-Don
Picked up a Van Wert Stoker
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
This morning I went up to Nanticoke and picked up a Van Wert stoker. I think it is a VA400? It has a 13 1/4" ring on it.
-Don
The bottom grates are pretty warped.
I got it running. I don't have a bin worm or pipe though. If I did, I would test fire this baby right now!
Does anyone know what model this is?-Don
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Sorry!!! I uploaded the wrong photos the first time!
-Don
-Don
- hotblast1357
- Member
- Posts: 5661
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
awesome!! so everything was their??
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Everything but the bin feed worm and pipe.
I came up with a sort of PVC hopper that feeds down to the pot worm. Not exactly automatic though. I have to stir it into the worm with a screw driver. I'm going to try to fire it up now.
-Don
I came up with a sort of PVC hopper that feeds down to the pot worm. Not exactly automatic though. I have to stir it into the worm with a screw driver. I'm going to try to fire it up now.
-Don
- hotblast1357
- Member
- Posts: 5661
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
awesome!! im glad its operational.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
A successful fire up!
I posted a video. It's a bit to dark for videos, it's not to bad though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgGEPseQOwI&feature=youtu.be
The stoker is doing the cool-down lap at the moment.
Everything seems to work with no noises.
-Don
I posted a video. It's a bit to dark for videos, it's not to bad though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgGEPseQOwI&feature=youtu.be
The stoker is doing the cool-down lap at the moment.
Everything seems to work with no noises.
-Don
-
- Member
- Posts: 558
- Joined: Thu. Sep. 04, 2014 10:01 am
- Location: Western NY 14141
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KB-8
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat
- Other Heating: Utica Propane Hot Water
That's awesome that it runs with so little tweaking. The underfeds are pretty interesting
So whatcha gonna stick this one in?
So whatcha gonna stick this one in?
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
The Van Wert is about the best thing to stick under the Losch as far as under feds go. It has a small ash ring 13.25". Also no feed worm and pipe sticking out the other end, you just bolt it in like a flat grate stoker.
-Don
-Don
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Today I stuck the Van Wert in the Losch base.
I had a reverse rotation auger for a bin worm. I cut some flighting off of it so it would go into the transfer box and couple to the big gear. I used a piece of 3" vent pipe for a bin pipe. Then I fired it up! And of coarse there is a long drawn out video on Youtube about the whole thing.
-Don
I had a reverse rotation auger for a bin worm. I cut some flighting off of it so it would go into the transfer box and couple to the big gear. I used a piece of 3" vent pipe for a bin pipe. Then I fired it up! And of coarse there is a long drawn out video on Youtube about the whole thing.
-Don
-
- Member
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Thu. Jan. 20, 2011 8:12 am
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Van Wert 600
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Tarm 202
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman HXL, 150, Crane 88, Crane 404
- Other Heating: Solar
Looks familiar, good find. I am getting close to lighting with mine.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Tonight I stared taring down the stoker. It's going to need a few things before it can be a reliable heat machine. Not much though, burn rings and a pot worm (it's pretty sharp) and gearbox bearings, the input shaft has a ton of play in it.
First I removed the little pot worm air pipe. Then loosened all 5 of the square heat bolts on top. Removed the gearbox pulley and chain sprocket. There is this long stud that has to be removed. It goes up into the bottom of the pot worm. I think it centers the pot worm in the up and down direction. Then the pot worm, pipe and transfer pipe pull right out. Pulled the 6 bolts out of the blower housing and removed the blower/gearbox assy. Loosened the square headed bolt on the blower and removed the blower. Removed the 4 bolts that hold the gearbox on and removed the gearbox. And there you have it. Another stoker project successfully started! Of coarse starting the project is the easy part. Finishing the project is a whole other thing!
The EFM in the GJ just runs. I don't have to do anything to it for a week at a time. Lots more time to play with other stokers!
-Don
First I removed the little pot worm air pipe. Then loosened all 5 of the square heat bolts on top. Removed the gearbox pulley and chain sprocket. There is this long stud that has to be removed. It goes up into the bottom of the pot worm. I think it centers the pot worm in the up and down direction. Then the pot worm, pipe and transfer pipe pull right out. Pulled the 6 bolts out of the blower housing and removed the blower/gearbox assy. Loosened the square headed bolt on the blower and removed the blower. Removed the 4 bolts that hold the gearbox on and removed the gearbox. And there you have it. Another stoker project successfully started! Of coarse starting the project is the easy part. Finishing the project is a whole other thing!
The EFM in the GJ just runs. I don't have to do anything to it for a week at a time. Lots more time to play with other stokers!
-Don
Last edited by StokerDon on Wed. Oct. 14, 2015 9:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- hotblast1357
- Member
- Posts: 5661
- Joined: Mon. Mar. 10, 2014 10:06 pm
- Location: Peasleeville NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1984 Eshland S260 coal gun
- Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite pea
- Other Heating: air source heat pump, oil furnace
thats awesome don! I knew that once I saw this it was a good deal! everything seems pretty good with it, glad you picked it up!
wow a week at a time before you have to touch anything on that efm, couldnt imagine!
wow a week at a time before you have to touch anything on that efm, couldnt imagine!
- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
SD, has anyone ever questioned the name STOKERDON ? It sure fits,seems as tho you are always starting a new project or else starting another new project. I don't comment much on all of your projects,but I do follow each with interest.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7496
- Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
- Location: PA, Southern York County!
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
- Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
- Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
- Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood
Yup, Pretty crazy. I empty the ashes once a week, the 300 pounds of coal in the barrel lasts 9 or 10 days. But it is not cold yet!hotblast1357 wrote:thats awesome don! I knew that once I saw this it was a good deal! everything seems pretty good with it, glad you picked it up!
wow a week at a time before you have to touch anything on that efm, couldnt imagine!
W.H. knows, you can be super lazy when you have an EFM!
I'm still getting used to it.
-Don