Anyone Have a Classic Lion Made in Belgian by EFEL

I'm having trouble getting more then a 11 or 12 hour burn out of mine. I not running out of coal cause there's still some in the hopper! After firing up in the early evening and burning all night I usually have a small hot spot by 6am. It seems as if it smothers itself out, I was even able to 'cutit' last night at 1:30 am and open the air intake to 6, still had a decent glow, but to no avail by 6am. Anyone know the secret here?

Hi everyone my uncle recently got one of these stoves for free. He is having the same problem the stove keeps going out for him? The instruction manual is very simply, and does not say much on how to operate this stove. I seen a draft knob I beleive on the back side of the stove. I also seen a slide out panel inside the bottom door I beleive it was under the slots to shake the stove. I wonder if this is some type of draft control? It will be interesting to see if someone has one of these stoves, and what the trick is with these stoves. Oh well good luck!

Thanks Gary, tell your uncle to hang in there! I'm just starting to get mine to catch in the morning, I believe the trick is to not touch under the hot bed of coals that's left over night. Just slice on either side and pour some new coal on top and walk away! And use those little slicer doors to help pull the hot spot one way or the other! I thought that opening the pan door would be good, but I think it drounds out the fire? Oh I have some extra glass slats if he even needs any, I'm down by Coopersburg. Jim

Thank you Jim I am going to his house tomorrow to look at the stove. He just started it today again, and he works second shift. He is new to the coal stove thing! I will tell him about the glass, thank you he is located in Walnutport. I myself have a Harman Elite insert that works great, I am currently burning stove coal. Like I said tomorrow I should have more to report on the stove. I remember seeing a "pull handle" inside the ash pan door by the shaker openings, we do not know what this is for. He told my dad today that that does not open? Oh well I will give you an update tomorrow, good luck!

That "pull handle" with the hole in it is a center "mini shaker grate" be careful I broke the end of mine off, by putting too much leverage on it when it got stuck. What happens is that small coals get wedged in there and jams it up. You can move it in and out useing the one tool, or flip the back up , by putting downward pressure on the hole. I have gotten mine to restart 3 mornings this week since Sunday. Would burn slowly most of the day, but be out when I got home. Tell him to leave the old half burn / new coal in the 'pit' up to the level of the vertical slats after clean out the Ash, this is cold of course. And then start a new fire right on top to get it going again! I have been using strip oak flooring, use a hand full, ontop of 1 sheet newspaper and maple twigs with a 5 -10 squart of Kero, are burning 15 minute , throw on 2 shovel fulls of coal on top, another 15mins with good blue flames, load up the hopper, close the door and have a beer!
I start mine at 8 and knoc it down in two's , run at 4 and put to bed on about 2.5 - 3 at night!

I'm not totally sure what your are dealing with here. I had a wood burning Efel years ago, .. it burned like a dandy.

Anyhow, to help with those "restarts", you might find that "Quick Light" charcoal briquettes will work out good for you.