using some buckwheat in the 90 may call for some tinkering with the feed since it should burn longer.

Did you get your draft checked yet with a manometer? Obviously it's good for the burn but I guess getting it dialed into the recommended specs will keep your burning most efficient.

Nice set-up, by the way!

Thanks for all of the help guys. I got it dialed in and running really well on rice. I got the fan limit switch adjusted after some reading here and it's no longer short cycling. Been running for 2 weeks straight and split a TtT load of Buck with my dad.

I decided to try a hopper of Buckwheat, and noticed it is still satisfying the thermostat easily, however the fire is not nearly as intense. Are any changes in settings required when switching from rice to buck?

edit

Opened the air a bit past half, and turned up the feed.

Buckwheat high Fire

Buckwheat idle fire

The stove has been running straight since October, and has been our only heat this year. So far it's doing well, but the days below 0 are tough.

On buckwheat, I am having trouble getting the stove over 450 degrees, running constantly.

With rice I can generally get the stove a little hotter.

i've tried adjusting the combustion fan, and the feed is up as high as it can go without coals falling off. I have kept the floor of the stove pretty clean, I notice the exhaust is down there, the flue doesnt look too dirty, peeking through the baro. Any advice?

Olllotj wrote:The stove has been running straight since October, and has been our only heat this year. So far it's doing well, but the days below 0 are tough.

On buckwheat, I am having trouble getting the stove over 450 degrees, running constantly.

With rice I can generally get the stove a little hotter.

i've tried adjusting the combustion fan, and the feed is up as high as it can go without coals falling off. I have kept the floor of the stove pretty clean, I notice the exhaust is down there, the flue doesnt look too dirty, peeking through the baro. Any advice?

When I bought my house this past August there were 2 tons of coal left. One ton of rice and one ton of buck. I like a few others on here are having the same issues as you with burning the buck. Just doesn't seem to put out the same heat as rice. I'm burning through an old Keystoker Ecno 70 with a slanted grate. I tried every adjustment you can think of with no luck. I just burn the rice and for every 40 pounds of rice I add a coffee can of buckwheat.

Now that the temps are back into the 30s the stove is just idling away, heating the home to 72. Unbelievable how hard it has to work when the temp is below 0, and how little it works when it warms up.

Windy and 60 degrees was no problem for the stoker, nice idle all day. The hopper looks as full as I left it 24 hours ago. House never got over 65. Thanks for the neat trick.

Olllotj wrote:Windy and 60 degrees was no problem for the stoker, nice idle all day. The hopper looks as full as I left it 24 hours ago. House never got over 65. Thanks for the neat trick.

I'm wondering what the paper clip is for?

DENNIS BAUER wrote:

Olllotj wrote:Windy and 60 degrees was no problem for the stoker, nice idle all day. The hopper looks as full as I left it 24 hours ago. House never got over 65. Thanks for the neat trick.

I'm wondering what the paper clip is for?

Me too. Looks like a clothespin though.

I'm wondering what the paper clip is for?[/quote]

Me too. Looks like a clothespin though.[/quote]

Clothespin is what I was talking about. I'm at work and there was a paper clip I've been messing with and that's what the fingers decided to type. Whoops.