The Small Gentleman Janitor

IT'S PLUMBED, WIRED AND FIRED!!!

More details tomorrow after I recover. I have 7 more videos of the install to upload. Here are the pics. The ash door handle is rusted solid so I cut the bolts off of it. I installed a long bolt for a handle and a bunge to hold it closed for now. GJ blower hole block off plate. EFM cast feed pipe collar installed. EFM S-15 stoker. I just noticed that it has a cotter pin instead of a sheer pin. I'll change that tomorrow. That's one "Quick and Dirty" GJ/EFM conversion and install. I think I have about 800 bucks in the whole thing and most of that is the stoker.

Time will tell if the boiler is going to be a problem. So far, so good.

-Don

How tall and wide is the mini beast?

Scott,

This one sits about 49" at the highest point of a round-top and 23" wide, 29" deep.

Member "NEastUnlmtd" has the same boiler, he put an EFM S-20 in his and heats his 2 story house with it.
NEastUnlmtd @ RE-Converting a Gentleman Janitor, Back to Coal of Course

Member "WoodnCoal" also has one. I think he is using it just to take up space in his shed.

-Don

Don you are truly amazing. I really enjoy viewing these threads. I don't think the forum gives any awards for members who contribute to the overall substance of the forum but if it did you would have my vote hands down. Your videos are informative and instructional. Not to mention your willingness to contribute your time to other forum members (me) who needed it. Without your help I would still be trying to wire the controls. I owe you a big steak dinner or whatever kind of dinner you prefer. I'm fighting a nasty cold right now but as soon as I'm over it we're going out to eat. My new EFM is nothing short of awesome both when its under demand and even when its not.

StokerDon wrote:Scott,

This one sits about 49" at the highest point of a round-top and 23" wide, 29" deep.

Member "NEastUnlmtd" has the same boiler, he put an EFM S-20 in his and heats his 2 story house with it.
NEastUnlmtd @ RE-Converting a Gentleman Janitor, Back to Coal of Course

Member "WoodnCoal" also has one. I think he is using it just to take up space in his shed.

-Don

Not any more, it's gone.

coalkirk wrote:Don you are truly amazing. I really enjoy viewing these threads. I don't think the forum gives any awards for members who contribute to the overall substance of the forum but if it did you would have my vote hands down. Your videos are informative and instructional.

Thanks for the kudos Coalkirk!

The guys that amaze me are the ones that do these refurbs and installs all the time. It's a lot of hard but skilled work. There aren't many of these guys left, but I applaud their efforts. I only do it as a hobby. I think these coal stoker boilers are very interesting creatures.

Wood'nCoal wrote:Not any more, it's gone.

WHAT! Were did it go? I hope it's heating someones house.

Still 2 more videos left to upload. The video of firing the stoker up is over 20 minutes long. With my slow internet connection it took 18 hours to upload those 5 videos!

-Don

I know where it went but not sure it's heating anything yet.

Nice work Don. Good to see it back in service. Makes me want another project.

Wood'nCoal wrote:I know where it went but not sure it's heating anything yet.

Funny how those kind of things travel all over the northeast sometimes.

Don, I'm afraid to say that you don't have the smallest GJ around. I think the one I have is only 45" x 23" x 29". Sorry.

And what Coalkirk said, X2!!!

Yea, what he said X3!

Scottscoaled wrote:Don, I'm afraid to say that you don't have the smallest GJ around. I think the one I have is only 45" x 23" x 29". Sorry.

Well that's interesting, they made one that's 4" shorter than this one?

A word of advice, if your going to install a fire view door, put the boiler up on 3 or 4 more coerces of block than you would normally. The fire looks awesome in this arched-top firebox, but it's so short, I have to get down on my knees to see it! I feel like I'm praying in some Gothic Cathedral or someth'in!

-Don

Ran into a couple problems today.

I came out this morning to find my old, dry rotted rubber strap broken and the ashpan door open. I invested in a new rubber strap. I also installed a piece of broken stud with a nut to hang the strap. While I was a the hardware store I also got the correct cover for the electrical box. I got one for a switch and I got a fancy switch with a light in it. Now it will be easier to tell when I accidentally leave the switch off. The arched top firebox really makes for awesome fire viewing! The other problem I had today was an outfire. Not sure what happened, but it went out late this afternoon. I had not yet set the baro and the timer was set for the GJ-51.

I re-lit it, set the baro for -.04 and set the timer for 45 minutes rather than an hour. We'll see how that goes.

-Don

If you have marginal draft, 2 minutes every half hour is what I would run on the timer.

Rob R. wrote:If you have marginal draft, 2 minutes every half hour is what I would run on the timer.

That's about what I was thinking. I decided since we can try 45 minutes with this timer, we can work our way down to 30 minutes if needed.

On heat calls, the draft has been good. I have not yet done a good job of checking the draft during long idle periods. Tomorrow will be in the 60's, 70's on Saturday, that will be a good test.

-Don

I played with the timer settings for years, and arrived right back at what EFM said I should use.