Coal Bridges and Stops Firing

Ironstone · Post by **Ironstone** » Wed. Dec. 09, 2009 7:10 pm

I have a Keystone keystoker Hopper fed coal stove. Coal burn well for 4 ot 5 hours then firing slows down and stove temp drops. Coal doesn't drop when I shake the grates. I can break it free with a poker then it fired normally foranother 5 hours. Any suggestions? I use Reading Coal - mix of pea and nut.

Carlos · Post by **Carlos** » Wed. Dec. 09, 2009 7:34 pm

Ironstone wrote:I have a Keystone keystoker Hopper fed coal stove. Coal burn well for 4 ot 5 hours then firing slows down and stove temp drops. Coal doesn't drop when I shake the grates. I can break it free with a poker then it fired normally foranother 5 hours. Any suggestions? I use Reading Coal - mix of pea and nut.

Have you tried other coal?

wlape3 · Post by **wlape3** » Wed. Dec. 09, 2009 7:37 pm

Coal should be ok. I used Reading coal in my hand fed without issue. What might be happening is the ashes are not shaking down well or perhaps you need to try just pea coal for a while. Any chance there is a piece of wood stuck in the hopper?

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Thu. Dec. 10, 2009 7:10 am

Ironstone wrote:I have a Keystone keystoker Hopper fed coal stove. Coal burn well for 4 ot 5 hours then firing slows down and stove temp drops. Coal doesn't drop when I shake the grates. I can break it free with a poker then it fired normally foranother 5 hours. Any suggestions? I use Reading Coal - mix of pea and nut.

I had this happen with my HITZER 50-93. Coal started hanging up in the hopper. Problem was; I warped the hopper. It was my fault. I knew I was running it a little hot. Look down inside the hopper. Most likely the bottom of the hopper will be warped in a little. It doesn't take much, and the coal will hang up. Bituminous coal likes to bridge. I assume you're burning anthracite.