Axeman out-fires

Well.....I have had a couple of self induced out-fires, but have gone 12 years without a single mysterious out-fire. Then in the last couple of weeks I've had more than one. Each out-fire was during a two day warm spell. Each time I end up with an ash pan full of raw coal and the boiler full of raw coal too. It's a real pain to fix the mess! To rub salt in the wound, just a few weeks back I was telling about how my timer runs one minute an hour and I've never had a problem. Now.... I'm a bit mystified. I did start burning a different coal last year..... but never had this problem. The Lehigh I'm using now seems about as good as the Superior that I was burning. It has some less ash, and the ash is lighter. The fire is good, no complaints. I have a hard time thinking it's a coal issue. Just freak weather I have not seen in 12years? I'm hesitant to change anything. I will just keep a close eye if it turns warm again.

Even boilers get cold Freddy!!! Had a couple out-fires myself--ON ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

What is the low limit setting on your aquastat?

You most likely lost the draft in the warm weather during a long idle period. That will put the fire out, even with the timer.

My 130M will not stay lit in warm weather because I have a short chimney with marginal draft. The timer is useless for keeping it going. 1 minute every hour for a coal fire that is 11" in diameter and 9" high isn't near enough time to heat up a that fire size, let alone keep the draft and the fire going.

-Don

Family member count using DHW keeps most any boiler from out-fires. I know this doesn’t help here but small households are the first to experience out-fires.

StokerDon wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 08, 2022 9:23 am

1 minute every hour for a coal fire that is 11" in diameter and 9" high isn't near enough time to heat up a that fire size, let alone keep the draft and the fire going.

Although I don't yet have experience with timers, I would have to agree.. seems like 1 minute every 15 minutes would be more reasonable.

Rob R. wrote: What is the low limit setting on your aquastat?

Good call! It was set at 155 Lo & & 175 Hi. I upped it to the "normal" 160/180.

I was thinking.... maybe it does need an adjustment to the Lehigh coal. I fill my bin once a year. So, last year started on Superior & at some point the had to have run out & the Lehigh took over. Maybe the boiler never did see a warm day last season as I shut it off early & went to heat pumps.

I'll keep an eye on it if we have warm days.... maybe add 30 seconds or a minute to the hourly burn.

Chimney cleanout door closed ?

Possibly when you relit you didn’t get a good enough fire established? I run a grossly oversized 260 with no draft, and I mean 0, actually positive draft till the blue ladies show up, and do not have a problem. How are you getting it goin? You removing all the raw coal and starting fresh with ash on the sled then new coal on top? Or just sticking some charcoal in there hitting it with a torch and sending it? And are you loading the boiler for at least 3 hours..?

hotblast1357 wrote: Possibly when you relit you didn’t get a good enough fire established? I run a grossly oversized 260 with no draft, and I mean 0, actually positive draft till the blue ladies show up, and do not have a problem. How are you getting it goin? You removing all the raw coal and starting fresh with ash on the sled then new coal on top? Or just sticking some charcoal in there hitting it with a torch and sending it? And are you loading the boiler for at least 3 hours..?

Chimney cleaned & door closed. Oh yes, each out-fire I I empty it as much as possible, leaving very little coal. Then in goes 4 gallons of ash, coal on top & torch it with Map gas. I take the belt off the auger & drive it with a heavy load.... hand ash a bit, then after it's cranking.... then put the belt back on the auger. About two hours from torch to belt back on.

Freddy wrote: ↑

Sat. Jan. 08, 2022 8:58 pm

Good call! It was set at 155 Lo & & 175 Hi. I upped it to the "normal" 160/180.

Check your manual. I think they recommend 165/190 or something like that.

Have you cleaned out the chimney pipe?
Axemans seem to plug up with ash after about a ton burned.

Rob R. wrote: I think they recommend 165/190 or something like that.

Who reads manuals? LOL Yup.... it says 165-190. I noticed it also says the timer "should not be set for more than one minute per hour".

I'm not sure when or why I set it to 155-175. It had to be a lonnnng time ago.

Yup.... all piping and chimney cleaned a month ago.

dbsuz05 wrote: ↑

Sun. Jan. 09, 2022 7:15 am

Have you cleaned out the chimney pipe?
Axemans seem to plug up with ash after about a ton burned.

In my experience so far I don't notice accumulation in the pipe till about 8 tons burned. Although there was an exception earlier this year when the cone in the cyclonic separator got blocked with debris and it couldn't do its job.

Lightning wrote: ↑

Sun. Jan. 09, 2022 9:24 am

In my experience so far I don't notice accumulation in the pipe till about 8 tons burned. Although there was an exception earlier this year when the cone in the cyclonic separator got blocked with debris and it couldn't do its job.

Your right on there! I did have a blockage one time because of the cone being blocked! I may have exaggerated a bit, with the one ton rule. But I noticed mine seems to still get a good bit of “gun powder” in the small 5” piping right off the boiler to the wall. So I make a habit of cleaning it at least every 2 tons burned. I’m sure it breathes better!