Harman Magnum Stoker - surfer/gas through hopper

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Salbert
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman Magnum Stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Salbert » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 10:29 pm

I bought my Harmon stoker last summer used. I cleaned it up and have tried running it for the past month. I have gone several days with no problem but then I get a terrible sulfur smell that seems to come through the hopper. The smell had come both at moderate temperatures and on cold nights. Three times now my CO detectors have gone off. I have had a stove company come out and look it over and a chimney sweep guy come and check the chimney and flue out. Both did not see problems. I believe my issue is a back fire, but don’t know how to control the location of the fire on my grates without turning the feed adjuster forward. If I adjust it, I get coal that isn’t fully burnt dumping into the ash pan. I like coal, and want to continue using it. My concern is if I have a bad stove. Don’t want to go out and spend a couple thousand dollars on a new one if it’s a simple fix or user error. I’m hoping someone can help me out .

 
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Hambden Bob
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Location: Hambden Twp. Geauga County,Ohio
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman 1998 Magnum Stoker
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Blower Model Coal Chubby 1982-Serial#0097
Coal Size/Type: Rice-A-Roni ! / Nut
Other Heating: Pro-Pain Forced Air

Post by Hambden Bob » Sun. Dec. 17, 2017 10:38 pm

My Friend,Welcome ! Merry Christmas !

Uhh,this isn't anything to dismiss,for sure. I'm only a Knuckledragger,but for the moment,it sounds like You may be force-feeding too much combustion air into the stove and are over-pressuring it. Your fan(1 of 2) that controls that will be on the lower side of the stove,and have an adjustable flap or cover that can control the inlet to the combustion fan(There's also a screen on that fan,so make sure it's clean,too.

The more that flap covers the inlet,the less combustion air is pushed in. Others will chime in on top of me,but they'll probably tell You to get Your hands on a Manometer to check Your Flue Draft,and adjust Your air accordingly so that combustion is supported and all gasses get sucked up the chimney where they belong,instead of being pushed out of an over-pressured firebox through the Hopper....

Just My Thoughts,but something fer 'Ya to chew on for a while !

 
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McGiever
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Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Mon. Dec. 18, 2017 9:13 am

HB nailed...less air.
And if that sends unburnt coal over the edge, then adjust for less coal feed, ya got to still maintain factory spec. chimney draft.

Less air and less coal at proper ratio and you will be just right.

HB is spot on about needing the manometer too, to read and set the draft and keep all the CO moving up chimny, and not pressurizing the stove and hopper. Also with stove being 'fine tuned' you'll use your coal w/o sending a lot of heat out the chimney. :yes:

 
Salbert
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman Magnum Stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Salbert » Mon. Dec. 18, 2017 11:48 am

Thanks for your help! I will work on these adjustments and get back to everyone. Where do you get a manometer and are they simple to install?

 
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Hambden Bob
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Posts: 8535
Joined: Mon. Jan. 04, 2010 10:54 am
Location: Hambden Twp. Geauga County,Ohio
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman 1998 Magnum Stoker
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Blower Model Coal Chubby 1982-Serial#0097
Coal Size/Type: Rice-A-Roni ! / Nut
Other Heating: Pro-Pain Forced Air

Post by Hambden Bob » Mon. Dec. 18, 2017 4:56 pm

search.php?keywords=MANOMETER&sf=firstpost

As the J. Geil's Band once said : "We Are Going To Blow Your Face Out !"...... Well,the above link should just about Blow Your Eyes Out ! Not only will You learn about Manometers and their use,but aquisition as well. You'll get the jist comprehending just how important competent Draft/Chimney set-ups are.

Remember,on Your Inaugaral Visit here,Dr. McGiever is All Over This ! I,on the other hand,am some guy with a mouse and a keyboard !!

Merry Christmas,and please report back !


 
Salbert
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman Magnum Stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Salbert » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 1:01 pm

I am about to setup my nanometer. If my draft isn’t measuring what it should, what adjustments should be made? I can adjust the combustion fan, however if there is not enough draft, what is recommended?

 
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McGiever
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Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 1:50 pm

That depends...Report back after you try out the manometer. :stfu:

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 2:08 pm

If you are overpressurizing the fire box with the combustion fan, and the exhaust can't pull the fumes out, then it will come out of the hopper, since that is not sealed into the stove. Maybe adjust the combustion fan down some, make sure your exhaust blower if it has one, is adjusted properly.
Not sure if those grates get sealed with a sealant? sometimes on certain models of stoves, if the grates are not sealed correctly, it can burn back towards the hopper and leak up into it.

Make small adjustments and let it settle out for a while. And always keep eye on your CO levels, Thank goodness you had one! If evertything is adjusted properly, you should not have any CO leakage thru the hopper.

 
Salbert
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman Magnum Stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Salbert » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 7:10 pm

Thanks for the tips. I have her up and running right now and pretty much closed the flap on the combustion fan. The fire is burning about one inch from the edge of the shelf. I wanted to install my manometer (Dwyer) but it didn’t come with the copper piece that goes into the flue. I don’t know what that piece is called or where to get it. Hopefully no CO leaks. Time and detectors will tell.

 
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pete8116
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Leisure Line Pioneer Rear Vent

Post by pete8116 » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 7:25 pm

It's called a Dwyer Brass Adapter, A-339, 1/8" NPT to 3/16" Rubber and 1/8" ID Plastic Tubing.
Here is the link where I bought mine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PCXX7UA/ref= ... UTF8&psc=1


 
Salbert
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Posts: 6
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman Magnum Stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Salbert » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 9:14 pm

Here is what I’ve got after 5 hours...

Attachments


 
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McGiever
Member
Posts: 10130
Joined: Sun. May. 02, 2010 11:26 pm
Location: Junction of PA-OH-WV
Stoker Coal Boiler: AXEMAN-ANDERSON 130 "1959"
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: BUCKET A DAY water heater
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Warm Morning 414A
Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Dec. 27, 2017 11:26 pm

You got edgeamacated, now didn't ya! :)

 
Salbert
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Posts: 6
Joined: Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 10:36 pm
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman Magnum Stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Salbert » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 1:21 pm

So far so good. Seems to be taking less coal and keeping the fire closer to the edge of the shelf.

 
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Hambden Bob
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Posts: 8535
Joined: Mon. Jan. 04, 2010 10:54 am
Location: Hambden Twp. Geauga County,Ohio
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman 1998 Magnum Stoker
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Blower Model Coal Chubby 1982-Serial#0097
Coal Size/Type: Rice-A-Roni ! / Nut
Other Heating: Pro-Pain Forced Air

Post by Hambden Bob » Thu. Dec. 28, 2017 9:23 pm

On Time,On Target ! Nice Job,Hammer ! More importantly,Thanx for getting back to Us and letting Us know how You made out ! We Luv feedback !

Hope Your Christmas was Good,and may Your New Year be even Better !

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