DF520 Auger Shaft Play

Post Reply
 
dkbsmith
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 11:44 am
Location: North Central PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF520
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by dkbsmith » Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 11:57 am

Hello I bought home with a DF520 about 5 years ago. As of this year the unit is 23 years old. I have been very pleased with its performance. Except for replacing the auger pipe twice, a circulation motor and a shear pin no problems.

My question though is I have noticed that the auger shaft has about 1/4" of play and I was wondering if that is normal. So for example if you grab the square end of the shaft where the handle goes and push and pull you have about 1/4" of play there. Just want to make sure nothing is going on that I need to address in maintenance. Thanks for any help.

 
User avatar
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

Post by StokerDon » Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 8:15 pm

Welcome to the forum dkb,

That doesn't sound normal. So, that is the end of the "clutch shaft" we are talking about. Yours can be pulled out about 1/4". That sounds like a lot but I don't know if it will hurt anything.

Have you looked at this thread, "DF520 Clutch Assembly"?
Pictorial: DF520 Clutch Assembly W/ Part Numbers

It sounds like you may need one or two more of the brass thrust washers to take up the gap.

-Don

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. » Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 8:26 pm

Can you post a picture of the square end of the shafts? There is a pin that snaps around the shaft to prevent endplay. Yours may be missing.

 
dkbsmith
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 11:44 am
Location: North Central PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF520
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by dkbsmith » Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 8:47 pm

Here are photos of the end of the shaft showing the shear collar to give you an idea of the amount of play if I pull or push on the shear end of the shaft.

Image

Image


 
ben
Member
Posts: 178
Joined: Thu. Aug. 06, 2009 9:06 pm
Location: n central PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM 350 with an S-20 pot (1966)
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by ben » Thu. Oct. 20, 2016 7:42 am

My EFM has the same play that your describing. I wondered about this issue myself. Thanks for posting this topic. These guys will figure it out.

 
User avatar
Rob R.
Site Moderator
Posts: 17980
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. » Thu. Oct. 20, 2016 7:39 pm

I suspect that the collar between the housing and the first cottar pin is either worn or missing...or the hole in the end of the clutch shaft is very worn. If the collar was in place and fitted properly, it would prevent the shaft from being pulled away from the boiler. Here is a picture of the assembly - the red box is the part I am talking about.
1clutch-assembly-complete.jpg
.JPG | 115KB | 1clutch-assembly-complete.jpg
Regardless of the cause, the auger pulls itself towards the coal anyway.

 
dkbsmith
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed. Oct. 19, 2016 11:44 am
Location: North Central PA
Stoker Coal Boiler: EFM DF520
Coal Size/Type: Rice

Post by dkbsmith » Thu. Oct. 20, 2016 8:11 pm

Thanks Rob, yeah when I look at the collar I can see that that is where the play is. I just didn't know if it was supposed to have that slack in there for some reason or if it was something I needed to address. Like you say when the auger is running and full of coal it is pulled in that direction to it's limit.
Thanks to everyone for the responses.

Post Reply

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