Central Boiler HD 750 - water jacket cleaning

[Bob Lentz]

Does anybody know why the water jacket (fins) in the back of the CB are just a sticky mess of creosote.  when you look at all the cleaning videos, guys say it is just crust and it just scrapes off - not in my case! 

I suspect my problem is burning wood constantly at 600degrees in the reactoin chamber - my issue is my fan needs to be replaced so i ordered a new fan which CB says blows at 300+ CFM.  The fan i have been using is a dayton and it blows at 150CFM.  

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Bob

[Rhodemont]

You have an air flow restriction someplace.  Either the input or exhaust is clogged.

[Log-it-up]

Those CB hd series definitely like to run hotter than that, the fan could be a big issue but check the duct work from the flappers back to the internal part of the stove as those will creosote up and block air flow and restrict reaction chamber temps, if you have the manual you can turn up the percentage on how far the stepper motors open my personal opinion is factory setting is not open enough ( it might be fine if your burning kiln dried two year old wood) I had the same problem with creosote when I tried burning soft wood 
 I really didn't seem too see the creosote problem minimize until I could reach that 1000°+ reaction chamber temps good dry hardwood you'll see 1500+
Good luck

[PoginyHill]

I never had a huge problem with creosote, but after the modification I review in this video, I barely have a crust at all on the fins. My temps are normally 1200-1400F in the reaction chamber. Burning seasoned wood also helps. Don't expect clean burning using green-ish fuel.

You can also adjust primary and secondary air flow. Primary air generates the combustible gas and the secondary air is what allows it to burn. Too much secondary air (excess oxygen) can cool the reaction chamber and may lead to more creosote.

https://youtu.be/M4JTCfeuxNg

[trapper]

Watching that video makes me happy to cut the extra wood for my classic

[PoginyHill]

The gasifier type units certainly require more maintenance than do the older styles.

[Dan_Shade]

@PoginyHill 

I watched your video, have you tried burning out the creosote with a propane weedburner?

I have a 760, and need to do a deep clean after this season. 

BTW, that's a sweet woodshed. 

[PoginyHill]

I have not tried my propane weed burner. May be quicker than the chisel method. Good thought.
Love my woodshed. That and the boiler are a couple of my best projects. No regrets on either one. Thank you.

[Bob Lentz]

Watched the video - i have been doing a deep clean of fire box with hammer drill like in the video - i also use a weed burner to cook off the creosote from the fins, then use a scraper to get the cooked mess off the fins.  

I burn soft wood here in CO and it's never 2 year old seasoned wood - it's not soaking wet either, but sometimes it can be punky - I really think my fan is too small. the CB oem fans cost $200+ and the dayton fan i have been using costs <$100 - the dayton is only rated at 146 CFM and i am told the CB fan is rated at over 300CFM so that's double the air.

I ordered the new cb fan and i am going to do another deep clean and put the new fan in.  fingers crossed!

[Log-it-up]

PoginyHill- that was a good how to video, I wish I could fit in my 550 would make things easier, I would burn my access cardboard on and off through out the summer to melt down the creosote before the fall cleaning to make things easier seemed to help , I would just open up the bypass door and turn on the fans it would burn hot started doing that a few summers back when we had a wicked drought lower risk of the wild fires