Troubleshooting my A-120 and shortcycling

 
DBCoop
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker A-120

Post by DBCoop » Tue. Nov. 13, 2018 9:48 pm

I recently acquired a old A-120. my first coal furnace.. in a home we just purchased and had to rebuild due to vandals gutting everything.. and this is the only furnace i could get that i kjnew we could afford.. and so anyhow.. after doing a bit of cleaning to it and clearing the burn grate.. I finally got a chance to fire it up and try to light my first coal fire.. which took a couple tries. but she is going now..

But now I have an issue with the furnace short cycling.. its turning on and off the blower within 10 seconds typically.. and I know the temp can't possibly be dropping from 160° to 120° within 10 seconds..

Got two videos attached for anyone to chime in..

First one is of the Fan limit control switch and its operation..

Second video is just of the inside of the furnace and fire to give an idea of how the fire looks during this time.

Any input is much appreciated.. thanks much fellas you've been a great help so far


 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Tue. Nov. 13, 2018 10:00 pm

Maybe time for a new fan/limit.
There are no tweaks or tricks to make them come back to being good as new.

 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Tue. Nov. 13, 2018 10:37 pm

McGiever wrote:
Tue. Nov. 13, 2018 10:00 pm
Maybe time for a new fan/limit.
There are no tweaks or tricks to make them come back to being good as new.
Yep! Fairly certain.

See how the dial jumps and snaps when it turned on? Shouldn't do that. And you know it isn't turning on at the right setting, either.

Tip: Be sure to hold the dial still when setting the tabs. Twisting it can break is (maybe that is what the PO did?)

When installing the new one, be sure the inside portion isn't close to the furnace surface itself. You only want to measure air temp in the plenum.

Get that new on installed and get us another video. Great job on that, BTW, it makes troubleshooting MUCH easier :yes:

 
DBCoop
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker A-120

Post by DBCoop » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 12:04 am

K. Good ti hear my suspicions were correct.. I ordered a new limit switch the other day and it will be here tomorrow. Does the height if the flame and fire look good for constantly calling for heat?
The feed is a turn from maxed



Can't get image to show in forum. Here is link

Attachments

furnaceburn.png
.PNG | 1.1MB | furnaceburn.png
Last edited by DBCoop on Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 8:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 12:18 am

I'm not seeing a pic. Look below the text box (full editor) to see attachments. 'Add Files' to upload a pic. Put your cursor in your post where you want the pic and select 'Place Inline'

That will take care of the picture.

Does the flame look a little lazy? What is your draft with the door close and the stoker firing?

I don't know your stoker, but it looks similar to my Keystoker KA6. If mine looked like that, I'd be looking at the air- draft + combustion air. Should be more 'blast furnace' or 'blow torch' than 'campfire' or 'bonfire'

Hard to tell from the video as the lenses don't always get the color and light correct (ask me how I know, LOL)

Certainly doesn't look bad, that's for sure :yes:

 
DBCoop
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Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker A-120

Post by DBCoop » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 8:42 am

Ahh thanks much for tip.. I didnt realize you could upload them to forum also.. i fixed it.. picture should be showing fine now..

 
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McGiever
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 8:50 am

Full time heat/fire call should be near to pushing off hot coals...you need to move the burning line way down the grates.


 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 9:03 am

That's better with the pic now ;)

McGiever is right, turn up your feed one turn at a time and wait about an hour or two and re-evaltuate.

 
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Post by DBCoop » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 10:58 am

What if my coal feed is at max? Have it turned all way in. That was after bout 3 hours burn time.


On a slight dif note.. Is this ash typical? It seems bit hard for being "burned"


I just ordered a manometer and a dampner cause i feel like that's my concern. Hopefully you guys can confirm for me based on the ash..

 
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Post by Olllotj » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 11:04 am

Turned all the way in is one thing, but if the fan switch is malfunctioning, then it may not be calling for heat

 
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Post by leoman584 » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 11:48 am

My oil furnace did the same thing a while back. I had to get a new motor for the blower. It was smoked and couldn't be repaired.

 
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Post by DBCoop » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 11:53 am

Olllotj wrote:
Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 11:04 am
Turned all the way in is one thing, but if the fan switch is malfunctioning, then it may not be calling for heat
It was def calling for heat nonstop.. I could tell by watching the fan and the nylon gear in there spinning around.. so wasn't due to that..

 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
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Post by McGiever » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 2:40 pm

Olllotj wrote:
Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 11:04 am
Turned all the way in is one thing, but if the fan switch is malfunctioning, then it may not be calling for heat
Nothing but a switch for on and off as a distribution blower in duct work...cannot start the stoker...but can only kill the stoker power as a High Limit.

 
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McGiever
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Coal Size/Type: PEA,NUT,STOVE /ANTHRACITE
Other Heating: Ground Source Heat Pump and some Solar

Post by McGiever » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 2:44 pm

DBCoop wrote:
Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 11:53 am
It was def calling for heat nonstop.. I could tell by watching the fan and the nylon gear in there spinning around.. so wasn't due to that..
If turned all the way already then you have linkage that is shorter than factory new...melted nylon perhaps???

 
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Post by StokerDon » Wed. Nov. 14, 2018 8:05 pm

I seriously doubt that there is anything wrong with your fan switch. In watching the video it reacted completely normal. It clicked ON, ran the blower until the temperature came down and then it shut off. Jumping at shutoff is perfectly normal, it's a big spring so yes it will jump.

The real problem is that you don't have a big enough fire to support the volume of air that the blower is moving so you get a short cycle. You need to get your feed rate up and get a little more air in that fire.

Buying a new fan switch will not solve this problem. Get it firing on all 8 cylinders first.

-Don


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