AF150 Rework and Installation

HX side is fully assembled. Had to adjust position of primary HX side plates so that auger wasn't binding.

Blower side is not done yet.

Have to get to hvac dealer when open to get rubber blower 'feet', the existing ones are oil-soaked and soft/gummy, figure best to replace now while easy access. Looks like previous owner really liked to use oil on the blower bearings...as far as I can tell, permanently lubed but no rust to speak of underneath the thick coating of dirty oil-grease-paste.

Also will need a bin auger, tube, and tube coupler--guess not such a great idea to run on just the pot auger.

Working on removing controls from old furnaces' mounting board, old wood screws holding the timer/relay are seized tight, time for the torch...OUTside.

Looks like I need a new fan/limit switch also, the one from the old unit is pretty corroded and loose in the joints. Anyone have a Honeywell part number? Or the length of the 'stickout' which senses the temperature?

it had a honeywell L4064B fan limit switch on it. That P/N might be superceded by now. the probe is 12" long. It did touch burn chamber. Tat P/N is a universal fan limit sitch. see if they have it with a 10" probe, that way it clears burn chamber, but close enough to sense air right next to it. Or best to maybe measure from inside top where air shroud goes from chamber back to front panel probe hole for length you think is best for close fit without touching.

Sounds good. Thanks!

The rubber "feet" are proving to be a VERY difficult item to find, 3 different heating suppliers and no luck. Got some antivibe mounts from hardware store to try and see if they'll work. Other option may be Grainger if these don't work.

The belt tension adjuster rubber 'foot' was missing as well, I got a rubber stopper that may work. Plan is to drill a blind hole to receive the head that was bearing directly on the blower housing. If that doesn't work I will just use a scrap of tire tread.

theres a company in Pa that makes them, Lord Mounts. Look in an aircraft buildrs website, aircraft spruce and specialty, avionivs mounts, etc.

http://www.westernrubber.com/products/lord-mounts ... ch-mounts/ can try this company, theres a size chart on the page. should be a phone # on website.

The ones from the hardware store look a lot like those. I reused the grommets on the front 'feet' and used the antivibe mounts on the rear ones. Easier to remove the blower if I can just slide it backwards; not much clearance to lift the front up--it fouls on the dividing panel. Camera just decided it didn't like current or replacement batteries so no pictures, yet.

I think an 8" fan/limit will probably work (L4064B2236), that leaves about an inch between the end of the tube and the heat exchanger. 5" might be too short? Have to check with dealer here, their main guy was on vacation last week.

IT'S ALIVE! Lit first fire ten minutes ago, letting it get caught well before letting it feed. Pictures soon (tonight or tomorrow).

Per supply house phone call to efm, 5" fan-limit is correct. Will post full part number on edit. L4064xxxx. On edit: L4064B2228

For other controls, ended up using an Intermatic C8835 (30-minute timer) and Honeywell R8845 (? will confirm on edit), RA89A1074 would have worked but supply house didn't stock them and the other 2 relays in the 8845 may come in handy sometime. (It contains 2 line-voltage (contact rating--low voltage coil) and 1 low-voltage relay, as well as a 24 VAC supply transformer.) Old R883B is something of a 'dinosaur egg'...they couldn't find anyone who could even find it in their books, either by that name or by the Sid Harvey reman number of R106-3R...figured best to stick with something that parts are easy to find. On edit: controller part number is R8845U1003

Still need to do ductwork tie-in but that will keep. Zero degrees and dropping, no coal burned here since November, will be nice to stop buying oil 10 gallons at a time.

Added on edit: took a little while but once fire was going good (~5.5 teeth and 5.5 air) temp rise right around 75-80 degrees (measured with a 5" insertion thermometer); backed feed and air off to 4.5 or so, temp rise down to around 65 degrees, should keep HX a little happier. I have the thermostat temporarily rigged to a post in the basement; obviously once ducts are connected it'll get moved upstairs.

Camera didn't save a single picture, either time!!! Will have to try again tomorrow!

PICTURES, finally. Reusing the supply plenum from old furnace, for now, just blowing hot air into basement away from furnace. Took filter cover off back and put on top for same reason (to avoid recirculating the same air.) I had to rearrange the motor mount on blower a bit so it fit better, and so the motor didn't flop itself backwards (it was further back on blower housing, with adjuster foot on the other side of motor, closer to heat exchanger side).

The Hitzer is feeling sorry for itself, but it has been a very handy table for tools etc I will likely clean it up and sell it; long-term heating backup plan will involve a stove better suited to firewood...

I will make another post with pictures of fire and ashes, don't know how many pics I can put into one post.

Pictures of the fire and of the ashes. All pics were taken during a call for heat, just changed camera settings. Stack temp somewhere around 150 and door temp around 300, are these good temps?

Added on edit: too quick with Submit button, there were no pictures loaded

It looks Good Jacob!! good job on cleaning the blower section up. Prior onwer was a bit liberal with the oil for blower bearings. your blowing heat into duct work on other unit...does that just heat basement or is it going up to main floor in house? ?? Let us know how it settles in for cycles, and heat output to house. So glad to see it running for you. Old carcus? thought it was a very serviceable chamber with repairs. Ancillarys like controllers and pot set up you had look like they are all doing well. Bill

Right now it's just acting like a really big stoker stove, and heating the basement (very nicely too!) Basement door left open and still have some grates cut in from the Hitzer.

The eventual plan is to attach it in parallel to the oil furnace, and change some of the current duct system as well. Mostly adding more supply lines to a couple cold 2nd-floor rooms but also shifting location of one return as well. That 8" round duct you see in the pictures is a return line that comes from a grate in the middle of a large bay window...that REALLY needs to be changed to a supply, will put the return somewhere near an inside wall instead.

Not quite sure yet how to make the switchover automated as there will be a trunk line running from top of both furnaces' plenums...automation might be wasted effort anyhow, nice but not necessary, I can easily slide a sheet of metal in the supply of unused furnace and turn it off. Duct dampers probably don't come large enough to put in the plenum.

Controls are all new, unfortunately the controls from the old scrapyard unit are probably only good for parts or rebuilding. Stoker unit itself is running VERY nicely, gearbox is near silent, I am running 30 wt oil in it for now, it barely had a few ounces of some reddish-brown nasty old oil in the bottom when I drained it, at least there wasn't any water. Eventually will switch it to the proper 20 wt but I always have some straight 30wt around for air-cooled power equipment.

Blower compartment cleaned up fine, used a flexible putty knife first, followed by some #2 oil on rags, really not too bad a job, it didn't get burned on at all, came right off. Thanks Bill for hauling this unit out of its previous home, it's doing well by us.

if EFM will be primary winter heat, i'd use manual air doors. then when you want to use wood burner unit, switch manually in fringe temp seasons. and if you do want to leave efm burning while in fringe times, put smaller basement supply outlet & return just to basement6>8" short stubs with weighted flapper grills like bathroon exhaust fans have. return opens into return, out flaps outward so it can dissapate heat during timer cycles. Just a thought. Jacob hope this furnance makes the holidays rosy and warm for you and the family. Merry Chritmas.

Couldn't see that unit being scrapped, a little work and TLC I know it would be a good unit for somebody.