Coal sizeing issue

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Dieselinblood
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: harman st8-vf8
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: wood propane and kero

Post by Dieselinblood » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 10:16 am

So i'm running my 1987 Harmon st8-vf8 Stove on Rice coal for the 4th year.
this year however, it looks like my coal very irregular. It bridges up and burns back on me, then when i adjust it up so it will feed, it pushes burning coal off into the ash pan. I have also noticed when it fails to feed i am filling the fines tray about half way every day.

What is the Proper size for Rice coal? i have seen different numbers

I am thinking of making a screen and classifying it before i burn it to reduce the cold floors in the morning.

Anything else i should try? or look for?

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 10:46 am

Hope this helps.

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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
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Post by McGiever » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 11:43 am

Which grate do you have, 1 piece or the 2 piece? Are they a little warped, maybe?
Anyways, you might try running a little fire cement down the grate joints especially along the side edges...use a wet finger to smooth out cement like glass...use a wet cloth to take excess off finger and re-dip finger in water cup often.

Sealing grates gives you better and more even air control...if air control is bad the fire will be bad...it's just that simple. :)

Good Luck and Happy New Years to Ya. :D

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 12:47 pm

Dieselinblood wrote:
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 10:16 am
What is the Proper size for Rice coal?
About the size of pencil eraser.

 
Dieselinblood
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: harman st8-vf8
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: wood propane and kero

Post by Dieselinblood » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 4:54 pm

i think some is over sized? what are your option? defiantly bigger then an pencil eraser.

I have a one piece grate there are no cracks. sense this started i cleaned the combustion fan and made sure it was spinning up properly.

What i noticed is that the coal does not drop properly in front of the stoker push block.

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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:40 pm

Click on the chart above, it enlarges it & you tell me. :)

 
Dieselinblood
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: harman st8-vf8
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: wood propane and kero

Post by Dieselinblood » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 8:25 pm

So . . . i had a 2 x 2 piece of 3/8" square perforated sheet so i built a
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screen.
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after about 15 pounds
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and after running a 50 pound bag threw it
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had over 3 pounds that would not go threw and i had to work to get that much threw.
could this cause my feed to jamb up?

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 8:59 pm

Your pix are showin about the same size as on the chart for rice, soooo, I'm thinkin that's not your problem.

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 9:07 pm

Certainly looks like there is some buck mixed in. Most stoves designed for rice will typically operate with buck fine however it's prone to burn back as you are experiencing potentially into the hopper.
I have also noticed when it fails to feed i am filling the fines tray about half way every day.
Presumably this was not an issue before? sounds like it is blocking it and the pusher bar is grinding it up?

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 9:07 pm

freetown fred wrote:
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 8:59 pm
Your pix are showin about the same size as on the chart for rice, soooo, I'm thinkin that's not your problem.
Definitely buckwheat...


 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 9:10 pm

Then according to his pix he's got a lot of rice mixed in.

 
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Richard S.
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Post by Richard S. » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 9:31 pm

freetown fred wrote:
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 9:10 pm
Then according to his pix he's got a lot of rice mixed in.
I would describe most of that is being very large rice bordering on buck and about 25% of it being buck.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 9:47 pm

So I'm curious, what's his solution?

 
Dieselinblood
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: harman st8-vf8
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: wood propane and kero

Post by Dieselinblood » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 10:22 pm

i have screened out about 100 pounds of it and will fill it up with that tonight and see what it does. there is over 5 pounds that would not pass threw maybe it was to chunky to fit in the feeder. . . i will let you know

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