The Small Gentleman Janitor

 
User avatar
Scottscoaled
Member
Posts: 2812
Joined: Tue. Jan. 08, 2008 9:51 pm
Location: Malta N.Y.
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520, 700, Van Wert 800 GJ 61,53
Baseburners & Antiques: Magic Stewart 16, times 2!
Coal Size/Type: Lots of buck
Other Heating: Slant Fin electric boiler backup

Post by Scottscoaled » Sat. Feb. 25, 2017 6:32 pm

StokerDon wrote:
Wood'nCoal wrote:It doesn't have a bottom!
Nope!

Gentleman Janitors and Yellow Flames have no bottom.

EFMs, Loschs and BairMatics do have bottoms.

-Don
I have had 4 GJ's that did have a bottom. The last two don't have a bottom. The one's that did have a bottom, were separate bases like an EFM. They were the larger sizes. I think they were newer. I have seen the smallest one as a two piece. Once again, I think the older, smaller size units were the one piece that had no bottoms.


 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sat. Feb. 25, 2017 7:14 pm

Scottscoaled wrote:I have had 4 GJ's that did have a bottom. The last two don't have a bottom. The one's that did have a bottom, were separate bases like an EFM. They were the larger sizes. I think they were newer. I have seen the smallest one as a two piece. Once again, I think the older, smaller size units were the one piece that had no bottoms.
Yah, I generalized that a little to much. Now that I think of it, later Yellow Flames have bottoms to.

-Don

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sat. Feb. 25, 2017 7:35 pm

Well, the little trashcan didn't completely solve the stink problem. It doesn't really seal so some stink got out!

I have a 4 foot bin auger that had a sharp flight on it. I put it on the bench grinder, ground and wire wheeled it smooth. It had a coupler on it and I had a pipe coupler in the basement.
IMG_0962.JPG
.JPG | 92.5KB | IMG_0962.JPG
Then I remembered that some EFM guys use PVC for the bin pipe.
IMG_0960.JPG
.JPG | 86.1KB | IMG_0960.JPG
Found a piece of 2" SCH-40 PVC leftover from the Coal Vac project.
IMG_0961.JPG
.JPG | 77.6KB | IMG_0961.JPG
Pulled the trashcan off and installed the bin auger with lots of anti-seize.
IMG_0968.JPG
.JPG | 82.1KB | IMG_0968.JPG
Cut the PVC to 47.5" and slid it on the auger with the pipe coupler.
IMG_0971.JPG
.JPG | 97.9KB | IMG_0971.JPG
That gives us about 1.5 flights sticking out the end of the pipe.
IMG_0973.JPG
.JPG | 102.3KB | IMG_0973.JPG
If that doesn't fix the stink, I don't know what to do.

One thing I noticed right away, the PVC is a lot louder than the steel pipe I had before. You can really hear the coal moving along in there.
IMG_0976.JPG
.JPG | 118.8KB | IMG_0976.JPG
After I installed the bin pipe and auger there was a long heat call. I got down on my knees again to watch.
IMG_0978.JPG
.JPG | 58.4KB | IMG_0978.JPG
IMG_0979.JPG
.JPG | 57.3KB | IMG_0979.JPG
-Don

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 8:01 am

No stink this morning. The long pipe seems to always solve this problem.

I put up a video of just the flames! Half way through, I turned the air up to 8 just to make it interesting. After the stoker shut down, the flames still came pouring out on natural draft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQd8tD8G-UA&list=PLFU8SaWNbzx_aaTKBbd3s8L_AIN2LhuP2&index=30

-Don

 
User avatar
windyhill4.2
Member
Posts: 6072
Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 8:19 am

I keep looking at those brackets on the inside of the boiler & wonder if it originally had a baffle hanging in there so the flames would hit the baffle & then go out towards the boiler walls b4 going up & out.

Nice video of fire & I really liked your background musical selection. :)

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 8:25 am

windyhill4.2 wrote:I keep looking at those brackets on the inside of the boiler & wonder if it originally had a baffle hanging in there so the flames would hit the baffle & then go out towards the boiler walls b4 going up & out.
Yes, from what I was told, there was a stainless baffle above the fire. I don't know how well it worked and it looks way better without it!
windyhill4.2 wrote:Nice video of fire & I really liked your background musical selection. :)
I like the classics W.H.. Classic EFM that is! :lol:

-Don

 
User avatar
windyhill4.2
Member
Posts: 6072
Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both

Post by windyhill4.2 » Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 8:32 am

StokerDon wrote:
windyhill4.2 wrote:I keep looking at those brackets on the inside of the boiler & wonder if it originally had a baffle hanging in there so the flames would hit the baffle & then go out towards the boiler walls b4 going up & out.
Yes, from what I was told, there was a stainless baffle above the fire. I don't know how well it worked and it looks way better without it!
windyhill4.2 wrote:Nice video of fire & I really liked your background musical selection. :)
I like the classics W.H.. Classic EFM that is! :lol:

-Don
I would agree with it looking better without a baffle,that arch just gives a very special look to the fire. :D

That classical EFM sound is a GREAT musical choice :up:


 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 9:16 am

I just realized that I don't know how old the S-15 stoker is. The serial number on the blower housing is 56820.
IMG_0073.JPG
.JPG | 108.4KB | IMG_0073.JPG
There is a thread about how to tell the age of an EFM by the serial number on the stoker data plate. I always have a hard time finding it so here it is again.
stoker-man @ Dating S-15, S-20, S-22, S-30, S-35, S-45 Stokers

It's called "Dating S-15, S-20, S-22, S-30, S-35, S-45 stokers" if you are doing a search.

Looks like this one was built in 1963. A little difficult to figure out though. I think there is a type-O in the "1963 57639 - 56980" line for the S-15 stokers. It should start at 56639, otherwise it doesn't make sense.

-Don

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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. Mar. 03, 2017 7:05 pm

ALMOST AN OUTFIRE!!!

I got home from work today and the EFM was crank'in away but the fire was very small.
IMG_0985.JPG
.JPG | 117.2KB | IMG_0985.JPG
IMG_0986.JPG
.JPG | 54.4KB | IMG_0986.JPG
There was also a lot of stink!. I opened the trashcan and smoke came out. "Oh!, It's out of coal!"
IMG_0987.JPG
.JPG | 100.1KB | IMG_0987.JPG
I filled the trashcan and spun the hand crank about 80 times.
IMG_0989.JPG
.JPG | 118.1KB | IMG_0989.JPG
All is well again.
IMG_0988.JPG
.JPG | 86KB | IMG_0988.JPG
IMG_0992.JPG
.JPG | 102.3KB | IMG_0992.JPG
Run'in pretty low on garage coal. I guess I will either shut it down in a couple weeks or buy some more coal.
IMG_0993.JPG
.JPG | 106KB | IMG_0993.JPG
-Don

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sat. Mar. 04, 2017 7:16 pm

The local feed mill sells bagged Kimmel's, so I figured I'd go and pick up 20 bags.
IMG_0994.JPG
.JPG | 113KB | IMG_0994.JPG
There 50 pound'ers so that's half a ton. That, combined with the leftover Blaschak, should last til May, I hope!
IMG_0995.JPG
.JPG | 106.5KB | IMG_0995.JPG
I cut open 15 bags by the doorway of the coal bin. I left 5 in the bag because I was starting to block the doorway. The Blaschak is at the back of the bin and I want to use that first since it is nice and dry.
IMG_0997.JPG
.JPG | 127.1KB | IMG_0997.JPG
While I was at it, I topped off the trashcan with some Kimmel's.
IMG_0998.JPG
.JPG | 139.3KB | IMG_0998.JPG
Six days worth of ashes.
IMG_0999.JPG
.JPG | 102.1KB | IMG_0999.JPG
The ash diverter in this boiler doesn't work quite as well as the one in the GJ-51.
IMG_1000.JPG
.JPG | 108.9KB | IMG_1000.JPG
I have not pulled the fines lever since the refill last Sunday. This is 6 days worth of fines from about 150 pounds of coal.
IMG_1001.JPG
.JPG | 189.3KB | IMG_1001.JPG
IMG_1002.JPG
.JPG | 142.3KB | IMG_1002.JPG
This is slightly more than I collected from the GJ-51/EFM S-20 after 120 pounds of coal. So I guess this is about normal for an EFM. My Van Wert just eats the fines along with the coal.

-Don

 
User avatar
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

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Mar. 04, 2017 7:26 pm

The GJ stoker I used to own had a plate with two bolts on the bottom of the pot. I realize that the concentric rings may not allow fines to accumulate as quickly as the EFM grate design, but I thought unbolting that plate was a lot of work just to empty the fines.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sat. Mar. 04, 2017 7:38 pm

CoalHeat wrote:The GJ stoker I used to own had a plate with two bolts on the bottom of the pot. I realize that the concentric rings may not allow fines to accumulate as quickly as the EFM grate design, but I thought unbolting that plate was a lot of work just to empty the fines.
The Van Wert is the same deal as the GJ stoker. At first, I though exactly what you are thinking, "there's no way people take this stupid plate off once a week!". So I made a slide door for the bottom of the Van Wert stoker. I opened it once every few days at first, Noth'in. Once a week, Noth'in, once every couple of weeks, Someth'in!. But not enough to worry about.

Bottom line, it's a once or twice a year thing on a Van Wert. I suspect the GJ is the same.

-Don

 
User avatar
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

Post by CoalHeat » Sat. Mar. 04, 2017 9:41 pm

That's what I figured. I'm glad EFM has the lever!

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sat. Apr. 08, 2017 8:32 pm

This small GJ and small EFM have been running very well. So well that I haven't really thought about it much over the passed month!
IMG_1085.JPG
.JPG | 108.1KB | IMG_1085.JPG
Last night I noticed that it was skipping teeth again. Today I wire wheeled the drive pawl and the shoulder bolt it rides on. I know I said I would do that last month but I never got around to it.
IMG_1079.JPG
.JPG | 135.4KB | IMG_1079.JPG
IMG_1080.JPG
.JPG | 94.9KB | IMG_1080.JPG
IMG_1081.JPG
.JPG | 108.7KB | IMG_1081.JPG
It is running nice and smooth now. This is yet another conversion boiler that has turned out very well. It runs when it needs to and idles there is no need for heat. No out fires over the passed month, just effortless running.

It gets through most of the week on one trashcan full of coal. If it's cold out, I fill it up on Thursday, if not, Friday or Saturday. I top it off and empty the ashes ever Sunday.

It will be time to shut it down soon. The forecast for the coming week has 70's and 80's in it. The Summer doldrums are close at hand.

-Don

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
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 » Sun. Apr. 16, 2017 7:37 pm

This week was the first time we went 7 days on 1 trashcan full of coal!
IMG_1090.JPG
.JPG | 108.7KB | IMG_1090.JPG
And there was still some in there.
IMG_1091.JPG
.JPG | 97.1KB | IMG_1091.JPG
I filled it with what was left of the Blaschak from 2 years ago.
IMG_1093.JPG
.JPG | 107.2KB | IMG_1093.JPG
Still have a few weeks of Kimmles left to feed it.
IMG_1092.JPG
.JPG | 91.3KB | IMG_1092.JPG
Took a look around to see if it developed any leaks.
IMG_1094.JPG
.JPG | 102.2KB | IMG_1094.JPG
IMG_1095.JPG
.JPG | 99.8KB | IMG_1095.JPG
Even the DHW coil plate has held up just fine.
IMG_1096.JPG
.JPG | 111.9KB | IMG_1096.JPG
IMG_1097.JPG
.JPG | 107.6KB | IMG_1097.JPG
IMG_1105.JPG
.JPG | 127.7KB | IMG_1105.JPG
The fire still looks Awesome!
IMG_1098.JPG
.JPG | 99KB | IMG_1098.JPG
IMG_1103.JPG
.JPG | 67.6KB | IMG_1103.JPG
Everything is running normally.
IMG_1107.JPG
.JPG | 92.9KB | IMG_1107.JPG
IMG_1106.JPG
.JPG | 69.1KB | IMG_1106.JPG
IMG_1109.JPG
.JPG | 147.1KB | IMG_1109.JPG
At this point, I'm really just running it for fun. With temps in the 60's, 70's and even 80's, there is no reason to keep it running.
IMG_1108.JPG
.JPG | 69.2KB | IMG_1108.JPG
The boiler has been under pressure for close to 2 months now. I guess it ain't gonna leak!

-Don


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”