I guess I wasn't paying attention when I was shaking the Mark 1 this morning, moved the shaker lever a bit too far and jammed the back grate open. Stupid Amateurish beginner mistake!!!!! I fished around trying to dislodge the stuck piece of coal, ended up dumping the whole fire into the ash pan. Smitty knows all about this.
So even us "seasoned veterans" mess up.
Short choppy back and forth strokes are the way to shake these stoves, I'll have to remember that.
Harman Mark 3, Can't Seem to Shake It Right..
- CoalHeat
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- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
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- Other Heating: Vermont Resolute wood stove for the shoulder months
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- SMITTY
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- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
Any hard metal will work. I still use my Yamaha TW200 rear brake rod for poking the clinkered-up ash in the ash pan of my stoker. I used that rod for years in the Mark III. The once threaded end has now worn smooth and to a taper ..
- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert
You will need to poke up through the openings in the grates from underneath to break up the clinkers and ash buildup. Rebar is too thick. A thin rigid wire about coat hanger size will do, bent at a 45 degree angle at the end. I use a piece I cut off of one of those baskets that are placed around tomato plants. I would avoid poking into the fire from above, I don't think you are going to accomplish anything.
I have not had to poke the fire with the Kimmel's coal I have been burning. In the past with other brands I have had issues with dead spots.
I have not had to poke the fire with the Kimmel's coal I have been burning. In the past with other brands I have had issues with dead spots.
- SMITTY
- Member
- Posts: 12520
- Joined: Sun. Dec. 11, 2005 12:43 pm
- Location: West-Central Mass
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520 Highboy
- Coal Size/Type: Rice / Blaschak anthracite
- Other Heating: Oil fired Burnham boiler
Ahh yes you definitely want a small diameter for poking from the bottom. I always just poked from above (easier), so I could've used an exhaust pipe if I wanted ...
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- Member
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 25, 2012 4:11 pm
- Location: Juneau county, Wisconsin
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Mark 1
- Coal Size/Type: Nut & stove
- Other Heating: Vermont Resolute wood stove for the shoulder months
Thanks, this has gave some ideals. I will be shutting down the Mark 111 soon. Will fire up the VC Virgilant with coal conversion 1979. When the grates are cleared, I will fabercate a rod to see how it fits from underneath. Don't want to poke desturb the fuel bed. G
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- CoalHeat
- Member
- Posts: 8862
- Joined: Sat. Feb. 10, 2007 9:48 pm
- Location: Stillwater, New Jersey
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1959 EFM 350
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman Magnafire Mark I
- Baseburners & Antiques: Sears Signal Oak 15 & Andes Kitchen Range
- Coal Size/Type: Rice and Chestnut
- Other Heating: Fisher Fireplace Insert