Can’t get my Alaska stove to light, need help

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Colin_Z
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Location: Coal Township, PA
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Colin_Z » Sun. Nov. 18, 2018 8:45 am

This is the first time I ever had this problem. Alaska KAST console lll with carpet feeder.
Things I did:
-Warmed chimney using a kindling fire.
-All gaskets and strong back replaced.
-Grate taken off and cleaned.
-Chimney is clear of any fly ash.
-Feeder motor taken off and cleaned, oiled.
-Using starter mice to start and can’t get the coal to ignite.
-Seem to have good airflow coming through the grate.

Any help would be appreciated, Thank You.

 
KLook
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Post by KLook » Sun. Nov. 18, 2018 9:15 am

Maybe bad mice? I used regular barbecue briquets and soaked them in lighter fluid. Get them going good and make sure the coal has already fed to the top of the ramp. Or fill in by hand behind the briquets. Turn on the feed and air and hit it with a propane torch if it doesn't respond well. I dont see how it could be a draft issue. Did you clean the holes in the bed itself?

Kevin

 
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Colin_Z
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Post by Colin_Z » Sun. Nov. 18, 2018 9:23 am

Poked every grate hole, made sure the grate was seated properly on the gasket. The combustion fan seems to be spinning freely. I’ve used like 8 mice and no luck, usually fires right up using 1. Is it possible the fan isn’t running at full speed?


 
KLook
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Post by KLook » Sun. Nov. 18, 2018 9:39 am

There is a thread real close in active topics that is many pages long about methods to start up. Maybe try one of those? There are discussions on how to use the mice in there. The only factor you have not covered is the coal you are trying to light....Cant imagine that is a factor. Not familiar with that bed feeder, is there a cleanout like on the VF3000 that could be left open and kill the air going thru the bed?

Kevin

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Sun. Nov. 18, 2018 9:42 am

make sure you have enough coal on top of the mice and or buried in a pocket of coal and it's over the grate holes. Light it and plug the stove in to get the air flowing thru the coal mice and get it hot. You can Put some charcoal in there too, that helps sometimes.

Make sure your combustion blower is working good and good air flow thru the grates, the coal mice usually take right off once you introduce the combustion air.

huge thread on lighting the stoves, as mentioned above.

 
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StanT
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Post by StanT » Mon. Nov. 19, 2018 6:38 am

My sister had same problem, Found she was above the air holes in the grate,
We use wood pellets to light our stoves, make a hole in the coal soak pellets with some kero in a jar add about 3 tablespoons, light , works great.

Good luck, Stant


 
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CoalisCoolxWarm
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Post by CoalisCoolxWarm » Tue. Nov. 20, 2018 3:50 pm

Hardwood charcoal (ie Cowboy charcoal) is your friend :yes:

 
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Colin_Z
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Post by Colin_Z » Tue. Nov. 20, 2018 8:03 pm

Finally got it started. Thanks for all the suggestions. This is the first time I ever had problems. Bought a new feed motor and installed it. It doesn’t seem to spin the combustion fan any faster than my old one but I guess it worked. The old one had a date of 1994 on it, so I guess it wasn’t a bad idea to replace it. Also dried out my chimney to make sure I had good draft. It’s nice to have a warm house again. :D
-Colin

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