EFM 520 Stoker Won't Stay Lit.

Here are a couple EFM threads that might help you out.
Yet Another EFM520 Install Thread!

Post by myers007 - EFM DF520 Install

A video playlist of an EFM install.


And a discrimination of how the EFM stoker works. This is a different boiler but it has an EFM stoker in it.



-Don

Can you tell me what I should have my home thermostat set at? And what is the lowest before it goes out. I will attach pictures now.

I have attached pictures and a video. I hope this is helpful to help me. Please.... I need help!!

Sorry, those pics look to small. I have attached them again hope if they are bigger

My first thoughts would be the little beast needs a good cleaning and the flue pipe to the chimney thimble needs to be removed to clean that as well as the clean out may have a lot of fly ash in it.

Your triple aquastat has 160 low 200 high which is normal for that unit from what I understand.

The burn pot probably needs to be cleaned, the screens need to be examined and any screens and gaskets that are bad need to be replaced as well and the feed auger and tube examined as well. as they may very well be worn out.

How often do you push and pull the fines lever to dump the fines?

I would call EFM and ask them to tell you exactly what you need to do to clean from the very first thing to do to the last thing and how to examine it for any worn parts.
Do you have the hand crank for the the stoker mechanism? You need that to empty the pot and auger tube.

Jws2017 wrote: ↑

Mon. Jul. 13, 2020 10:48 pm

Can you tell me what I should have my home thermostat set at? And what is the lowest before it goes out. I will attach pictures now.

I'm not sure what part of the world you are in but it's 90 degrees outside here. The thermostat is off and the AC is on at my house.

Your thermostat only controls the heat in your house, not the heat in the boiler. The aquastat and the timer control the boiler.

Your aquastat looks like it is set right. How about the timer? The timer is a different box. Sometimes mounted on the boiler and sometimes mounted on the wall like this one. It should have a big round thing in it.


-Don

Don,
Yes it is very hot out. I am sorry if I sounded crazy with that question. However, the stocker will not stay on if we have the thermostat off.

We serviced it for a good cleaning. We purchased a new motor for replacement. The guy who serviced the stocker fixed the gasket on the door as it was missing in some parts. We replaced all the exhaust piping and damper. The auger pulls the coal.

I just can’t seem to figure WHY the coal will not stay lit. I am trying to figure what it can be. The stocker is what heats up our hot water.

Jws2017 wrote: ↑

Sun. Jul. 12, 2020 7:03 pm

Hello

I am having some difficulties with my EFM DF520. I have changed the motor, did a full service cleaning. However, the stocker will not stay on. At the start of the fire we get a real good burn. Then it won’t stay lit. We have the settings at Feed- 3 and the air is 5 (as we was instructed per the heating company). How to I set the timer to every half hour. Also, can someone explain what else would need to be done and how to do so?

I have always had the best luck with a feed & air setting of 4/4 for summer burning, and other EFM owners I have spoken to have said the same. I would give that a try.

Also, you need to verify that your timer is working. If it is a mechanical unit you should be able to hear the small motor running, and every half hour it should start the stoker. 2 minutes every half hour is the recommended setting.

A few more things, make sure your draft control is not sticking, and check the inlet of your auger and make sure there is not something blocking the flow of coal.

A heavy aluminium'' to-go'' container covering the draft dampener can help in summer weather. The coal wants some draft while idle.

Also try coal from another source. That can help too, summer is tough, ..... no draft and no heat calls to refresh the fire.

Jws2017 wrote: ↑

Wed. Jul. 15, 2020 3:35 am

Yes it is very hot out. I am sorry if I sounded crazy with that question.

That's OK, most would say that we're all a little crazy to be burning coal in the 21st century.

Jws2017 wrote: ↑

Wed. Jul. 15, 2020 3:35 am

the stocker will not stay on if we have the thermostat off.

If that is the case, the timer may not be working. In Summer, you are only heating your domestic hot water. The Timer and the aquastat are the only things that will run the stoker. There are many hours between when the aquastat will run the stoker. The timer needs to kick the stoker on every 30 minutes to keep the fire lit.

Find the timer and check to see if it is running. If it is, you might try Rob's suggestion of bumping the feed and air up to 4 and 4.

-Don

Is this the timer box? It was at the first 2 and we moved it to the number 2 after the Zero. We got the fire to start. However, the fire went out a couple minutes after. Looks as the house is set up to heat with the EFM DF520. I attached a pic of the radiator as well.

Jws2017 wrote: ↑

Wed. Jul. 15, 2020 3:01 pm

Is this the timer box?

YUP, good job! It has a clock motor in it so it only moves as fast as the minute hand on a clock. Note it's position, and then look at it again 10 or 15 minutes later. If it didn't move, it's not working.

Those are cast iron baseboards, they work really well, don't get rid of them, they are real nice.

-Don

Looks as it moved per the pic attached. But we still can’t figure what can be causing the coal not to stay lit

When that lever drops into the notch on the wheel, there should be power at that wire on the top right of the microswitch, and that is what makes your stoker run to keep the fire alive.

How can I determine this is working. Should I place an electric tester to see if it is live?? I don’t know what to do as everything we have checked that was advised seems to be good.