Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

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doublereefed
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:24 am
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA

Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by doublereefed »

The ash pan drop-down doors on my Allen Mogul were completely unworkable. I am converting the rear access to a slider, but I need an easy to use latch for this front access. It would nice to have something that trips easily with the poker, and then automatically re-latches when pushed back up. I'm sure that there a few ingenious designs out there, hoping for a share.

Thanks,

-Richard

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SZuiderveen
Posts: 530
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 12:03 am
Location: Baltimore

Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by SZuiderveen »

I had swing bottoms. Many cuss words over years. Here is the new ash pan:
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Steve
doublereefed
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Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by doublereefed »

Steve, the next time I lift to boiler I am absolutely 100% doing it the way you have shown. For now I need a retrofit for the front. I am doing a sliding arrangement like you show for the rear pan.

Thanks!
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Bill Shields
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Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by Bill Shields »

The slide is a great construct. Just be careful that it will still slide:

When full of ashes
When hot
After it has been thumped a few 100 times by the 'ash pan poker.
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Marty_Knox
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Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2003 6:50 pm
Location: Michigan, USA

Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by Marty_Knox »

Put a slight bend 1/2" or so from the back end.
Enough that you almost have to force the last 1/2" in.
Friction will keep it in place without a latch.
doublereefed
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Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:24 am
Location: Manhattan Beach, CA

Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by doublereefed »

Bill, good point. I have a gap on the slides, we shall see.

Marty... I like the idea of using friction. I'm not quite following the geometry you describe. Could you provide some more insight?

Thanks!
SteveM
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Location: Wisconsin

Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by SteveM »

Assuming it is steel, a magnet on the slide mounted so that it contacts the face of the pan that faces rearwards will hold it closed.

Or put some brackets on the front to hold the magnet and a place for it to clamp to.

Steve
Carrdo
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Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by Carrdo »

You mean something like this?
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doublereefed
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Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by doublereefed »

Love the idea of the remote release. However, MAGNETS. I'm on it Steve. Perfect solution. Thanks!
Marty_Knox
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Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by Marty_Knox »

ash pan sketch.pdf
(97.33 KiB) Downloaded 339 times
Here is a sketch of what I'm suggesting.
doublereefed
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Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by doublereefed »

I get it now. Thanks for taking the time to post that Marty.
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PeterCraymer
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Location: Maysville, Ga.

Re: Ash Pan Latch Ideas?

Post by PeterCraymer »

I formed the slides on mine during construction as opposed to adding angle like Marty suggests, but do you have room to get in there with a couple of rivets or screws & nuts to add the slides to the front hopper as well using some small angle? Once you can open both front and rear hopper with one movement (mine has a hole to be able to grab it with the poker and a piece of flat bar welded to the slide gate as as stop - with a little bend for some friction) you wont be the same! I cant imagine trying to get a rod across and little cotterpins or whatever while the engine is hot. I will also recommend that if/hen you get the chance that you make them as wide as you can. Helps extend that run time before needing to make a trip to the ash pan.
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