Fire won’t stay lit
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- New Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon. Dec. 30, 2019 11:41 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Kodiak
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Yes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Yes
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
I have an Alaska Kodiak coal stove and it just won’t stay lit. I had it cleaned and serviced the exhaust is working as far as I know the fans are working as far as I know is there anything I can do or check to see if I’m doing something wrong
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Hi Warner, welcome to our coal community we can certainly help you with that. Please explain your fire starting process and tending. Pictures are worth a lot of typing lol
Are you new to coal?
Are you new to coal?
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- New Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon. Dec. 30, 2019 11:41 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Kodiak
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Yes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Yes
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
I am new to coal. I will post some pics of the stove. We tried kindling and quick light charcoal it starts to burn the rice but never stays lit.
- nepacoal
- Member
- Posts: 1701
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
You would never use rice in a hand fed stove. It calls for nut or pea. Was rice a typo?
The single biggest mistake new coal burners make is not putting enough coal in the stove. Coal needs a deep bed to burn properly. Are you filling it to the top of the fire bricks (assuming you are really burning nut or pea)?
- Lightning
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 14669
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
- Location: Olean, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
- Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite
Ah yes, it's a hand fed. I was confused when I saw rice. You need at least pea size or nut size coal for that stove. Rice is too tight to allow combustion air up thru and will fall thru the grates. My choice would be the nut size coal.
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- Member
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sun. Nov. 01, 2009 6:40 pm
- Location: Wilds of Central Delaware
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Keystoker A150
- Coal Size/Type: Rice (usually Blaschack)
- Other Heating: Propane
in addition to the size question -> are you trying to light it on the top of the bed and expecting it to burn DOWN?
Coal needs to be started from the bottom and burn UP.
try putting the already red / burning charcoal / kindling on the grate and pile the coal ON TOP.
needs lots of air at this stage - so don't totally smother it so air cannot get through..(hence the question about rice)
Coal needs to be started from the bottom and burn UP.
try putting the already red / burning charcoal / kindling on the grate and pile the coal ON TOP.
needs lots of air at this stage - so don't totally smother it so air cannot get through..(hence the question about rice)
- Rick 386
- Member
- Posts: 2508
- Joined: Mon. Jan. 28, 2008 4:26 pm
- Location: Royersford, Pa
- Stoker Coal Boiler: AA 260 heating both sides of twin farmhouse
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL Hyfire II w/ coaltrol in garage
- Coal Size/Type: Pea in AA 260, Rice in LL Hyfire II
- Other Heating: Gas fired infared at work
- Contact:
We definitely needs to see pics of the stove.
As some have mentioned, if you have the Alaska Kodiak hand fed stove, you need the larger sized coal.
BUT......if you have one of the older Alaska Kodiak STOKER stoves, you are correct in that the stokers do use rice.
Rick
- oliver power
- Member
- Posts: 2970
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
- Location: Near Dansville, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254
As I first started reading the posts, I wondered if someone remembered how the two different Alaskan stoves (Stoker & Hand fired) can easily get mistaken for one another. This has happened before..... Pictures Please...Rick 386 wrote: ↑Wed. Jan. 01, 2020 8:05 pmWe definitely needs to see pics of the stove.
As some have mentioned, if you have the Alaska Kodiak hand fed stove, you need the larger sized coal.
BUT......if you have one of the older Alaska Kodiak STOKER stoves, you are correct in that the stokers do use rice.
Rick
If a stoker stove, try this....... Empty the hopper. Cover the bottom hole in the hopper with a piece of aluminum foil. Put a little coal all around the edges of the aluminum foil just to hold it in place. By doing this, you block fumes from coming up through the empty hopper. Now, with the fan on, you can reach through the fire door, and take your time building a nice fire with the stoker / fan running. Fresh coal won't be pushing the fire off the grates pre-maturely, as the hopper is empty. You can start a nice little wood fire, sprinkling a little coal on by hand. Once you have an established coal fire going, pull the aluminum foil out of the hopper, and add a bucket of coal. The fresh coal will get pushed into the already established coal fire, and continue to burn. This is an easy way for a beginner to get a fire going in a stoker stove, as you can take your time building the fire.
In other words, with coal in the hopper, you will be racing to build a fire, hoping to ignite the fresh coal before it gets pushed off the grates. If that happens, you will have to start all over. With an empty hopper, you can take your time.
- Tifford
- Member
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Sat. Mar. 04, 2017 7:58 pm
- Location: Central NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Econo 1 by Leisure Line
- Coal Size/Type: Rice
I had problems with this as well until I did this.
1. Dig out coal on my metal plate with a metal scoop.
2. Put in paper bag with magnesium inside the bag. (The local coal store sells them for $1.25 a bag near me.
3. Drizzle some liquid fire starting gel on top of the bag. Can be bought at big box store.
4. Put coal on top of the bag and light it.
5. My stove has a blower and I turn it on at this point.
1. Dig out coal on my metal plate with a metal scoop.
2. Put in paper bag with magnesium inside the bag. (The local coal store sells them for $1.25 a bag near me.
3. Drizzle some liquid fire starting gel on top of the bag. Can be bought at big box store.
4. Put coal on top of the bag and light it.
5. My stove has a blower and I turn it on at this point.