Hey guys thinking about changing out my old in house keystoker for a 60s era efm 520 my friend is removing. Its in nice shape with very little surface rust gears are nice as well as the burn pot it includes the water pumps and expansion tank as well as some other setup parts. My question is this a good deal or is it a dinosaur for 1000. I do have to pull it from a basement 8 steps! Thanks for any advise.
Feel free to give me a call or text as well 5709556091
60 EFM 520 Value
- windyhill4.2
- Member
- Posts: 6072
- Joined: Fri. Nov. 22, 2013 2:17 pm
- Location: Jonestown,Pa.17038
- Stoker Coal Boiler: 1960 EFM520 installed in truck box
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Crane 404 with variable blower
- Coal Size/Type: 404-nut, 520 rice ,anthracite for both
If it is in as good of shape as you describe,it is easily worth $1000 in my unprofessional opinion. Getting up those steps is one thing ,doing it without getting anyone hurt or killed is the key to a successful mission. Chains will be your friend,not ropes,the proper capacity slings could work too.
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- 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
If the augers, pipes, auger bushing, pot bushing, burn plates and domestic water coil gasket have been replaced in recent years. And the domestic water coil area is not badly rusted, and the boiler holds water pressure,,, it's a great deal for $1000.
The first thing to do is get the cover off of the back of the boiler so you can get a good look at the domestic coil area. If water has leaked past the gasket and eaten into the metal of the boiler, it will require a trip to the welder before being put back into service.
The domestic coil area of one of these boilers is the most critical/failure prone parts that will cost you money. The augers, pipes and pot parts are just parts and you can replace all of them if they are suspect.
One other thing to consider is weather or not this is a fire tube boiler. In 1962 EFM converted the 520 and 350 from a fire tube heat exchanger to a plate heat exchanger. The tube boilers are worth a little less than the plate boilers and the fire tubes can develop leaks that will result in major problems.
Good luck!
-Don
The first thing to do is get the cover off of the back of the boiler so you can get a good look at the domestic coil area. If water has leaked past the gasket and eaten into the metal of the boiler, it will require a trip to the welder before being put back into service.
The domestic coil area of one of these boilers is the most critical/failure prone parts that will cost you money. The augers, pipes and pot parts are just parts and you can replace all of them if they are suspect.
One other thing to consider is weather or not this is a fire tube boiler. In 1962 EFM converted the 520 and 350 from a fire tube heat exchanger to a plate heat exchanger. The tube boilers are worth a little less than the plate boilers and the fire tubes can develop leaks that will result in major problems.
Good luck!
-Don
- Scottscoaled
- Member
- Posts: 2812
- Joined: Tue. Jan. 08, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Malta N.Y.
- Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 520, 700, Van Wert 800 GJ 61,53
- Baseburners & Antiques: Magic Stewart 16, times 2!
- Coal Size/Type: Lots of buck
- Other Heating: Slant Fin electric boiler backup
A Rusted out Domestic coil area isn't such a bad thing to take care of when the boiler is in the back of a truck. A pain in the butt when its in a basement. Being an older model I would also have a concern for the rear of the base being corroded out. A new base might be needed. $1000 is a good place to start. $200 off if Domestic area is shot. $200 off if base is shot. $200 off if burn pot plates are cracked or nearing the end.
EFM started producing plate boilers in early 1959. I'm not sure if they made them earlier. They also will develope leaks like any coal boiler that hasn't been properly taken care of for thirty or forty years.
You sound like you don't have much of an issue changing out coal boilers. Able to do the work. If that is the case then there won't be any thing on the EFM mechanically wise that would be beyond your abilities. I would go for it. And soon! Winter is coming
EFM started producing plate boilers in early 1959. I'm not sure if they made them earlier. They also will develope leaks like any coal boiler that hasn't been properly taken care of for thirty or forty years.
You sound like you don't have much of an issue changing out coal boilers. Able to do the work. If that is the case then there won't be any thing on the EFM mechanically wise that would be beyond your abilities. I would go for it. And soon! Winter is coming
- coaledsweat
- Site Moderator
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- Joined: Fri. Oct. 27, 2006 2:05 pm
- Location: Guilford, Connecticut
- Stoker Coal Boiler: Axeman Anderson 260M
- Coal Size/Type: Pea
Pics, lots of pics.
Well I ended up passing on the 1960a efm. I found a 86 efm 520 with the oil burner option for 900 with 10 feet of new stainless auger and new dhw coil. all I need is the insulation board for the base to get it up and running. I used an engine hoist to pull it out of the basement. it was hard enough to still be fun!
- StokerDon
- Site Moderator
- Posts: 7486
- 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
That's a nice deal for a good runner with some new parts. The engine hoist trick is my preferred method of basement boiler extraction. Let the hydraulics do most of the work.
Well,,, When do WE get to see it???
-Don
Well,,, When do WE get to see it???
-Don