Converting to EFM From OWB

 
Pacowy
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Location: Dalton, MA
Stoker Coal Boiler: H.B. Smith 350 Mills boiler/EFM 85R stoker
Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat/anthracite

Post by Pacowy » Tue. Jan. 22, 2019 10:02 am

Yes I'd focus on the fines. Have you been pulling the fines lever to clear the air chamber? If the coal has a lot of wet fines they could be blocking the air holes.

Mike

 
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nepacoal
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Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Tue. Jan. 22, 2019 10:07 am

Could be something simple like a rock or a stick blocking the auger pickup but either way it sounds like you might have to shut down to clean it up. I'm taking care of my FIL's EFM while he recovers from surgery and had a very small, lazy fire like that last month. Luckily, a fast manual cranking of the auger cleared it out. I think it was a present from the basement cat that had the auger blocked on his...

 
lzaharis
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Location: Ithaca, New York
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4-1 dual fuel boiler
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: former switzer CWW100-sold
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: kerosene for dual fuel Keystoker/unused

Post by lzaharis » Tue. Jan. 22, 2019 10:08 am

You definitely have a blockage or excess fines in the pot.
It is probably best to scoop out the hot coals and empty the pot and start all over after you clean it and make sure the air holes are free of any fines and back the auger up to remove the coal in the auger

If you have water in your coal it would be best to do this:
Purchase a small herd of buckets from lowest or home despised and then take half of them and drill 1/8" drain holes in them and just put a brick in each of the other buckets and taking the filled buckets and lowering them in the buckets with the bricks in them and just let them drain out and after a few days you will have dry coal to toss in the barrel.

Have you done any maintenance on the pot-checked and or replaced the gasket, checked the screens for blockages since you installed the EFM stoker and put it in service?

 
Cummins junkie
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Post by Cummins junkie » Tue. Jan. 22, 2019 10:33 am

I hope I found the problem. I found a lot of fines solidified at the auger pick up, cleaned that, reversed the auger to clean that also now just started back up so hopefully it’ll take off now. Everything else was clean. The boiler was refurbished when I got it and this is my 3rd winter with it


 
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Dakotaguy
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Location: Summit hill pa
Stoker Coal Boiler: Efm 520 highboy
Coal Size/Type: Lots of rice from Lehigh
Other Heating: Pops 2010 df 520 stoker

Post by Dakotaguy » Tue. Jan. 22, 2019 9:08 pm

Nice fix hopefully your up and running again these EFMs are pretty much indestructible and very dependable good luck cant go wrong with coal heat

 
coaledfeat
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Location: NY Columbia County
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1982 efm df520
Coal Size/Type: Cornwall rice
Other Heating: VC winterwarm wood

Post by coaledfeat » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 12:18 pm

Had a similar situation, Two clues to a blocked auger were a CO reading and the feed tube near the boiler was very warm. When hand cranked there was little resistance. Since then I added a cleanout plug near the bottom of the barrel
to ease emptying. Otherwise the 520 has been setit and forgetit! Happy heating, Gary

 
Cummins junkie
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Post by Cummins junkie » Thu. Jan. 24, 2019 8:30 pm

It did finally get going after that. I’m glad I made the switch to coal and bought this boiler. I had a little issue a last month, not sure why but the auger shaft broke at the coupler, I know a guy that does welding and fabrication and he welded I up for me and I’ve broken one sheer pin. Other than that it been flawless for the last 3 years.

 
Cummins junkie
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Post by Cummins junkie » Wed. Feb. 21, 2024 6:59 am

HELP!! Can anyone help me with getting parts for my EFM please? I’ve done the dealer located on their website and it keeps sayin there was a problem.


 
Scott in nwct
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Location: Salisbury ct.
Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ 671SU w/Efm S-15 stoker
Coal Size/Type: Rice anthracite lehigh
Other Heating: Peerless oil boiler

Post by Scott in nwct » Wed. Feb. 21, 2024 7:22 am

I have used Marks Supply Shenandoah pa. With good luck. They ship quick. Scott.

 
Dave 1234
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Stoker Coal Boiler: 1948 International boiler, EFM S-20 stoker
Coal Size/Type: Buck,

Post by Dave 1234 » Wed. Feb. 21, 2024 7:28 am

And Dave O'Neil , at advanced energy in Ny . 518 623 2090 . He is in Warrensburg , East of you .

 
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nepacoal
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Location: Coal Country
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KAA-4 / "Kelly" and an EFM 520 at my in-laws
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Harman SF-260 - retired
Coal Size/Type: Buck

Post by nepacoal » Wed. Feb. 21, 2024 7:29 am

+1 on Mark's if you can't find it locally...

Contact

230 S. Main Street
Shenandoah, PA 17976
P: 570-462-0748

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