Picked up a Van Wert Stoker

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 6:02 pm

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.
VanWertPickUp 001.JPG
.JPG | 162.4KB | VanWertPickUp 001.JPG
VanWertPickUp 002.JPG
.JPG | 165.2KB | VanWertPickUp 002.JPG
VanWertPickUp 003.JPG
.JPG | 146.6KB | VanWertPickUp 003.JPG
VanWertPickUp 004.JPG
.JPG | 184.1KB | VanWertPickUp 004.JPG
VanWertPickUp 006.JPG
.JPG | 142KB | VanWertPickUp 006.JPG
The bottom grates are pretty warped.
VanWertPickUp 012.JPG
.JPG | 148.4KB | VanWertPickUp 012.JPG
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!
VanWertPickUp 011.JPG
.JPG | 218.3KB | VanWertPickUp 011.JPG
Does anyone know what model this is?

-Don


 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 6:10 pm

Sorry!!! I uploaded the wrong photos the first time!

-Don

 
User avatar
hotblast1357
Member
Posts: 5657
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

Post by hotblast1357 » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 6:33 pm

awesome!! so everything was their??

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 7:07 pm

Everything but the bin feed worm and pipe.

I came up with a sort of PVC hopper that feeds down to the pot worm.
VanWertPickUp2 001.JPG
.JPG | 59.6KB | VanWertPickUp2 001.JPG
VanWertPickUp2 003.JPG
.JPG | 110.5KB | VanWertPickUp2 003.JPG
Not exactly automatic though. I have to stir it into the worm with a screw driver.
VanWertPickUp2 005.JPG
.JPG | 147.2KB | VanWertPickUp2 005.JPG
I'm going to try to fire it up now.

-Don

 
User avatar
hotblast1357
Member
Posts: 5657
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

Post by hotblast1357 » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 7:48 pm

awesome!! im glad its operational.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 8:43 pm

A successful fire up!
VanWertFlame 001.JPG
.JPG | 66.4KB | VanWertFlame 001.JPG
VanWertFlame 004.JPG
.JPG | 64.2KB | VanWertFlame 004.JPG
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

 
Olllotj
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

Post by Olllotj » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 8:58 pm

That's awesome that it runs with so little tweaking. The underfeds are pretty interesting

So whatcha gonna stick this one in?


 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Oct. 10, 2015 9:11 pm

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

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Sun. Oct. 11, 2015 9:58 pm

Today I stuck the Van Wert in the Losch base.
LoschtoVW 001.JPG
.JPG | 203.8KB | LoschtoVW 001.JPG
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.
LoschtoVW 002.JPG
.JPG | 190.3KB | LoschtoVW 002.JPG
I used a piece of 3" vent pipe for a bin pipe.
LoschtoVW 003.JPG
.JPG | 202KB | LoschtoVW 003.JPG
LoschtoVW 004.JPG
.JPG | 152.3KB | LoschtoVW 004.JPG
Then I fired it up!
LoschToVW 006.JPG
.JPG | 101.6KB | LoschToVW 006.JPG
LoschToVW 010.JPG
.JPG | 85.7KB | LoschToVW 010.JPG
LoschToVW 012.JPG
.JPG | 79.5KB | LoschToVW 012.JPG
LoschToVW 008.JPG
.JPG | 63.1KB | LoschToVW 008.JPG
And of coarse there is a long drawn out video on Youtube about the whole thing.



-Don

 
User avatar
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

Post by Rob R. » Mon. Oct. 12, 2015 5:46 am

Wait until you see it run with buck.

 
alpineboard
Member
Posts: 302
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

Post by alpineboard » Tue. Oct. 13, 2015 8:45 am

Looks familiar, good find. I am getting close to lighting with mine.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Wed. Oct. 14, 2015 8:48 pm

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.
VWtareDown 002.JPG
.JPG | 160.9KB | VWtareDown 002.JPG
First I removed the little pot worm air pipe. Then loosened all 5 of the square heat bolts on top.
VWtareDown 001.JPG
.JPG | 169KB | VWtareDown 001.JPG
VWtareDown 008.JPG
.JPG | 168.4KB | VWtareDown 008.JPG
Removed the gearbox pulley and chain sprocket.
VWtareDown 003.JPG
.JPG | 125.1KB | VWtareDown 003.JPG
VWtareDown 004.JPG
.JPG | 155KB | VWtareDown 004.JPG
VWtareDown 005.JPG
.JPG | 96.6KB | VWtareDown 005.JPG
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.
VWtareDown 006.JPG
.JPG | 86.8KB | VWtareDown 006.JPG
Then the pot worm, pipe and transfer pipe pull right out.
VWtareDown 009.JPG
.JPG | 160KB | VWtareDown 009.JPG
VWtareDown 010.JPG
.JPG | 102.5KB | VWtareDown 010.JPG
Pulled the 6 bolts out of the blower housing and removed the blower/gearbox assy.
VWtareDown 013.JPG
.JPG | 146.1KB | VWtareDown 013.JPG
Loosened the square headed bolt on the blower and removed the blower.
VWtareDown 015.JPG
.JPG | 139.7KB | VWtareDown 015.JPG
Removed the 4 bolts that hold the gearbox on and removed the gearbox.
VWtareDown 016.JPG
.JPG | 174KB | VWtareDown 016.JPG
VWtareDown 017.JPG
.JPG | 135.5KB | VWtareDown 017.JPG
And there you have it. Another stoker project successfully started!
VWtareDown 018.JPG
.JPG | 136.7KB | VWtareDown 018.JPG
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.

 
User avatar
hotblast1357
Member
Posts: 5657
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

Post by hotblast1357 » Wed. Oct. 14, 2015 9:01 pm

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!

 
User avatar
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

Post by windyhill4.2 » Wed. Oct. 14, 2015 9:20 pm

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. :)

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7486
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

Post by StokerDon » Thu. Oct. 15, 2015 7:37 pm

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!
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!

W.H. knows, you can be super lazy when you have an EFM!

I'm still getting used to it.

-Don


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”