The Allen stoker
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
Had an outfire this morning, when I check the stoker last night everything was as it should've been. This morning I went down to check on it and I noticed the drive dog wasn't catching. Th dog must've got gummed up on the shaft and wasn't engaging in the gear. By the time I got that sorted out the fire was gone. Got it re lit in record time today. I have tried the 3 most common methods to lighting a stoker (charcoal, coal mice and wood) So far the best way I have found was to split up some 2x4s and light them then turn on combustion air. I had it going again in a matter of 5 min. I did have a minor screw up while tending to it this morning. when I went to flip the drive dog back to start feeding it got jammed up in the stoker arm and bent the tooth part of my brand new $95 dog. I can fix it with a file but since I was short on time this morning I threw on a used dog I had on the other stoker unit. At least my laziness of not taking it out of the basement yet paid off. I usually oil the points on my stoker daily I guess I should get some graphite for the dog so the oil doesn't gum up and cause the dog not to drive again.
- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 17980
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Supco-MO98-Zoom-Spout ... 4oz-Bottle
Pick up a bottle of this at your local hardware store or just order direct from supplyhouse.com
The turbine oil is very stable and doesn't gum up - works great on my EFM stoker.
Pick up a bottle of this at your local hardware store or just order direct from supplyhouse.com
The turbine oil is very stable and doesn't gum up - works great on my EFM stoker.
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
Thats an idea Rob, Just out of curiosity how often do you oil the ports on your EFM I feel I oil my stoker to much.
-
- Member
- Posts: 788
- Joined: Tue. Nov. 13, 2012 9:05 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1948 International boiler, EFM S-20 stoker
- Coal Size/Type: Buck,
Issac , off topic a bit , but if there are rooms in your house that are not used, chuck a heavy cloth cover over the radiators in that room .
I have to leave for days or weeks at a time for my job . Where the thermostat is, I leave as is , but rooms that are not used I cover the radiators up . That way my system doesn't freeze .
The coal pail keeps all well for 4 - 6 days . Depending on the wind mostly . And if Im
away the heat is set at 55 .
I have to leave for days or weeks at a time for my job . Where the thermostat is, I leave as is , but rooms that are not used I cover the radiators up . That way my system doesn't freeze .
The coal pail keeps all well for 4 - 6 days . Depending on the wind mostly . And if Im
away the heat is set at 55 .
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
that makes good sense Dave, thanks for the tip. I try not to be away for more then a day during heating season. The Allen is a reliable piece of equipment but i make sure i check on her at least once a day. She likes to keep me on my toes and throw curve balls at me.
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
I was going to get anther load of coal to get me through the rest of the season but I have wanted to clean out my coal bin and raise up the bottom. The auger comes straight out of my boiler leaving about 2 ft of coal on the floor that is unable to be used by the auger unless I shovel it up. I decided to put the barrel in the bin and I am going to try and burn most of what I have in the bin and get it as close to empty as possible. Then over summer I should be able to build a "V" shaped bottom for the bin to limit shoveling. I also attached a picture of how I store and get rid of my ash, an old manure spreader. I keep it in the shed and spread it on the fields before planting.
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
The best part is the previous owner left it with the property, That's what he used it for as well. To add the that everything on it works as it should. And with 77 acres I have plenty of room to dispose of my ash.
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
My father in law told me that back when most people burned coal his hay fields were always real green, now that people mostly burn oil he has to fertilize with potash since there isn't the airborne particles settling on his fields. Take that with some measure, it was just his opinion.
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
I suppose I could try a science experiment this spring, I will spread some in my grass meadow that I shred and see if the spot where I spread shows and difference from the rest.Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Wed. Mar. 08, 2023 7:45 pmMy father in law told me that back when most people burned coal his hay fields were always real green, now that people mostly burn oil he has to fertilize with potash since there isn't the airborne particles settling on his fields. Take that with some measure, it was just his opinion.
- Idlorah
- Member
- Posts: 520
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 18, 2020 6:31 pm
- Location: New Ringgold, PA
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Gibralter MCC
- Coal Size/Type: Buck in the Allen and anything goes in the MCC, Anthracite
- Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season
Update on the Allen, I think I may have unintentionally fixed my grinding issue yesterday. It broke a shear pin Sunday into Monday. Since I have the barrel in the bin I thought maybe that barrel caused the bin tube to sag down or get pulled to the left or right. My thought on to why the shear pin broke was the extra drag caused by the bin tube being slightly out of place. I readjusted the barrel and bin auger tube and blocked it up in the center. After 24hrs of run time I still have a full fire in the pot with no evidence of grinding.