TSC Rice not the same quality?

I have used TSC rice for years now. But last years supply I question. The ash doesn't fall off the grate into the ash pan during a strong heat demand. It stay's caked up and hit's the front door which makes a huge back up and mound of red coals that'll actually spill over the grates in time. I never had that problem with past TSC or Blaschak. I haven't changed any hardware or adjustments on my Super Mag so I believe it's the Coal from TSC. Maybe I'm wrong but now how to deal with the 6 tons I have for this winter. Maybe I should buy Blaschak and run that to compare to confirm.

Can you fire it up to see how it will do on the new 6 tons? I sure wouldnt wait a month and then learn it wont work. But I would buy some Blaschak to do a test run with just to be sure its the coal.

All this overseas shipping and mining as fast as they can will probably cause some quality issues. I guess it could be taken back to TSC if return time hasnt passed but what a hassle. With the cost of it, it should be good.

Does it do it all the time, or just when running hard? It might be one of those fuse temp things. You could try to mix something else to counter it. Be a pain but I don't see an alternative.

Some coal tends to create ash “cakes” instead of a powdery ash. For many appliances it is not a problem, but on an inclined bed stoker it can cause issues. Often backing off the feed/air a bit will help.

Slowing the blower if possible. Be sure all the air holes are clean.

I would suggest video taping the process. Doing this sometimes will allow you to discover an issue you have not noticed before. It costs nothing.

try adjusting combustion air.

Thanks I'll try adjusting the air or feed settings. And it is only when it's running hard I believe. So it may be feeding too slow and it get's over cooked?

The Coal was bought last spring and was left over from that summer/fall supply I believe. Actually it did it with the previous years Coal as well. So I'll have to try some settings.

The front door is close to the grate on this Super Mag. I guess if one has great coal and or setting good it's not a problem but I would of designed the front door to be further away for any cakeing up. That would give it a chance to drop or break down to the ash pan.

I can confirm that blaschak is bagging coal for tractor supply this year.
I drive truck and occasionally pick up bagged product for one of the local blaschak dealers in my area. I’ve seen pallets of the infamous blue and white bag with the train car on it.

captcaper wrote: ↑

Sat. Sep. 23, 2023 8:35 am

Thanks I'll try adjusting the air or feed settings. And it is only when it's running hard I believe. So it may be feeding too slow and it get's over cooked?

It just means that you are burning the coal up to, or beyond the ash fusion temperature. Turning the air down a little makes it burn a little cooler and will hopefully bring the burn down below the ash fusion point.

This is a pretty common problem on flat grate stokers. In about 2 months, when it gets cold out, the stoker forums will be full of reports of ash stuck to grates and coal pushing over the side. Happens every year when the units start working hard.

-Don

StokerDon wrote: ↑

Sun. Sep. 24, 2023 10:14 am

It just means that you are burning the coal up to, or beyond the ash fusion temperature. Turning the air down a little makes it burn a little cooler and will hopefully bring the burn down below the ash fusion point.

This is a pretty common problem on flat grate stokers. In about 2 months, when it gets cold out, the stoker forums will be full of reports of ash stuck to grates and coal pushing over the side. Happens every year when the units start working hard.

-Don

Thanks. What puzzles me is I didn't change any setting that I know of. But I'll try turning it down when bitter cold temps come or actually when I see it cakeing up for trouble.