Print

[woodmaster40]

Hey all-
Its my first season with an OWB so I'm a newbie. I am using a Woodmaster 4400. I haven't had this issue until the last few days and I'm not sure what is causing it. I think you folks call it bridging but I'm not sure. I have loaded the OWB a number of times and the fire seems to be burning well but the temp doesn't come up. In fact, it seems to be dropping. The fan keeps running and burns out the front/middle wood but the temp doesn't come up. When I notice it hasn't cycled after awhile I'll go back out and stoke everything and I can get it back up usually but its taking a lot more work than it has. Any thoughts or tips?

[slimjim]

Air flow through the unit could be restricted somewhere or perhaps fan blades clogging?

[kommandokenny]

Mine burns better with no ashes in it .
Do you have a grate and auger??
I notice when my 44 is loaded up with ashes, it does not burn well in the rear.
Like Slim says, air flow restriction ??
nother stab........... . low water??

[atvalaska]

I load my "round firebox" ( looking at it like u are facing a clock)... nothing at 5 to 7  but coals  then I stack left and right on each side left  7 to 10 and the right side 5 back up to 2  = self feeding ...works for me

[AirForcePOL]

A lot of this could be your loading technique.  What I don't understand is that you say you can get a good fire going but the temp seems to go down.  When you say you go out and stoke it after you have noticed the furnace hasn't cycled, are you referring to the fan coming on or shutting off? 

[ijon]

Is your ashes high on the back of the boiler?

[fireboss]

Try putting less wood in and get a good bed of coals should take care of it!

[yotehunter66]

Clean your ashes out and see how it works. The wood master has a grate with slots in it for ash removal but air flows up through the grate as well. Also if you don't have a good coal bed and throwing large rounds in there it will not burn as hot and take longer to reignite after it idles down. Just my experience with it.

[kommandokenny]

Yep 10-4 on that Yote.
My experience also

[woodmaster40]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts! I definitely need some work on the ashes particularly in the back of the boiler. I always remove from the front and then rake everything forward but reaaly don't remove ash from the back. I'm sure its a mess back there.

[kommandokenny]

No auger system .??Wood???
Love mine ..
Just can;t burn skids and belted tires,, as nails  clog it up

[atvalaska]

love my auger !!  it just eats up galvanized nails, and staples in old power line poles, hel!,  spikes in  the old railroad ties are not a problem either!

[kommandokenny]

nails?

Post a pic, gotta see this thing

[yotehunter66]

Auger as well. I rake my coals and ash every time I load and clean out with the auger about every other day.