The Small Gentleman Janitor

 
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. Apr. 30, 2017 4:11 pm

SHUT DOWN!!!

Yesterday was shut down day. I turned the power off, hand cranked coal into the pot until the fire was all on top. Then I scooped all the lit coal off into the ash pan. Pulled the trashcan off, put a bucket on the end of the pipe, then hand cranked all the coal out of the pot, feed pipe into the bucket.
IMG_1125.JPG
.JPG | 120.5KB | IMG_1125.JPG
I only had about a half hour so I didn't have time to do a clean out. I did have time to pull the stove pipe off and blow it out. I put a cap over the flue.
IMG_1132.JPG
.JPG | 102.6KB | IMG_1132.JPG
Later in the day I got a 40 watt light bulb mounted in there to keep it dry. I put the pipe coupler inside to. I put some pipe insulation in the feed pipe hole so it's pretty well sealed up now.
IMG_1131.JPG
.JPG | 102.9KB | IMG_1131.JPG
IMG_1130.JPG
.JPG | 108.3KB | IMG_1130.JPG
IMG_1127.JPG
.JPG | 91KB | IMG_1127.JPG
IMG_1126.JPG
.JPG | 112.9KB | IMG_1126.JPG
I shot a video of the shut down,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF7jmDYGbzQ&t=25s

And another after getting the light mounted inside.



The cat made her displeasure known in both videos. Even though it's 85 degrees outside, she thinks the boiler should have a fire in it!

-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 » Tue. May. 02, 2017 7:48 pm

Good video!

You spared us from the wire brush dust session.

 
User avatar
BunkerdCaddis
Member
Posts: 708
Joined: Sun. Jan. 18, 2015 10:26 am
Location: SW Lancaster County
Stoker Coal Boiler: Bairmatic-Van Wert
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Van Wert VW85H
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II working when I feel the desire, Waterford 105 out on vacation, Surdiac Gotha hiding somewhere
Coal Size/Type: pea/nut/rice/stove-anthracite, nut/stove bit when I feel the urge
Other Heating: oil fired hydronic

Post by BunkerdCaddis » Wed. May. 03, 2017 11:46 am

I know you still have the Bair burning for dhw but I guess shutting down the GJ means an official end to the season? You'll garrentee no more snow this season right... :D

 
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. May. 03, 2017 7:17 pm

BunkerdCaddis wrote:I know you still have the Bair burning for dhw but I guess shutting down the GJ means an official end to the season? You'll garrentee no more snow this season right... :D
Guaranteed!

Shoot, we only got one snowfall down here this year and most of that was sleet.
Olllotj wrote:You spared us from the wire brush dust session.

Not really. I just have not got around to doing it yet. This thing is so small, I might just disconnect it, wheel it outside and blow it out with air!

-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 » Fri. Oct. 26, 2018 8:27 pm

Well it's been a year and a half since we played with the small Gentleman Janitor. I finally got sick of looking at it all rusty.

I pulled the EFM S-15 stoker out.
IMG_3411.JPG
.JPG | 259.1KB | IMG_3411.JPG
IMG_3413.JPG
.JPG | 237.2KB | IMG_3413.JPG
IMG_3415.JPG
.JPG | 307.6KB | IMG_3415.JPG
Wheeled the boiler outside. Then spent about an hour and a half with the wire wheel. De-greased it with Breakleen.
IMG_3419.JPG
.JPG | 407.2KB | IMG_3419.JPG
Then spent an hour or so spreay'in it down with some nice shiny Sliver paint.
IMG_3421.JPG
.JPG | 542.9KB | IMG_3421.JPG
IMG_3424.JPG
.JPG | 430.4KB | IMG_3424.JPG
Got it inside before it started raining.
IMG_3425.JPG
.JPG | 298KB | IMG_3425.JPG
IMG_3428.JPG
.JPG | 298.4KB | IMG_3428.JPG
I closed up the garage doors, turned up the Monster radiator and set it right up against it.
IMG_3430.JPG
.JPG | 316.1KB | IMG_3430.JPG
IMG_3431.JPG
.JPG | 296KB | IMG_3431.JPG
We'll leave it like that overnight to get the new paint cured.

We still have to clean and paint the doors and plates and give the stoker a good cleaning.

-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. 27, 2018 12:00 pm

Having the garage radiator on all night has cured the paint pretty well.

A nice, dry 83 degrees in the garage on this cold, rainy, windy morning.
IMG_3443.JPG
.JPG | 341.6KB | IMG_3443.JPG
IMG_3442.JPG
.JPG | 251.6KB | IMG_3442.JPG
The cat has no problem adapting to these conditions!
IMG_3439.JPG
.JPG | 385.3KB | IMG_3439.JPG
-Don

 
User avatar
BunkerdCaddis
Member
Posts: 708
Joined: Sun. Jan. 18, 2015 10:26 am
Location: SW Lancaster County
Stoker Coal Boiler: Bairmatic-Van Wert
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Van Wert VW85H
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Saey Hanover II working when I feel the desire, Waterford 105 out on vacation, Surdiac Gotha hiding somewhere
Coal Size/Type: pea/nut/rice/stove-anthracite, nut/stove bit when I feel the urge
Other Heating: oil fired hydronic

Post by BunkerdCaddis » Mon. Oct. 29, 2018 7:09 am

StokerDon wrote:
Fri. Oct. 26, 2018 8:27 pm
I closed up the garage doors, turned up the Monster radiator and set it right up against it.
IMG_3430.JPG
IMG_3431.JPG
We'll leave it like that overnight to get the new paint cured.
-Don
Do I ... detect a bit of jealousy in the countenance of the GJ? Must almost be humiliating to sit there looking at your replacement and being warmed by it... :hangover: #boilerstaredown


 
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 » Mon. Oct. 29, 2018 6:42 pm

BunkerdCaddis wrote:
Mon. Oct. 29, 2018 7:09 am
Do I ... detect a bit of jealousy in the countenance of the GJ? Must almost be humiliating to sit there looking at your replacement and being warmed by it... :hangover: #boilerstaredown
It was getting to intense, I had to turn the small GJ away.

-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 » Fri. Nov. 02, 2018 6:36 pm

This afternoon I had a chance to get a few things cleaned up and painted.

The rear fly ash trap door, the auger side panel, and the ash door hing.
IMG_3501.JPG
.JPG | 274.9KB | IMG_3501.JPG
.
Just a few more pieces to go!

-Don

 
Joelharris58
Member
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon. Oct. 22, 2018 8:47 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: Yellow flame
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Sears homart
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by Joelharris58 » Wed. Nov. 07, 2018 3:18 pm

Idk where you find these gems unfortunately I’m in central pa and older stokers are few and far between now you want cast iron soft coal there everywhere lol I work for directv and I’m in basements all the time and got lucky with the yellow flame thankfully

 
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. Nov. 07, 2018 7:01 pm

I usually have to travel up to Anthracite Country to find them. At one time, pretty much everybody up there had a coal boiler or furnace in there basement. A lot of them are still there, they only get removed during house renovations or heating system change outs.

-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 » Tue. Nov. 27, 2018 7:28 pm

Last weekend I cleaned up the EFM S-15 stoker.
IMG_3645.JPG
.JPG | 282.2KB | IMG_3645.JPG
IMG_3646.JPG
.JPG | 363.9KB | IMG_3646.JPG
The Gooseneck on this one is probably the cleanest used one I've seen. Usually there is a good bit of ware and corrosion down were the coal turns up into the pot.
IMG_3647.JPG
.JPG | 381.8KB | IMG_3647.JPG
IMG_3648.JPG
.JPG | 323.4KB | IMG_3648.JPG
Serial number 56820. From 1963.
IMG_3649.JPG
.JPG | 406.5KB | IMG_3649.JPG
IMG_3650.JPG
.JPG | 355.5KB | IMG_3650.JPG
IMG_3651.JPG
.JPG | 394.4KB | IMG_3651.JPG
I also got some paint on the stoker side panel so it was time to throw the stoker back in.
IMG_3653.JPG
.JPG | 306.6KB | IMG_3653.JPG
.
Later in the weekend I cleaned and painted the ash door and the fire door frame. We had a real nice fire door with pretty good original Gentleman Janitor paint. I just cleaned it and on it went.
IMG_3659.JPG
.JPG | 257.3KB | IMG_3659.JPG
IMG_3660.JPG
.JPG | 302KB | IMG_3660.JPG
IMG_3662.JPG
.JPG | 248.7KB | IMG_3662.JPG
IMG_3663.JPG
.JPG | 237.7KB | IMG_3663.JPG
IMG_3666.JPG
.JPG | 326.8KB | IMG_3666.JPG
Just a few minor things to tidy up and this one will be done!

-Don

 
CapeCoaler
Member
Posts: 6515
Joined: Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 3:48 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: want AA130
Hand Fed Coal Stove: DS Machine BS#4, Harman MKII, Hitzer 503,...
Coal Size/Type: Pea/Nut/Stove

Post by CapeCoaler » Tue. Nov. 27, 2018 8:15 pm

So will she be needing a new home...

 
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 » Tue. Nov. 27, 2018 8:18 pm

I would love to keep it just to look at and fire up once in a while. But I guess a new home would make more sense.

-Don

 
User avatar
swyman
Member
Posts: 2355
Joined: Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 9:50 pm
Location: Blissfield, MI
Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman-Anderson 260M Leisure Line AA-220 Boiler (FOR SALE)
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh Pea

Post by swyman » Tue. Nov. 27, 2018 8:21 pm

Don, you do a fantastic job on these refurbs!


Post Reply

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