Firebox Capacity Shrinking

I have a New Yorker WC90, it holds 40lbs of coal. I can't get all the ash down when I shake the grates and there seems to be alot of coal that hasn't burned along the perimeter of the firebox. Is there anything I can to maximize my coal capcity?

slabadie wrote:I have a New Yorker WC90, it holds 40lbs of coal. I can't get all the ash down when I shake the grates and there seems to be alot of coal that hasn't burned along the perimeter of the firebox. Is there anything I can to maximize my coal capcity?

Yes.....open the ash door & get a good lively fie going & then poke down into the fire from the top. Dig down into the sides & twist the poker as you do this, to break up any clinkers/clumps. Then shake down & you have a nice clean coal bed. If you do this every few days, as part of your normal shake down procedure, you'll always keep your stove pretty free of excess ash.
The key to this is too only do it when you have a good, lively fire going or you could smother your fire.