Puzzled with my Keystoker K6

Looking for some advice. I recently fired up my keystoker last weekend and I’m having a issue with the coal wanting to burn up the chute while on idle. Now when I say burn I have no flame but I will have red coals glowing almost back to my hopper. I’m concerned I’ll end up with a hopper fire. I’ve owned this furnace for 6 years now and never had this problem. I have my air cut back almost to nothing. I’m burning rice coal same as every year. My settings are 3 pins every 10 mins. With my feed at 11 turns. Anyone have any ideas I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!!

Also my aqua stat settings are 180-160.

Have you checked the draft when the stoker is idle?

I’m hoping tomorrow when I get home from work to be able to stop and get a meter to check it. What should it be at a idle?

The grates may need to be re-cemented... If the cement breaks down along the back edge, it'll cause the fire to creep up towards the hopper.

I did notice while cleaning this spring that it looked like some of the cement had broken out. I’ve been wondering if that could be the reason.

Adam wrote: ↑

Thu. Nov. 04, 2021 8:13 pm

I did notice while cleaning this spring that it looked like some of the cement had broken out. I’ve been wondering if that could be the reason.

If the cement is broken up enough to let air through, it will definitely cause the fire to burn up towards the hopper... Redo the cement. Be sure to smooth out the cement with a wet finger. Rough cement can slow down the feed in those areas and cause uneven burning...

Def. an air leak on the grates, thats typically what makes it burn back, or in some cases, a large draft pulling air from hopper. but usually the grates need resealed. but a draft gauge is a good thing to monitor and adjust your draft. i have one permanently attached to both stoves.

Sounds like tomorrow I’ll shut it down before I leave for work and then recement them when I get home.

Yes recement the grates. My friend had the same problem before we did his. I think you will need to cement the first two rows of air holes closest to the hopper if I remember correctly. Good luck.

How's the fire looking after you re-cemented the grates?