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EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Tue. Dec. 04, 2018 10:51 pm
by Pa-kid
Hey guys, it’s me again. Let me know if I should keep all my questions in the same post. I figured I would make separate posts to help people search for the same issues I’m having. Here are a couple pics of my fire. I have clumping of the ash, is this clinking/clinkers? My feed and air are 4 and 4 respectively and my aqua stat low/high is 160/200 w/ diff at 10. I will check my draft and post those readings as well. Any suggestions on where to start to fix this or does the fire look ok.

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 5:39 am
by Rob R.
How long had the stoker been running when you took the picture?

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 8:47 am
by Pa-kid
Probably around 1.5 hours, let me take a new pic, it's been running 14 hours now

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 8:53 am
by Pa-kid
Here, the fire is idle. I did see a large black spot in the middle as it was running but the ash ring just looks bad. It's big and chunky. I've read what clinking is and it sure sounds like this. My wife had 2 ton of this coal delivered but I talked to some guys at work who have family that are in the business and they mine and apparently I live right down the road of some very high quality anthracite at 170/ton. But what are your thoughts Rob.

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 8:56 am
by Rob R.
Pa-kid wrote:
Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 8:47 am
Probably around 1.5 hours, let me take a new pic, it's been running 14 hours now
That is not what I meant. The stoker has to run for at least 20 minutes (30 is better) before the fire reaches a stable state - that is when you should look at the ash ring.

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 9:00 am
by Pa-kid
Oh I gotcha, ok. Let me crank her up really quick, I'll get back to u rob

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 5:29 pm
by Scottscoaled
It looks good to me. Maybe a little too much air. The clinkers are caused by the iron in the coal. Take some of the ash and break it up in your hand. Do you see a lot of black?

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Wed. Dec. 05, 2018 9:36 pm
by CoalHeat
Looks OK from here, I have had similar issues from time to time, as Scott said it can be differences in the coal.

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Thu. Dec. 06, 2018 7:37 am
by ben
I agree it looks good.
Remember to pull your clean out lever.

Re: EFM 520 clinkers??

Posted: Thu. Dec. 06, 2018 11:41 am
by CoalHeat
I have had large clinkers form from time to time, especially during the summer months when my EFM is on "hot water duty", occasionally I'll knock them off the ash ring. On 12/10 it will be 8 years since I fired the stoker for the first time. It's been running flawlessly, only shut down once for 2 days when I pulled the smoke pipe to install the draft inducer.
Yes! Pull that fines lever!