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Good Morning. Thought would chime in again. Good link for the 2012-2013 burning season. (It is not over as live about 100 miles north of Eau Claire and woke up today with about 4 inch snow and -2 to -8 depending on where you look) Anyway liked the statistics. A few thoughts. From what I see there does not seem to be as many "Old Bloggers"--to me that is because they like me have learned over many years how to "Make the Stove Work"--Newbees are in learning curve as was myself years ago.
What have noticed is that the price of corn and pellets (My area $7/50#=$280/Ton and Pellets about $4/40#=$200/ton. Problem faced this year was Propane was much more econominical but still did the Stove bit. (Like the heat better). Also corn in area is not as available from farmers and with the high prices went to storage and took the money up front. Secondly last year was very dry and farmers said they did ot even need to dry the corn!!! Big mistake I thought and also the corn quality was not good as there were large stalks in the corn. (Setting on the combine was set different because of dry season)
Went more for the corn/pellet mix. Used about one 5 gal corn to almost 3/4 full 5 gal pail mix. Worked ok, but the corn/pellets varied all the time and had to readjust the settings (Magnum 3500P). Also the pellets made lot more ash to be cleaned out and in my take the mix did not burn as hot as just he corn previous years. (I attributed this to the amount of air going through the mix instead of just plain corn)
Just picked up another load of corn (Have lots of pellet in garage) and as I usually run the corn through a Fanning Mill--much more stalks--took long time to clean the corn. This batch also looked like different corn variety and the mix now does not burn as good as original batches.
My take is less heat of mix than with straight corn before. (Must temper this as have to assume corn is not of quality level of other years. My guess is that the pellets (used previous years same brand) are not doing as well either.
That is my take on fuel.
On the other hand I notice here on the forum and online Web sites that more and more Manufacturers are dropping off. This may be to the fuel prices or just not of good quality of the "Older Brands". I make that observation on the "Brands" blogged on the forum for advice, etc. Seems everyone got into the stove business in good times and just could not sustain the market fluctuations.
Last and just my observation is that most irritations are with the Auger Motors on most Stoves (Mine also). Would seem that this could have been upgraded on all the Stoves to last longer and would minmize the frustration of changing out the Gearbox. (Small space and big hands make hard to replace). Looks like a place for someone to make a better mousetrap!!
But if you are UP NORT you like the stove heat and perservers.
UP NORT
PS--Hope everyone appreciates the work to put on this forum--I have for many years. Thanks
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The 2012-2013 Heatin ...
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Posted 2 months ago
by upnort
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Good Morning.
As far a parts and motors usually check with Surplus and they seem to not have surplus motors for Corn Stoves.
As an added note (for my 3500P) when I went to replace the exhaust motor, had to buy the entire assembly. Why you ask? Because AES says remove the assembly, remove impeller by loseening the hex on the shaft and remove the impeller and then take off the motor. BIG PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY---YOU CANNOT EVER LOOSEN THE IMPELLER--HEX AND IMPELLER ARE FROZEN DUE TO EXHAUST FUMES, ASH, AND HEAT. SO YOU NEED TO BUY COMPLETE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MODIFY THE ASSEMBLY WITH CONCENTRIC RINGS TO REMOVE MOTOR AND IMPELLER W/O REMOVAL OF ASSEMBLY. THEN CAN WORK ON IMPELLER AND MOTOR ON BENCH FOR REMOVAL AND REASSEMBLY. THIS IS MY ISSUE WITH THAT MOTOR IF THAT HELPS.
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old forum
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Posted 2 months, 1 week ago
by upnort
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Good Morning.
I have mentioned this before but here is again. I buy total # corn and Pellets for year. Have pallets which I place plastic on top of them and then place the bags on top of the plastic. Cement in garage varies with moisture before the cold winter freeze so am sure some moisture is in air.
After hard freeze, transfer corn and pellets (after cleaning) to house in 5 gall pails.
Being in house seems to dry out what ever moisture is present before use.
I checked the moisture in the garage all the time. Even in winter (Unattached garage) the moisture level in the garage is off the gauge. Never Low.
All that being said, seems not to penetrate the bags of corn and pellets. (Note corn bags aare I think Breathable type cloth and Pellets are plastic with small holes.
The bags feel moist when I pick them up but does not seem to affect the corn and pellets.
If your corn is in house as you said then assume there was moisture while in storage before purchase.
Maybe if you open up the bags before use might help.
UP NORT
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Moisture
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Posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago
by upnort
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Good Morning. Brrrrr! That said I burn a mix of corn/pellets. For all the comments on Pellets I would like to add that what is missing is the way it is stored, mixture level, and wht I think is missed most is the area you live in. As an example of what I mean, the same mix can burn during the day VG and then go down on hear output. (Look at the flame without changing the setting) So the thing that pops into my mind is the change in Humidity. Nice and dry outside good h eat, then snow/rain comes in and heat goes down. (Watch the flame). This I believe goes to the heart of storage. I store my pellets/corn in the outside garage where I mix my fuel. I have the fuel up on pellets, dry, no actual water from floor or otherwise. I have a humidity/temp gauge and notice the change from dry to more humid at times. I carry themix to the house, store for about a week and most times burns well (less humidity in house)But as soon as humidity rises outside with outside air intake and rise and lower of temps affect the burn. I think this should be taken into account when assessing the pellet quality. Thank You.
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Pellet quality 2012/ ...
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Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
by upnort
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Good Morning. Finally think got back to the forum. Had 2 ton pellets from last year and picked up a great buy at yard sale so have 3 ton. Usually burn about 7 ton combined corn/pellets in a year. (Friend likes temp like San Diego). Costs were about $200/ton or $4 a bag where I am. Corn going for about $280/Ton from local farmer. Due to thinking Propane would be better cost budgeted for more than usual Propane. (I usually use Propane early and late winter months to minimize on and off use of Countryside 3500). Due to bad back lately have delayed picking up the corn. Will try this weekend. I clean the corn in a fanning mill. (Open the garage door and let it fly) I also run the pellets through a slide cleaner and let the wind blow the fines away. I have found minimizes fine buildup in hopper. Mix about 60%corn 40% Pellets. May go higher with more pellets than corn after see how it burns. Anyway late start on burning and hedged to see if price would come down. (It didn't) I have not tried all pellets in my Countryside 3500 so if anyone has done this would like a reply. Thanks. UP NORT
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Going all pellets th ...
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Posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago
by upnort
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All good suggestions above. My stove is a 3500. What I find is it is quite durable and fairly easy to replace and repair. From most comments of the forum seems to be 50/50 use of stirrer/No Stirrer Burn Pot. I think it has to do with the fuel weither all corn, all pellets, or combination for the area. (Mostly the corn as that seems to very from area to area) After years of use I have settled on a mix of corn/pellets and use a stirrer. In my are I have also found cleaning the corn with an old Fanning Mill to remove the ear wings and what I call chicken feed and run the pellets through a slide cleaner to get the dust and small pellet fines out. Since done that very good burns. (does seem to give a finer ash and do not have to use Oyster Shells anymore) You will have to find the mix for your area. Have bought spare parts, motors especially, in that when a problem comes up in January have spare on hand. LAST AND MAYBE THIS IS MAIN COMMENT IS THAT IN THE US MOST STOVES ARE AC--110v STOVES. (SOME ARE DC BUT 110V INPUT.) I WOULD CHECK AND SEE IF AUSTRALIA USES 220V OR NOT AND YOU MAY NEED A CONVERTER. Good Luck. OH--last comment is my take is to buy the simplest machine to minimize components.
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Are they reliable - ...
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Posted 1 year ago
by upnort
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I use IE Ver 8. I have not upgraded to the latest IE that us used with Vista and beyond. I do not use the other Browers mentioned and use Google exclusively. sounds like a software issue with the servers.
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Troubles with the fo ...
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Posted 1 year, 2 months ago
by upnort
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Works fine for me. 9 March 2012 7:35 AM
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test
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Posted 1 year, 2 months ago
by upnort
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Joe says to Paddy: "Close your curtains the next time you're having sex with your wife.
The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday.
"Paddy says: "Well the joke's on them because I wasn't even at home yesterday"!
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New joke page
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Posted 1 year, 2 months ago
by upnort
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Back again on the Auger Motor Gearbox. Have it running again and now would like to open up the spares (one removed for noise) and see if I can add lube to the gearcase. First have seen lube mentioned like White Lithium Bearing Grease, then in next breath some say not the best. So what is recommended lube? I searched the forum but did not pick it up. Also I remember I saw somewhere how gearbox was taken apart, lubed, added a grease fitting and reassembled. Missed that also. (Pictures are worth a thousand words, like where to add the fitting. Any links? Thanks
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Auger Motor Grease f ...
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Here comes one where you can Substitute Bears, Lions or Vikings. A Good One.
Once upon a time long, long, ago there was a season when neither the
Packers nor the Bears made the post season playoffs. It seemed so
unusual, that the management of both teams got together and decided
that there should be some sort of competition between the two teams
because of their great rivalry. So, they decided on a week long ice
fishing competition.
The team that catches the most fish at the end of the week wins. So on
a cold northern Wisconsin lake they began their contest. The first day
after 8 hours of fishing the Packers had caught 100 fish and the Bears
had 0. At the end of the 2nd day the Packers had caught 200 fish and
the Bears 0. That evening the Bears coach got his team together and
said, "I suspect some kind of cheating is taking place". So the next
morning he dressed one of his players in green and gold and sent him
over to the Packer camp to act as a spy. At the end of the day he came
back to report to the coach. The coach asked "Well, how about it, are
they cheating?" "They sure are," the player reported, "They're cutting
holes in the ice".
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New joke page
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Another blonde Joke--I got them on an email.--I think she was a blonde, go figure.
A blonde was bragging about her knowledge of state capitals.
She proudly says, 'Go ahead, ask me, ... I know 'em all.'
A friend says, 'OK, what's the capital of Wisconsin ?'
The blonde replies,'Oh, that's easy . it's W.'
Q: What did the blonde ask her doctor when he told her she was pregnant?
A: 'Is it mine?'
Bambi, a blonde in her fourth year as a UCLA Freshman, sat in her US
Government class. The professor asked Bambi if she knew what
Roe vs. Wade was about.
Bambi pondered the question; then, finally, said, 'That was the decision
George Washington had to make before he crossed the Delaware ...'
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New joke page
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Another Blong Joke
A married couple were asleep when the phone rang
at 2 in the morning. The very blonde wife picked up the phone,
listened a moment and said 'How should I know, that's 200 miles
from here!' and hung up.
The husband said, 'Who was that?'
The wife answered, 'I don't know, some woman wanting to know if the coast is clear.'
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New joke page
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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What comes around goes around. Years ago Coal was low, wood was low, NG was low in cost, then Prop, then Corn. Now the cycle seems to be going around again. Corn is rising, wood too, coal being fazed out, propane up and doen and corn rising. I think most went to corn stoves because of the cost savings ($120/Ton). Now over $200 to $250 or so a ton. Oil on the east cost for heating is up and down, mostly up. So if you have the money you rearrange the Chairs on the titanic and go for the lowest. (At the time) A little politics here but if they keep subsidising one fuel over the other, solar over fossel ete, it will affect manufacture of new (notice new) stoves, panels, etc. Being a little cynical, I think it is planned that way to keep the economy going. In effect they want you to get rid of a completely good product and go to another. Hello,, been there, seen that. Planned obsolesence. I am sure most of you do not agree, but think of how long it took you to pay off the stove you alread have. Then Think how long you will be using the "New and Better System" Amortize the costs (don't forget to add in the fuel you are using) and see othen if it is cost effieicnt. All this aside from the Climate Warming Issue.
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Gone to the Darkside
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Thanks. Been watching since retightened the chain and seems to be OK for now. If it loosens up will work on it then. Summer project. Also the rod type bolts I did on the Auger motor works well. A lot easier to take off the gearcase. I don't see why they don't do that on OEM. But I suppose they assemble the inside before the sheet metal and is easier to get at at assembly. Learn a little every day. I have a scrapped exhaust motor assembly and am working on how to cut the sheet metal, be able to remove the motor and fan, then make a ring to reassemble. Another pie in the sky project. If it works then will be able to take out the motor and fan without removing the entire assembly to clean behind the fan.
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Stirrer Motor Bolts
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Thanks Pete. For me and I don't know of others, I have a 3500 and have started out corn only. Over the years because of the variation in my area have gone to pellets as a way to even out the burn. The pellets (at least to me) give me a way to regulate the % moisture (my terms) of the fuel. I live on the border of corn growing UP NORT so was hard to find a consistant corn. Now I buy from same farmer as seems to be somewhat consistant in content. Also the pellets I buy seem to be consistant also. Those two reasons are why I mix my fuel, besides cost of course.
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Pellet Burners - Wha ...
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Good Morning, still using a stirrer and works well for me. However lately have a problem with the chain. First it developed a kink because I think it bacame too loose and hit the sprocket. Fixed that by bending back and forth and soaking in oil. That being said, lately I watch the chain and notice it keeps getting looser and looser. So I retighten the gearbox bolts. They seem to have a rubber washer on them also. I try not to overtighten. I was wondering if I could do what I did with my Auger Gearbox and drill out the tapped screws and make it a through hold and use a longer screw and washer and nut. I wonder if I should do that. Another idea was to use a shim in the slots to keep the gearblx from sliding. Any ideas? Thanks. PS--I noted in my Phamphlet the sprocket says 11 teeth, but I only count 10, is that a misprint? Can I go to a Bike shop and get another chain if I need it?
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Stirrer Motor Bolts
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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TWO IRISH WOMEN IN A BAR
Two women were sitting next to each other at a bar.
After a while, one looks at the other and says, 'I can't
help but think, from listening to you, that you're from
Ireland .'
The other woman responds proudly, 'Yes, I sure am!'
The first one says, 'So am I! And where about in
Ireland are ya from?'
The other woman answers, 'I'm from Dublin , I am.'
The first one responds, 'So, am I!! And what street
did you live on in Dublin ?'
The other woman says, 'A lovely little area. It was in
the west end. I lived on Warbury Street in the old
entral part of town.'
The first one says, 'Faith, and it's a small world. So
did I! So did I! And what school did ya go to?'
The other woman answers, 'Well now, I went to Holy
Heart of Mary, of course..'
The first one gets really excited and says, 'And so
did I! Tell me, what year did you graduate?'
The other woman answers, 'Well, now, let's see. I
graduated in 1964.'
The first woman exclaims, 'The Good Lord must be
smiling down upon us! I can hardly believe our good
luck at winding up in the same pub tonight! Can you
believe it? I graduated from Holy Heart of Mary in
1964 me self!'
About this time, Michael walks into the bar, sits down,
and orders a beer.
Brian, the bartender, walks over to Michael shaking his
head and mutters, 'It's going to be a long night tonight.'
Michael asks, 'Why do you say that, Brian?'
Brian answers, “The Murphy twins are drunk again.”
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New joke page
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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Good Morning America. After seeing the comments, I think that no matter what Pellets you buy you should clean them to remove the small fines. Also I think that the ones you buy this year may not be the ones you buy next year expecting them to be as good. I have found that out the hard way. This year lucky have bought From Same Supplier (GLRE). Only because when I had a bad batch they stood behind it and replaced a ton. Also they gave me a few bags of their Hardwood Pellets. I bought them and they are definitely a plus. I guess you get what you pay for. No problems in Jan is worth a lot of aginst.
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Pellet Burners - Wha ...
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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The Business Deal
A Chinese guy goes to a Jew to buy black bras, size 38.
The Jew, known for his skills as a shrewd businessman, says that black bras
are rare and that he is finding it very difficult to buy them from his
suppliers. Therefore he has to charge $50.00 for them.
The Chinese guy buys 25 pairs.
He returns a few days later and this time orders fifty.
The Jew tells him that they have become even harder to get and
charges him $60.00 each.
The Chinese guy returns a month later and buys the Jews remaining
stock of 50, and this time for $75.00 each.
The Jew is somewhat puzzled by the large demand for black size 38
bras and asks the Chinese guy, "...please tell me - What do you do with
all these black bras?
The Chinese guy answers: "I cut them in half and sell them as skull
caps to you Jews for $200.00 each *.......and this is why the Chinese own us!*
*"Business is Business"*
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Stimulas Plan
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Posted 1 year, 3 months ago
by upnort
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