Ka2 Studdering!
I glad we are having a warm spell as I need to work on my boiler. I have been having a number of out fires. So this morning I pulled the fan and vacuumed the fines out. But when I started up I noticed the stoker plate was, for a lack of a better word, shuddering. I think there are lots of fines that need to be removed.
So just waiting for it to cool and then get it done!
So just waiting for it to cool and then get it done!
- nepacoal
- Member
- Posts: 1701
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
If you're shutting down again, it wouldn't hurt to vacuum out your stovepipe down by the boiler breech. Excessive fly ash causes the majority of out fires... I usually only clean mine out once mid season, but this year I'm getting a little more fly ash than usual and have cleaned it twice.
- oliver power
- Member
- Posts: 2970
- Joined: Sun. Apr. 16, 2006 9:28 am
- Location: Near Dansville, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: KEYSTOKER Kaa-2
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 50-93 & 30-95, Vigilant (pre-2310), D.S. 1600 Circulator, Hitzer 254
Hi Kungur, I just seen your post for the first time. How are you making out with your boiler? Yes, it sounds like your pusher block was binding. I'm guessing fines...... As far as out fires, My Kaa-2 will go out in warm temps like that, due to no call for heat. When no call for heat, two things happen. 1,) The idle fire is too small, and burns out before reaching the next group of timer pins. 2.) The draft weakens, making it even worse. I have to add timer pins To maintain a bigger idle fire, which also creates more draft. The bigger idle fire maintains till the next group of timer pins, and so on.
- Retro_Origin
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- Posts: 929
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
Warm spells speak doom for the flat grate units. That's probably my biggest frustration with my keystoker, if you took too long of a shower and the fire got too big it just never calmed down enough and would overheat the boiler and well you know the rest. I'm loving the axeman, I can can turn the heat off and leave the house for the whole day- come home late at night and that puppy will rebound to full temp in less than twenty minutes. Keystoker gets the award for fewest moving parts and best piece of mind in my opinion. Augers have their own field of maintenance and caution. The hopper fed systems are just too simple to be criticized.
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- Location: Oneida, N.Y.
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- Coal Size/Type: Nut
- Other Heating: newmac wood/coal combo furnace
Do you have a thread on your unit? Or where you got a lot of helpful information? I bought a used KA6 and will soon be in process of setting it up. I know nothing of boilers and I did start a thread ,but as it's a pay as I go scenario it's going to be a long slow deal.Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Sat. Feb. 18, 2023 9:12 pmWarm spells speak doom for the flat grate units. That's probably my biggest frustration with my keystoker, if you took too long of a shower and the fire got too big it just never calmed down enough and would overheat the boiler and well you know the rest. I'm loving the axeman, I can can turn the heat off and leave the house for the whole day- come home late at night and that puppy will rebound to full temp in less than twenty minutes. Keystoker gets the award for fewest moving parts and best piece of mind in my opinion. Augers have their own field of maintenance and caution. The hopper fed systems are just too simple to be criticized.
- nepacoal
- Member
- Posts: 1701
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
I burn my kaa-4 all summer. I've only had one out fire in 7 years and that was caused by too much fly ash in the breech. It was late August and I hadn't vacuumed since late December... I now vacuum the stovepipe and breech at the end of heating season and have not had any issues since. I have my feed set for 2" of ash and my timer runs 43s on and 10 minutes off. I will adjust the feed in the spring to stabilize the temp at around 210° but other than that, I don't mess with it.Retro_Origin wrote: ↑Sat. Feb. 18, 2023 9:12 pmWarm spells speak doom for the flat grate units. That's probably my biggest frustration with my keystoker, if you took too long of a shower and the fire got too big it just never calmed down enough and would overheat the boiler and well you know the rest. I'm loving the axeman, I can can turn the heat off and leave the house for the whole day- come home late at night and that puppy will rebound to full temp in less than twenty minutes. Keystoker gets the award for fewest moving parts and best piece of mind in my opinion. Augers have their own field of maintenance and caution. The hopper fed systems are just too simple to be criticized.
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- Rob R.
- Site Moderator
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- Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: Chazy, NY
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr
I would swap that clean out tee with the 90 below it. Most of the flyash ends up in the first bend.nepacoal wrote: ↑Sun. Feb. 19, 2023 9:33 amI burn my kaa-4 all summer. I've only had one out fire in 7 years and that was caused by too much fly ash in the breech. It was late August and I hadn't vacuumed since late December... I now vacuum the stovepipe and breech at the end of heating season and have not had any issues since. I have my feed set for 2" of ash and my timer runs 43s on and 10 minutes off. I will adjust the feed in the spring to stabilize the temp at around 210° but other than that, I don't mess with it.
- nepacoal
- Member
- Posts: 1701
- Joined: Wed. Nov. 21, 2012 7:49 am
- Location: Coal Country
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
- Coal Size/Type: Buck
I can reach the bottom 90 from the inside. I used to have it the other way around but realized if I configure it that way I can vacuum my pipes while it's running. I just wait for a warmish day and vac after a long idle. Old configuration below:
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- davidmcbeth3
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- Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra
Hmmm..carbons dioxicide levels before re-starting and 5 min later after re-start
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 929
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
If I had started with an axeman I think I would have been equally or more frustrated, I probably give a bit more of a negative light than necessary on keystoker than necessary, partially due to the fact my unit is older and wired up without a dump zone because I'd rather have an outfire than heat my house in the summer. Also I suspect something being somewhat wrong with my unit because I've had issues nobody else seems to have and my flue temp is considerably less than seems normal when running, I had an axeman rusting away in my shed that I never paid for, so me replacement was more of a fun project than anything.
- Retro_Origin
- Member
- Posts: 929
- Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
- Location: Schuylkill county
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
- Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea
Yes there is a link called the ka6 user guide that has everything for running one of these. I can't seem to figure out how to paste the link using my non smart phone. Don't be afraid, it's pretty much idiot proof though not tinkerhappy friendly....which is my issue..waytomany?s wrote: ↑Sun. Feb. 19, 2023 8:14 amDo you have a thread on your unit? Or where you got a lot of helpful information? I bought a used KA6 and will soon be in process of setting it up. I know nothing of boilers and I did start a thread ,but as it's a pay as I go scenario it's going to be a long slow deal.