EFM 520 settings

Hello all, I just recently fired up my new boiler and I like it so far. I have a question about the settings for the feed and the air. I am currently running what the manual says, 3 teeth and 3.25 air, however I never seem to get the black spot in the middle and the ash ring is rather large(about 4 inches). the fire has never been out since I lit it so that part is working OK. I don't know whether to increase the feed or the air or both. The boiler temp is usually around 180 deg. Also, not really callingg for a lot of heat around here yet, the nights are getting down to low 40's.I appreciate any input. ........CJ

Is your feed pipe hot? This is a rare occurance but read this thread.
Pictures of a burned pipe and worm due to improper feed/air

Set your feed at 5 teeth 4 1/2 air thats a good winter setting, actually most 520's i service run that setting year round. A full red pot an inch or so above the ring slight darker spot in the middle is right.

And the ash ring should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide.

cjm3, I too have just started my 520 last sunday (love it). Currently running it on 3 teeth. I tried from 3 to 3 1/2 on air setting an what do ya know, ends up 3 1/4 is best setting, just where EFM says to put it. I dont want to imply that you are not mechanicaly inclined because this step is not as easy as it seems, the step of counting the auger teeth. Are you sure that you are at three teeth and not 2 teeth? I know I would goof this up if it werent for stoker scot showing me a trick. You run the stoker for a second or two then kill the power. when it slowes down enough it is easer to count those little clicks. It just seems that you are not getting enough coal and it is burning inside the pot too far in my nieve opinion. I dont question the air because that is cut and dry simple. What brand coal are you using? I am using Blashac with good results. Hope you dont take offence with my implication of a simple mistake.

Kevin,
Actually I understand what you mean for I too had a difficult time 'counting the clicks' at first. I think I have got that down for now. As far as the coal, I am not sure but I can find out. My biggest problem is that I seem to be producing a large amout of ash with a lot of klinkers in it. A large amount is a full tub about every 3 to 4 days with very little demand. I have turned up the feed to 5 and the air to 4.5, as suggested by another member for now. I will watch that setting and see if there is a difference. Any other suggestions???..........CJ

cArNaGe wrote:Is your feed pipe hot? This is a rare occurance but read this thread.
Pictures of a burned pipe and worm due to improper feed/air

I would not say the feed pipe was hot, but it was warm up to the coupler, but cold on the other side......CJ

Hey CJ! You are getting alot of ash. Have you weighed it and figured out what percent ash you are running? Your ash sounds like the ash I get. Fluffy with alot of clinkers. But it doesn't really weigh alot. Right now I'm using Harmony. 7% ash. When the bucket is full it doesn't weigh as much as say Calvin Lenig's. That's 10% ash and the bucket is alot heavier than the Harmony. The ash is different. Try turning your timer setting lower. How much coal are you using to get the bucket full? Scott

I just want to be clear on this "how many teeth" thing. If you number the grooves in the gear 1,2,3,4 My pawl leaves groove 1 and when it comes back to push again it would be in tooth 4. That would be 3 teeth correct? The plate it slides on is actually 4 teeth away from where it starts but it never catches the first one, always the second. I've stared at it for about 20 minutes after I set it up and it couldn't get more consistent so I'm just assuming it never catches the first tooth so i wasn't including that one.

It's easier to put a little finger pressure on the check pawl, the one painted blue, next to the feed pawl. On the return stroke, you can easily hear the clicks.

I am still trying to get onto the timer thing myself

I lit my boiler yesterday for the first time. we did have heating demand all day though as its cool and on top of a hill where I live.

anyway I am running 4 teeth (I count the clicks by applying a little pressure as Stokerman suggests) and about 4.5 air.

The ash ring seems about right with 1 1/2 or 2 at the very most. dark spot while firing heavy.

I was running 2.5 minutes every half hour. my timer runings is 1.25 minutes per 15 minutes basically.

I knocked it down to 2 minutes every half hour to see how i do with that.

i am running 150 to 170 on the aquastat. I had my zones hooked up to the aquastat yesterday but was getting too hot up to 190 and such so they are disconnected for now. Now when the weather gets cooler i'll hook it back up. that was a great tip from Kevin!

Otherwise so goes it. Keep working on your settings (like me!) i'm sure you'll get it.

Unless you have air leaks, I would try 4 air.

stoker-man wrote:It's easier to put a little finger pressure on the check pawl, the one painted blue, next to the feed pawl. On the return stroke, you can easily hear the clicks.

I don't have a check pawl on mine. I think it originally came with one but I've never had it. The worm has never tried to turn in the other direction either. Would you say that is something I should look into getting?

Also, my stove also doesn't have any blue parts. Every part is black from either dirt or oil. It's not fancy, but it works.

Can you take a close-up picture, looking from the top. Maybe the casting broke that holds the check pawl. It might be a simple fix.

I do have half of a threaded hole right above the gear. It looks like it was originally holding something. Almost 1/2" threads I'd guess.