Moving EFM 520

 
Polymerman35
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 3:36 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Other Heating: Oil boiler and pellet stove

Post by Polymerman35 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 3:51 pm

Hello everyone, first post here. I finally broke down and bought an EFM 520 in the used market…the price and condition was not something I could pass up. I have a few questions though.

First off how do you guys move these things? It’s down in a basement and has about 8 steps than a small landing and needs to b spun to go out a side door. I had 4 guys on it and we couldn’t get the boiler up the steps. Thinking I need to call some professionals, just not sure if regular movers can do it or I need a rigger.

Second, I know nothing about these stoves so was wondering if anyone is close by the Berwick PA area that may want to explain this to me once it’s up and running in the spring ( I need to put a small addition on my outbuilding to house the boiler). The boiler was converted to oil some years ago but the lady still had the coal attachment, just missing the auger. She bought it new in 67 I believe. I’m really excited to get this up and running as I have been looking at them for the last 5-6 years. It was just very defeating to try for a few hours and have to leave empty handed today.

Thanks for any input.

Attachments

BE2AD279-AE52-43F1-9238-80391A130B41.png
.PNG | 1.4MB | BE2AD279-AE52-43F1-9238-80391A130B41.png
BC7DEFBD-11A0-4D44-B724-750E964E2D83.png
.PNG | 1.6MB | BC7DEFBD-11A0-4D44-B724-750E964E2D83.png
706CEEBE-CAB7-4E5F-A9D4-2D0BA981EC72.png
.PNG | 1.7MB | 706CEEBE-CAB7-4E5F-A9D4-2D0BA981EC72.png
4AE90D7E-0C31-4E77-8A1F-F7E1DC53DEBE.png
.PNG | 1.4MB | 4AE90D7E-0C31-4E77-8A1F-F7E1DC53DEBE.png
6ADED0AA-6B14-4A11-919B-404DACF622DE.png
.PNG | 1.7MB | 6ADED0AA-6B14-4A11-919B-404DACF622DE.png
F7367D27-A37E-4447-98DF-EA4F3D22F381.png
.PNG | 1.1MB | F7367D27-A37E-4447-98DF-EA4F3D22F381.png


 
lzaharis
Member
Posts: 2358
Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
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 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 4:55 pm

If I remember correctly you have to remove the boiler skin and separate the boiler vessel from the base to make it lighter.

Is the boiler vessel drained of water??

Can you rent an engine hoist that can be collapsed and brough up and down stairs??

You should have either half sheets of 3/4" plywood cut lengthwise or 2 by 12's to slide the sections up the stairs and have plywood to protect the floor

Investing in a couple of furniture dollies and lifting slings from tractor supply or harbor freight should be on your shopping list if you have hand tools to unbolt the boiler vessel from the base and prybars and small lumber for wedges and shims too.

 
User avatar
davidmcbeth3
Member
Posts: 8505
Joined: Sun. Jun. 14, 2009 2:31 pm
Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:01 pm

Once boilers are in a basement then usually the only way to get them out is to bust them up and carry the parts upstairs in manageable sections.

However, you are looking for tips !

I carried by boiler down the stairs by placing a 2 by 4 across the threshold of the top doorway. Attached a wench to the moving dolly and cranked it down. No reason to think the opposite would not work. I would not have a person underneath in case of a cable failure. If it would have happened I would have saluted it goodbye as it crashed down the stairs until the basement floor stopped it.

I have a manual wench .. goes from 1 to 5 ratio and 1 to 60 ratio via gears. I yank out tree roots with it, the main reason I got it. Uses cable v. chain.

I predict success probability of 0.50 to get that monster intact up ... does the basement have a tornado door exit ? Lots of pics of boiler, none of path to get out..many ideas will be pathway dependent...post pics of way(s) out.

 
User avatar
davidmcbeth3
Member
Posts: 8505
Joined: Sun. Jun. 14, 2009 2:31 pm
Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:08 pm

lzaharis wrote:
Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 4:55 pm


Is the boiler vessel drained of water??
Capture italian.JPG
.JPG | 46KB | Capture italian.JPG
I knew someone would ask .. sooner or later

 
lzaharis
Member
Posts: 2358
Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
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 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:13 pm

David you really did not use a wench did you??? :^0

 
User avatar
davidmcbeth3
Member
Posts: 8505
Joined: Sun. Jun. 14, 2009 2:31 pm
Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:22 pm

lzaharis wrote:
Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:13 pm
David you really did not use a wench did you??? :^0
https://www.grainger.com/category/material-handli ... =WP5930800

Winch ... lol One of these ^^^

I paid $75 for mine ... sans cable ... replaced cable once ... got it years ago. Never snapped a cable..thought I was close to doing so a few times. One of these would have no issues winching 800 lbs..might break some stairs, the winch cares not.
Last edited by davidmcbeth3 on Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
User avatar
Retro_Origin
Member
Posts: 900
Joined: Sun. Feb. 21, 2021 7:46 pm
Location: Schuylkill county
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1957 Axeman Anderson 130
Coal Size/Type: Buckwheat / Pea

Post by Retro_Origin » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:26 pm

Unrelated to your moving question I think you have the most user friendly coal boiler. They are very easy to operate, and known to be efficient


 
lzaharis
Member
Posts: 2358
Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
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 » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:35 pm

I am going to have to resort to brute skid loader force with chain and my
choker brush grubber to rip out my long barberry hedge and my 70+ year
old ewes and and the trash trees. I hope the ewes don't lose any wool :)
I wish I still had as truck as I would not have to rent anything to do this.

 
User avatar
StokerDon
Site Moderator
Posts: 7484
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 11:17 am
Location: PA, Southern York County!
Stoker Coal Boiler: Gentleman Janitor GJ-5, Van Wert VA-600, Axeman Anderson130 X3.
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Harman SF3500 reduced down to 3 grates connected to its own plenum
Coal Size/Type: Rice, Chestnut and whatever will fit through the door on the Harman
Other Heating: Noth'in but COAL! Well, Maybe a little tiny bit of wood

Post by StokerDon » Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 7:05 pm

Polymerman35 wrote:
Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 3:51 pm
First off how do you guys move these things?
Did you take it apart???

Its not a good idea to try to move one of these without taking it apart first. Not only will you damage the sheet metal jacket, the boiler itself just sits on top of the base. If they separate while your horsing it around someone will get hurt.

The boiler alone weighs 700 or 800 pounds without the sheet metal or the base so having 4 guys grab it, haul it up steps and through a doorway won't work. I use an engine hoist strapped into the back of my truck. Others use heavy duty dollies and come-alongs.
BMintoTheBasement 004.JPG
.JPG | 765.8KB | BMintoTheBasement 004.JPG
BMintoTheBasement 006.JPG
.JPG | 471.6KB | BMintoTheBasement 006.JPG
-Don

 
waytomany?s
Member
Posts: 3687
Joined: Fri. Aug. 16, 2019 3:02 pm
Location: Oneida, N.Y.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harmon Mark II
Hand Fed Coal Furnace: Looking
Baseburners & Antiques: Looking
Coal Size/Type: Nut
Other Heating: newmac wood/coal combo furnace

Post by waytomany?s » Sun. Jan. 22, 2023 8:48 am

davidmcbeth3 wrote:
Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 5:22 pm
https://www.grainger.com/category/material-handli ... =WP5930800

Winch ... lol One of these ^^^

I paid $75 for mine ... sans cable ... replaced cable once ... got it years ago. Never snapped a cable..thought I was close to doing so a few times. One of these would have no issues winching 800 lbs..might break some stairs, the winch cares not.
$75 for a wench is kinda steep. Unless that's the weekly rate.

 
User avatar
davidmcbeth3
Member
Posts: 8505
Joined: Sun. Jun. 14, 2009 2:31 pm
Coal Size/Type: nut/pea/anthra

Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sun. Jan. 22, 2023 3:18 pm

waytomany?s wrote:
Sun. Jan. 22, 2023 8:48 am
$75 for a wench is kinda steep. Unless that's the weekly rate.
Pretty it up with a fancy cable.

 
Polymerman35
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 3:36 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Other Heating: Oil boiler and pellet stove

Post by Polymerman35 » Mon. Jan. 23, 2023 9:30 am

Sorry guys I guess I left out some key info. So yes the boiler is drained and we do have it stripped down with all side panels removed and the boiler separated from the base. We were not trying to take it all as one piece. The problem is the steps are so narrow and there is a tight turn at the top and unfortunately that’s the only way into/out of the basement. The lady said thats the same steps that they brought it in on which we are doubtful as the steps stringers are made of 2x6 lumber…not the heavy duty rough cut like the rest of the floor joists. I would guess they were replaced at some point. And they skimped out with stringers so we would need to brace the steps underneath which isn’t a big deal but just something else that needs done. So as it sits now there is no way to get any type of hoist or lift in there. Might be able to winch it up the steps.
Unfortunately I was so bummed we couldn’t get it out, taking pics of the steps and exit route totally slipped my mind. I did just text the guy to see if he could take a few for me. I will post them if he send some.

 
lzaharis
Member
Posts: 2358
Joined: Sun. Mar. 25, 2007 8:41 pm
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 » Mon. Jan. 23, 2023 10:00 am

You will have to use a cable winch and a short piece of 4"-6"steel pipe to pass the
cable around as you winch it up if there is a second door frame you can place the
winch and 2" by 8"s it is mounted on against.

3/4" Plywood or 2 by 12's nailed to 2 by 4 stringers with corner clips.
Then the stringers are nailed to the stairs with double headed nails.

If you have a furniture dolly at the head of the stairs you would be able to drag it
on the dolly if you can hold it in place to keep it from sliding.

 
Polymerman35
New Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat. Jan. 21, 2023 3:36 pm
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Other Heating: Oil boiler and pellet stove

Post by Polymerman35 » Tue. Jan. 24, 2023 6:42 am

Ok guys, here is what I am working with. The lady swears this stove came in on these steps, I’m not to convinced. In either case it’s goi g to be a challenge to get it out. The steps are one thing, but the landing is tight and not enough room to spin it. The boiler does need to come up on its side to fit.

Attachments


 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17965
Joined: Fri. Dec. 28, 2007 4:26 pm
Location: Chazy, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Jr

Post by Rob R. » Tue. Jan. 24, 2023 7:21 am

Welcome. My EFM had to navigate a landing also. The guys strapped it to a small cart and rolled it down the stairs on planks, then used a large bar to stand it up on end and pivot to go through the next doorway. Leverage is your friend, even a piece of lumber stuck in the door on the boiler can be used to move it around fairly easily.

Another idea is that you call someone with experience doing this. Try Steve Wilhelm @ (570) 527-0992. In addition to having experience removing boilers from tough spots, Steve can also go through your stoker and sell you any parts your EFM might need.


Post Reply

Return to “Stoker Coal Boilers Using Anthracite (Hydronic & Steam)”