Help please: Keystoker KA-6 won't feed coal

lebdog74 · Post by **lebdog74** » Sat. Dec. 05, 2020 11:41 am

Hey guys. Newbie here. I looked and couldn't find a post exactly pertaining to my situation. I have a Keystoker KA-6. It came with the farm house I bought a few years back. First year it worked wonderfully. Last year gave me issues staying lit on and off. I think that is timer related but I havent been able to know for sure due to it not firing this year. I had it cleaned this season before I started it. The feeder bar(not sure of technical term) is moving. The gear box pushes the threaded bar up and down fine but when the adjuster hits the arm going into the hopper the spring compresses and the bar in the hopper doesn't move. I removed the hopper checked for obstructions. I sprayed the bar with penetrating oil. Still won't budge. I tried to manually break it free (per keystoker phone call) with no luck. Any ideas? Added picture for reference.

Post by **StokerDon** » Sat. Dec. 05, 2020 7:19 pm

Welcome to the forum,

So, it's the shaft that goes across the mouth of the stoker and pushes the pusher bar? If so, keep hitting it with penetrating oil and trying to work it back and forth. Eventually it will free up.

-Don

WNY · Post by **WNY** » Sun. Dec. 06, 2020 7:44 am

feeder might have to be removed, and everything cleaned out good. Fines can get in/around everything and really gum things up. use some good PB Blaster to loosen of stuck parts. everything should move freely.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Sun. Dec. 06, 2020 11:08 am

Fines can make trouble for moving parts...but wet fines from wet coal make troubles way worse.

Wet fines left behind will add the water to make a acidic paste that can become cement like after it builds corrosion to parts then and dries. The corrosion you can't see is the problem...good cleaning at end of heating season prevents starting up next season. For now follow the advice already provided my the good members whom replied. HTH

gaw · Post by **gaw** » Sun. Dec. 06, 2020 5:23 pm

Maybe ad some torch heat to it. If it is seized I would keep working at it until it is free or broken. If it breaks buy replacement parts. If you shut down end of season clean it thoroughly and spray it up with WD40 or some type of protectant.

lebdog74 · Post by **lebdog74** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2020 9:41 pm

So I think I have it narrowed down to where the issue is. I've included pics for reference. Could I press this out? The one side doesn't moved at all.

leward · Post by **leward** » Wed. Dec. 16, 2020 10:28 pm

I would use the blue wrench (torch) on it before pressing. Those bearing housings are cast and don't take kindly to side pressure. Heat and PB Blaster /Kroil - mix of acetone & atf works about as well as anything else also

Post by **Rob R.** » Thu. Dec. 17, 2020 8:07 am

Agreed. A few heat and cool cycles with penetrating oil should do the job.

ShawnTRD · Post by **ShawnTRD** » Fri. Dec. 18, 2020 10:54 pm

lebdog74 wrote: ↑
Wed. Dec. 16, 2020 9:41 pm
So I think I have it narrowed down to where the issue is. I've included pics for reference. Could I press this out? The one side doesn't moved at all.

Had any luck in the past couple days?

PRengert · Post by **PRengert** » Sun. Dec. 27, 2020 9:23 am

After you get it freed up you might consider drilling a hole in the top of those bushings so they can be more easily and thoroughly oiled.

Help please: Keystoker KA-6 won't feed coal

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