Koker 160 Running

I got my Koker running for the first time in my new house. Seems to be working great so far. Feed rate is now 8 full turns CCW from all the way out. I'm thinking I still need to adjust this a bit but for some reason I'm concerned with the blue flames burning behind the hot coals (see pics). Should I be concerned with this and a hopper fire? I monitored for a day or so and it hasn't moved back towards the hopper any more plus the flames are being pulled towards the front of the stove so my draft is good with no air leaks from the back. Can I keep cutting back the feed rate until I get a minimal fire without going out?

Looking for some feed back, take a look at the pics.

Thanks!

Have you measured the draft? That is more important (in my opinion) than 8 or 9 turns of feed. What was the factory feed setting? I wouldn't mess with it unless your fire looks wrong at full output.

Your timer cycles seem pretty long, I thought they recommend 1.5 minutes every 10 minutes?

I bought the stove used so as far as the defaults from factory I wouldn't know. Does anyone know what the default feed rate and number of pins are from the factory?

Call Keystoker and ask.

The manual confirms Rob's figure of 1.5 minutes of run time on the timer every 10 minutes - see http://www.keystoker.com/manuals/2012/Koker-Thermostat.pdf .

The manual also says the feed rate is preset at the factory, but I didn't find it specified anywhere.

If the pics were taken after the unit was running for a while, I would say, assuming the draft is right, that it needs a little more feed or a little less air. The band of ash looks too wide.

Mike

So the previous owner must have been using extra pins since I have 3 groups of 10 (2.5 minutes) instead of the default 3 groups of 6 (1.5 minutes). I'll pull a couple out and see what happens.

Also, the pics taken where running idle for a few hours but the feed rate was set at about 2 full ccw turns from the full out position. I have since backed the feed rate down to 6 ccw turns and my burn line has gotten smaller. I think adjusting the timer will be the ticket.

Thanks Mike and Rob for the input.

You still need to call Keystoker and see what the default feed setting is.

Default feed rate that is set by Keystoker is 4 ccw turns from max setting.

Thank you, that will be useful for future readers.

Is there an air adjustment on the combustion blower?

Yes, there is a shutter to control air flow. First I will remove some pins as I to have too many to start with. Then if needed, I will restrict the air flow.

Don't worry about the blue flames migrating towards the hopper. As long as the RED glowing coals don't migrate backwards you will be fine. To prevent the migration of the burning coals, make sure your draft maintains itself to recommended levels and if you remove the burn grates for cleaning, MAKE SURE you cement them back in the same way they were originally (this ensures the blowing air follows the proper path!!!!).

I posted the following on another earlier thread at : IS This Flame Too Close to the Hopper? :

One of my responses to the previous thread : On my koker, the glowing part of the coal bed never moves upstream of the grate vents, but the blue flames will migrate (waft) towards the back, most likely just being blown around by the combustion air. The air is blowing through a good 2 inches of coal, so some of it will wander a little and not blow straight up.

I bought my koker last year and I think it came from the factory with 4 pins 3 times. I have been running 3 pins 3 times and stove idols great sipping coal. I'm still a newbie so I could be wrong but I would #1 get draft set, #2 adjust stroke to 1-2in of ash at end of grate when calling for heat,#3 adjust pins at idol.

Removed 4 pins from each set so I currently have 3 sets of 6 pins. Big improvement seen while the stove is idle. Much smaller fire while idling. I may pull one more pin out of each set but it seems pretty darn good right now.

Thanks for all the input guys.

Bring on the cold weather!!!!

I have been running mine with 4 pins every 10 minutes and it idles good I did try 3 pins in the past but was afraid of losing the fire.