Coalpail.com Forum

Hello EFM people,

I have a question on my fire/burn. All and All the unit works well and makes good heat except for the fact that in the one section on the burn pot doesn't burn. So I thought maybe it was jambed with fines and the holes were plugged. I held the fine dump open and reached up in below to make sure it wasn't plugged anyway and it wasnt'.

So I will try to describe the situation.

facing the burn pot. on the right is the motor and auger gearbox and on the left is where the feed tube enters.

the section that doesnt burn is in the right rear.. its about 6" to 8" around if you follow the outside edge of the burn pot.

what I am finding is in my ash bin the front left side (opposite side of the NON burning area) the ash bin has double or triple the ash than that side.

so it is almost like the stoker isn't pushing coal in that area. or certainly not the same amount it is on the other side.

the auger is NOT worn. has nice flat edges. which lead me to wonder if the auger was in the pot far enough. So I looked at the coupler where the auger hooks to the stoker gearbox and it seems to OK. but I'm not sure. I can see the edge/start of the hole that the first cotter pin goes through. so I was wondering if maybe the auger pulled that pin sideways and out some. so if I were able to tighten that up some it was effectively draw the auger into the pot a little further (1/4") and maybe that would get the coal flowing to the other side of the pot more evenly.

I also thought maybe I should push some of that coal off that side of the pot as maybe something is clogged up there that is preventing the coal from going on that side.

I didn't know if I could do that while the fire was burning though. thought I could push some hot coals over to that area then and see what happens.

Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated! I would like to get that prefect circle burn! but for now... nothing!

using 4 teeth and 4.25 air.

thanks

**Broken Image Link(s) Removed**

Check to see if the bushing, shown here as 4 washers, but probably one solid thickness, is in place.
Check to see if the holes here are fully closed when the cleanout lever is pushed fully inward.

Check to see if the 3 rope gaskets are in place. Can't be done without disassembly, but one should be seen at the bottom of the plates.

Grab the worm shaft from underneath, when the unit is cold, and see if there is excessive up and down movement, indicating a worn worm bushing or pot bushing. Should move about 1/32" up and down.

Stokerman

will check the first 2 items tonight.

the gaskets are in place in the pot. I know that from installation.

and

The pot bushing is good also.
thanks for the suggestions.

I myself don't understand why the coal doesn't like to feed over on that side but i'm sure there is something there that is keeping it away from that area. and burning of course! my only thought was if it were feeding evenly I would get equal ash or even unburnt coal on that side all the way around the pot. or to the other extreme if the coal won't burn even more coal in the ash bin on that side because its not turning into ash.

Any large pieces of coal in the fines? Burning rice? You can be rough when you pull the handle,let it snap back several times.Did you check the pot grates?

RY

Ok So I see no large pieces of ash.

I'll be a little rougher on the handle! heh. maybe I am not rough enough.

In any case I checked all items and it appears its all there working correctly.

one thing I did notice that now that the temps are colders (right around 33 or so all day yesterday and upper 20's last night)

the fire does ALMOST go the whole way around. So possibly I guess my unit just doesn't fire at nicely on the higher air temp days.

I will just watch it and see I suppose. we'll see what the ash looks like tonight. I might try bumping up the air a little more.

Its about 4.25 at the moment. feed at 4. see if that helps get the complete ring burning.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Big Jim says that this happens when the air and feed aren't set properly, among other reasons. He once spent 6 hours on a service call recently with this problem and the unburned coal area moved all around the pot as the feed and air settings were changed.

So, keep experimenting. Also, longer run times with the cooler weather may resolve the issue.

Try 5 teeth 4 1/2 air you'll like it .

RY

Just an update

I think you guys may have it.

I have my feed at 4 and air at 4.75 or so and tonight and this morning I have a complete fire ring! which is good!

i'll let it at that a few days and see how it goes. make sure my auger tube doesn't heat up.

I guess once it gets really cold I will try the 5 teeth feed. see what is shaking.

thanks again so far!

Mark

Just a line here quick if its any help.

If you bought coal from us this year chances are it is South Tamaqua area coal.....depending when you bought it. Right now that is what Im burning in my EFM and I am set at 4 feed and 4.75 or so on the air. I was at 4 and a half air for awhile but I was still getting unburnt coal.

Right now I don't think I can get the ash any better. Once in a while I can find a small piece of unburnt coal.... but I really have to dig around to find it.

My fire always seems to have a very nicely formed ring on it.... gets even better when it fires harder.

Thats been my expirience anyhow if it helps.

Tyler

Hi Tyler

thank you for the info. I would have to agree with you on those settings. and the harder she runs the better burn you get.

I got my coal off you guys in the last week of July I believe.

It seems to burn well and I don't get many rocks at all.

Thanks again!