Time machine b/u slow using thunderbolt adapter to firewire drive

I have a new iMac and I find that a Time Machine backup is very slow. I'm using an iOmega Desktop HD. It's 2TB, and it has a Firewire 400, Firewire 800, and a USB 2.0 port. I'm backing up TM to the Firewire 800 port, using a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter cable. I started yesterday, and it still says it will take about four more days to complete the initial backup.
I'm wondering if it will be any faster if I start over using the USB 2.0 port.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Normally you'd expect USB2 to be 1/3/ to 1/2 as fast as FW/800 at the most.
Open Console in Applications>Utilities & see if there are any clues or repeating messages when this is happening.

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