Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: woodmaster40 on February 24, 2015, 07:54:25 AM

Title: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: woodmaster40 on February 24, 2015, 07:54:25 AM: 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?
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: slimjim on February 24, 2015, 07:56:15 AM: Air flow through the unit could be restricted somewhere or perhaps fan blades clogging?
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: kommandokenny on February 24, 2015, 08:02:51 AM: 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?????
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: atvalaska on February 24, 2015, 02:19:27 PM: 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
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: AirForcePOL on February 24, 2015, 02:43:04 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: ijon on February 24, 2015, 02:58:00 PM: Is your ashes high on the back of the boiler?
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: fireboss on February 24, 2015, 03:04:31 PM: Try putting less wood in and get a good bed of coals should take care of it!
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: yotehunter66 on February 24, 2015, 03:50:14 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: kommandokenny on February 24, 2015, 04:57:19 PM: Yep 10-4 on that Yote.
My experience also
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: woodmaster40 on February 25, 2015, 07:18:03 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: kommandokenny on February 25, 2015, 09:19:31 AM: No auger system .?????Wood???
Love mine ..
Just can;t burn skids and belted tires,, as nails clog it up ;D ;D :o
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: atvalaska on February 25, 2015, 09:49:54 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: kommandokenny on February 25, 2015, 11:09:33 AM: nails????

Post a pic, gotta see this thing 8)
Title: Re: Help! Bridging I think....
Post by: yotehunter66 on February 25, 2015, 04:43:25 PM: Auger as well. I rake my coals and ash every time I load and clean out with the auger about every other day.