Keeping Coal From Sticking to Sides of Hopper ?

Jaycmh · Post by **Jaycmh** » Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 10:53 pm

Hello everyone- I am brand new to the site, so I apologize if this has been discussed.

I have a couple Keystokers - (90k BtU)& was wondering if there is any kind of
Mechanism that can be attached to the hoppers to shake or vibrate the sides so
The coal slides down automatically?

Someone told me that recently that there is something available but I just cannot seem
To find it out there anywhere?

Thanks and appreciate your feedback!

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 11:04 pm

search.php?st=0&sd=d&keywords=coal%20hopper%20bridging

Welcome ! This oughta give You a little reading on a subject that does come up from time to time. Alot of different tacks to take on a sticky subject. Dry Coal is paramount to helping eliminate Coal Bridging. Read on,and give some solutions a try ! Good Luck,and enjoy a slippery slope !

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 11:12 pm

OK,try the link now ! It looks like I blew it up and sent you to the search link itself. I think You've now got 3 pages of previous posts archived on Your subject ! My Bad,so now enjoy !

Jaycmh · Post by **Jaycmh** » Sun. Feb. 21, 2016 11:28 pm

Excellent - thank you very much. I just ordered some of the recommended lubricant,

Clousseau · Post by **Clousseau** » Mon. Feb. 22, 2016 8:41 am

1st year burning rice coal in a KA-6 Keystoker. Have the same problem with bridging if the hopper is only 1/2 full or less. Have to check hopper every 4 hours or so. If it were full, it probably would not happen until it was less than 1/2 full. Having to dry the coal before putting in the hopper does not allow for the hopper to get filled to capacity often. Would using buck stop this bridging from happening as much as long as it was dry? I am going to experiment with 10 bags of buck this week to see how it burns. Some people say you should burn both, rice in the fall & spring, & buck in the cold of the winter. Thoughts?

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Mon. Feb. 22, 2016 10:42 am

For anyone wanting to stir their hopper and inclined to tinker...
BBQ rotisserie motor/rod (bigbox store) adapted to a thru rod w/ small paddles or the likes, and controlled by stoker cycle or whatever...you get the idea.

scoobydoo · Post by **scoobydoo** » Mon. Feb. 22, 2016 10:48 am

This is what I used http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/ez-slide ... oz-aerosol I did it last year and it's still working.I'll probably reapply a fresh coat this fall.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Mon. Feb. 22, 2016 2:24 pm

McGiever wrote:For anyone wanting to stir their hopper and inclined to tinker...
BBQ rotisserie motor/rod (bigbox store) adapted to a thru rod w/ small paddles or the likes, and controlled by stoker cycle or whatever...you get the idea.

Lets see if we can get this design "Red Green" approved....

I see duct taping an orbital sander to the outside of the hopper and having it turn on in parallel with the stoker operation. That should vibrate anything stuck down the funnel. In addition to the sound letting you know its working, it will also mask that annoying combustion fan noise. Since Harold is a little hard of hearing since that firecracker incident, we can simply add a flashing emergency vehicle light to the system so he knows its working!

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Mon. Feb. 22, 2016 3:08 pm

Previous discussions:

Coal Hopper Needs an Auger/Shaker

McGiever wrote:The ACME Hopper Thumper...

You take a rubber mallet and attach the very end of its wood handle to a pivot or hinge and then attach that pivot near to the upper rim of hopper hanging downward...
next fasten a sturdy length of cord to the mallet just below the rubber head and route the cord to your choice...the left or right side of your Strato Lounger using a number of small pulleys as to allow for ease in pulling cord with little binding to apply a series of jerks and Thump that coal into it's place.

captcaper · Post by **captcaper** » Mon. Feb. 22, 2016 5:21 pm

I painted mine with a good primer of Rustoleum then Rustoleum Gloss top coats.. slides right down.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Tue. Feb. 23, 2016 11:32 am

McGiever wrote:For anyone wanting to stir their hopper and inclined to tinker...
BBQ rotisserie motor/rod (bigbox store) adapted to a thru rod w/ small paddles or the likes, and controlled by stoker cycle or whatever...you get the idea.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Char-Griller-Grill-Rot ... /204216524
add your own custom paddles...

Jaycmh · Post by **Jaycmh** » Wed. Feb. 24, 2016 12:50 pm

Great idea- I am going to try this as my plan "B" if the lubricant paint doesn't work.
Thanks for the reply