Conversion of a Riteway #37 Into a Stoker Furnace

Hello to all.

New to the forum and new to coal...been reading here lots now and even before signing up.

Have burned a lot of free firewood through a Longwood F/A Furnace for 18 winters...but that ended 15 years ago.

At this point in life I'm not interested in going back to wood burning...but coal has sparked my interest.

Why do a conversion? you ask...Well, right now I have more time than money...hope this will be worth it.

As the topic title says, I am going to convert a 1970's Riteway 37 downdraft wood/coal stove over to stoker duty.

I will be air jacketing the converted stove and then Add-On into my existing F/A duct system.

The cast iron shaker grate gets removed and I'll be enlarging the ash pan door for taller ash pan.

Have already acquired a new 85K Tri-Burner and Feed Controller w/ T'stat from fellow forum member "Doug".

Doug has shared some of his knowledge as I've been plotting this endeavour in my head and need some guidance.

It's a good feeling to know that I have this forum w/ all the knowledge and experience of the members here to draw on.

Here's some pics. of the Riteway:

This project has a lot of potential! I'm looking forward to seeing it progress.

Here's a "Series" Duct configuration that I am considering implementing as I have currently a ECM Blower Motor in my existing furnace.

See more about ECM Blower Motor here:
http://www.gerbc.com/geecm23.html

F-2500 Add On Wood Furnace Duct Installation

*

TRANSFER DUCT MUST BE AT LEAST 10.5" X 20"
*

ELBOWS OF TRANSFER DUCT MUST BE AT LEAST 6" RADIUS
*

BLOWER PULLEY MAY HAVE TO BE CHANGED TO MAINTAIN ORIGINAL AIR FLOW
*

BLOWER MOTOR MAY HAVE TO BE CHANGED TO HANDLE INCREASED LOAD.

A - EXISTING FURNACE
B - HOT AIR PLENUM
C - RETURN AIR PLENUM
D - COLD AIR
E - TRANSFER DUCT
F - HOT AIR PLENUM (WOOD)
G - F-2500A
H - HOT AIR

I'm using a series set up for my system. I initially set up my system parallel, but found that it was a balancing nightmare. The amount of back flow dampers and increased pressure from two systems operating at the same time, when needed, heated the house when extremely cold outside, but created a lot more draft through the house that made it feel cooler than it really was.

So, my recommendation is for you to use a series system, using your conventional circulation blower fan to push though your solid fuel unit, then to your supply trunk. It is fairly easy to wire your fan limit on the solid fuel unit to turn on the conventional unit's circulation blower fan. You will be much happier with a series set up if you have the space to run the duct work.

That is from my experience, anyway. DOUG

Some background on Riteway Stoves...they came about during the 70's as a result of the oil embargo and higher conventional fuel cost but dwindled as the move to solid fuels slowed when conventional fuels cost came back in line.
It was a common practice to customize and add the air jacket w/ blower and connect the Riteway into the homes duct-work.

Ritway had a good thing and people came to realize it. It was their downdraft, secondary burn,cast iron shaker grate and bi-metal t'stat features that won them high praise. The competition, at the time, had nothing like it.

Riteway being out of business and people still praising the surviving stoves' performance caught the eye of new emerging stove manufacturers.
You only need look to the Hitzer line of stoves and see thier Model 82 which comes in 3 or more different configurations...undoubtedly a Riteway Clone.
And then along comes D S Stove and guess what? The Riteburn, Models which, as well, comes in 3 or more different configurations. another Riteway Clone.

Now, granted, these models are all hand fed and some models are popular among the Amish Community, but the 3 or more different configurations are not all geared toward them.
Some model of these Riteway Clones are Basement Models and Furnace Add On's to be ducted into existing duct-work.

So,here's where I come in...it occurred to me that the next step or level to take this would be to skip the shaker grate and bi-metal t'stat and mount a flat bed stoker, hopper, wall-T'stat. and a jacket & blower.

I found my Donor Stove for this project on Craig's List for a little more than $200. (as seen in first post above) I was surprised...I had 3 to chose from, scattered around my location.
The one I purchased was the better of the 3 and least cost.

My current heat is with a water to air heat-pump w/ "pump and dump" (open system...water-well) Makes my DHW also...not the desuper-heater method...switches over and heats "water to water" at full output till satisfied.

My expectations are to not see a great economic benefit w/ coal ...but...I guess, We'll see.

I have been plugging away on the Riteway Conversion and here's some photo updates of progress...

WOW! It is looking good! Keep us posted. Thanks

Here are some more progress photos: The original Riteway has a fully removable top across entire stove body.
It was bolted w/ tape gasket all around to seal...we have decided to just weld it back on solid, as it was only to allow hand-fired grate assembly to be installed or replaced.
Looking into adding a DHW tube before the top gets welding shut.
We'll also be adding impingement plates vertically and horizontally above Tri-Burner flat grate area.

Oh, and the hopper design is still floating around in my head.

Great job! I can see that this is going to be one really nice performing stove! Can't wait to see the next chapter.

How is the progress of the stove going?

the snowman.

Been real busy on other projects, mostly for relatives.

I just today wrapped up one such project and will soon resume the Conversion Project.

Besides the shop being cluttered w/ the on going project, the basement where the install will go is in dis-array.

For a guy w/ a lot of time, I have been spread pretty thin lately.

Well, back at it some more.

Here's a few pics of new door we made for the Ol' Riteway. ( I call it "The Poor-Way" )

Still need to pick-up a S.S. U-Tube for DHW...probably not many of these added to forced air stoker-furnaces.

Still needing to weld the stove top on...was originally gasket-ed and bolted.

I got lucky and picked up at auction a used/broken galvanized seed broadcaster that mounted to the rear of a tractor ($10.)...great potential for the new coal hopper.

And I remembered I have some large sheets of galvanized 20GA sheet-metal that's been in my shop for a very long time...I'll use for the air jacket.

When-ever I get the jacket all complete it will be time for the duct-work tie-ins.

Already bought Baro-Damper and Fan / High Limit Switch, and stove came w/ some stovepipe.

Looking good! Keep up the good work.

More progress:

Re-Labeled Door

Last look before lid welded on.

The Lid Is On

Now, How the Heck to use this THING for a Hopper

More UPDATES...

Jacket Frame-Work takes shape

Hopper modifications to fit up to stoker.

Some of the duct-work to tie-in the Stoker Furnace to the exiting duct-work

Fabrication of motorized damper in plenum to switch between Stoker or Heat Pump.

Looking into plenum with damper mid swing.

Manual Air Flow Adjusters inside air jacket to provide some balancing/tuning.

Showing how manual internal adjuster will actuate.

Air Jacket done and Furnace moved to location where it will be installed.