EFM 520...How Long???

I cleaned a efm 520 the other day....I always take off the back cover of the boiler to check out the DHW coil to check for leaks. Of course this one was, so I showed the homeowners. They said HOW LONG has it been leaking???? Anyone want to guess how long this has been leaking???? check out the pics........I explained I need to weld a patch plate on to fix it......they said fix it.......heading to Hazelton Fri to fix it I"ll post some pics how it turned out.

Matthew,I know for certain that the boiler has been leaking since Hector was a pup.I'm certain about that. Good Luck with the repair,you are doing those folks more of a service than they know. Mike

I'll bet it has been leaking ever since it was installed in the off season when it cools down. I saw it with my VF3000 but that was not hidden with a plate so I was able to tighten it.

Kevin

Looks like years worth of corrosion to me.

The cost of this repair could have paid for those yearly service checks and the gasket it needed a long time ago.

The correct answer is "Wayyy tooo long".

Was there a rust-puddle on the floor?

NIce looking new plate and all, but what are you going to do with the large bung to left and the control port to right and the weld studs sticking through all over the place? Looks like a real challenging job, after pictures please!

Kevin

Studs get cut off, corrosion gets ground smooth or cut out, and the repair plate gets cut to fit around the tappings in the boiler.

This is a great reminder to carefully check the coil area for leaks when you shutdown for a cleaning.

After scanning the pictures posted by Matt using my accelerator mass spectrometer, I have carbon 14 dated the leak to the year 2003, give or take a year of course.

My calculations were as follows: efm(520) = -$2CHEAP.

Did I hear someone say: Why is the damned thing hidden anyway? The Highboy got it right, the FIRST time. AA has finally made the extended flange standard, EFM also. AHS was benefited by hindsight of others...
It AIN'T rocket science. Like have a greasable universal joint buried behind a bunch of sheet metal.....squeaky wheel gets the grease philosophy! Pay me now, pay me later......

I have heard that: It would ruin the appearance of the finished unit.....true 50's logic. I respect that, AND whoever thought the things would last 500 years anyway? EFM makes a sweet weld plate and extension....however the old coil isn't the same bolt pattern.......DUH!!!

My 1980's keystoker doesn't have a weld neck either. Problem is there isn't enough meat in the shell of the boiler to get enough threads for the bolt to dig in good. Too easy to overtorque and strip the threads.

EarthWindandFire wrote:After scanning the pictures posted by Matt using my accelerator mass spectrometer, I have carbon 14 dated the leak to the year 2003, give or take a year of course.

My calculations were as follows: efm(520) = -$2CHEAP.

That is Toooo funny I could have used that line on a customer today. He has the same problem wasn't sure when he had the gasket replaced. It's not nearly as bad but its only been a few years since it was replaced and its leaking again. I said do you want me to replace the gasket and it will probably leak again in a few years or should we start with a new patch plate. He said I was going to suggest that anyway, I don't want to screw around any more.......Another patch plate project lined up!

stovepipemike wrote:Matthew,I know for certain that the boiler has been leaking since Hector was a pup.I'm certain about that. Good Luck with the repair,you are doing those folks more of a service than they know. Mike

Just curious Mike, Is Hector your dog or their dog?

Studs get cut off, corrosion gets ground smooth or cut out, and the repair plate gets cut to fit around the tappings in the boiler.

You can't grind off the ones that are holding the two sides of the boiler apart. Must cut holes for them also. That is a lot of holing.

Kevin

Finished up today...I'll let the pics tell the story....I Have to give credit to Oaks Welding from Minersville, I hire out the welding to him....I don't weld. Everything went smooth, the homeowners were very pleased and gave me a tip of 10 Hot Dogs with everything on them from Jim's Place in Hazelton, I'm on my 4th hot dog as I'm typing this..

Wow, that is a truly professional looking job. Congrats on that fix. The dogs look great also!

Kevin