I think I may have found the problem.
Preliminary results.
I think a large part of the problem was ash buildup on top of the grate which clocked air.
This happened due to my passive initial grate shaking.
After two days of shaking the heck out of it, I think I have it cleared.
This morning when I went down to fire, I noticed a nice little concave are in the middle of the fire box.
The fire had finally burned down to that level and allowed ne to get air up through and add more coal than I had been able to do.
Thanks for all the generous patient suggestions
Plato once said, “Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools, because they have to say something.”
"Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." "Men willingly believe what they wish to believe."
Julius Caesar
There's no natural calamity that government can't make worse.
Bill Bonner