BK cat stalls randomly

[bikedennis]

Second season with my Sirocco 30.2. The cat stalls to almost inactive sometimes in the middle of a burn or after reload. Wood is all softwood with MC around 15%. I cleaned the crud off of the cat probe stem and it seems to have helped. Outside temps 20F to max 40F. It may go a couple of days chugging along just fine without stalling. It's had 2 months burning since the cat. was vacuumed. Anything to be concerned about? Is this normal?

 

[begreen]

How would the cat probe affect this? Isn't the cat probe just an independent thermometer?
Try opening up the air a little more and see if that cures the problem.

 

[bikedennis]

Don't know that the cat probe actually is related. Yes, more air brings it out of near stall. I was wondering if I had a problem.

 

[showrguy]

“Almost inactive“ and “near stall” doesn’t sound like you have any issues/problems at all..
Sounds like you are running on the ragged edge of your “lowest’ setting ..

 

[Highbeam]

“Almost inactive“ and “near stall” doesn’t sound like you have any issues/problems at all..
Sounds like you are running on the ragged edge of your “lowest’ setting ..

I agree, and as we warm up outside running on the ragged edge of cat stall will be harder since warmer weather means weaker draft. It will require a bit higher thermostat settings than when it’s cold.

Also, as the cat has now aged significantly, the lowest low setting will naturally need to be a bit higher to avoid stall. You’re getting into the wheelchair years.

The one steel cat I ran didn’t even make it two years before failing miserably. It wore out much quicker than the ceramic cats. I even tried to boil it in vinegar which got me a few more months. Like the OP, I burn softwoods on low settings which I propose is much harder on a catalyst than hardwoods at higher settings.

 

[Ashful]

“Almost inactive“ and “near stall” doesn’t sound like you have any issues/problems at all..
Sounds like you are running on the ragged edge of your “lowest’ setting ..

^ This. Mark that position on your dial now, you just found your minimum allowable setting (MAS), for that chimney.

More importantly, how many hours are you getting at that setting? I hope at least 20 hours?