Getting ready to buy a harman magnum stoker.

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1964convert

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Aug 19, 2006
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Hi, I'm new to this site. I've read a lot of good information here. I'm in the motions to buy a harman magnum stoker 92,000 btu to heat my 2000 sq. ft. home. Right now I got a Keystone stoker that was here when I purchased the home. I really don't like this Keystone unit. First of all the top of the stoker clogs up every month and a half with fly ash. Trying to clean out the ash with stoker hot is not fun. Second is it has no provision for a supply duct, except the homemade one I installed after removing the grill. Now with the harman unit it seems to have everything I was looking for. I like the tapered heat exchanger and chain cleaner device, and the 6" take off for the supply duct. Any pointers out there on who has the best service and pricing . I live in N.E. PA. It seems harman dealers all go by the book on pricing$ 2771.00 I'm also going for the additional hot loop to hook up two baseboard heaters in our family room which was once a sunken room ,now raised up (by previous owner) and not accessible from the basement. This room is always cool on the feet! I'm sure a few of you have the same unit , let me know what you think of them.

I checked with Stoves and Stuff on 611, and KC stoves in Alburtis (same prices) . Any service issues with these guys?

Thank you, 1964convert
 
Well, if Lime4x4 is around he's they guy to talk to. Also, look at the NEPA forum on his experience. It's not very good and took him like 6 months to get the issue resolved. I think it was a faulty control board if I remember correctly. My take is that circuit boards (pellet stoves and coal stokers use em) and 600 degree temps is a bad mix. But coming from the computer industry, I guess its a little different.

To find the NEPA forums do a google search on "coal heat".
 
yea, Warren, he had a problem with the feeder assembly, to my recollection. I dont really blame Harman or Limey for that, I blame the dealer for not changing it out within a reasonable amount of time. It never worked properly when new. Most likely the reason you havent heard from Limey is because it is fixed, and works....at least thats what he pm'd me in a private communication. We do sell a few a year, coal isnt as popular up here as it is in coal country. Frankly, I dont recall the price...Im at home now, Ill check it for you. The answer for you on service and pricing is franky irrelevant to me. Buy from a local dealer who can and will service the unit. You might save a couple hundred bucks ordering from a distance, but as Limey can tell you, its important to get service as well. There likely isnt a huge discrepancy in pricing anyways. Look for word-of-mouth. Anyone you know buy from a particular dealer and like them or hate them? Everyone SAYS they offer good service, some foofer good service, some offer EXCELLENT service....theres a world of difference.....you know....good-better-best range? How come you never see the crappy-bad-soso-ok-good-better-best range?
 
Heys guys , I PM'd lime4x4 about his suggestions. I really want to know who he dealt with. And how the unit worked since the repair. I just saw lime and I live in the same town. This should workout rather well! If anyone has any other good experiences with any other stoker let me know. Thanks, 1964convert
 
theres a rudimentary "grate" system, but not grates in the true sense of the word...its more a curved ramp that the coal travels over when it burns, with holes in it for air entrainment. They burn out with time, but takes several years, and are relatively cheap and easy to obtain.....warped grates would only be attained one way...overfiring. Also, if you do go the magnum stoker route, you really, really, really should get the unit draft-tested....its very important to correctly set the air baffle, and the only way this can be done is witha draft test.
 
Thanks for the advice Harry. I didn't get an email back from Lime. I was talking this over with some other coal stoker owners and some of them have the Alaskan stokers. Any advice or product reviews? Thanks !
 
I say go for it 1964convert. My dad switched from a baker three years ago, after I talked him into it. He will never go back. He has had no problems with it. He uses less coal than before also. Probably only about 4 ton now. He likes the ease of maintenance, ashes and coal usually once a day. His stove is in the basement, he has a rancher which is probably about 1600 sf. He mounted the thermostat in the opposite end of the basement and it works fine, no trouble heating the house at all, sometimes too hot. My parents live in north central pa, clinton county. So it gets plenty cold there too. Need any more info just ask.
 
Thanks chevyhd, Let me know what model there using. I talked to an Alaskan dealer and he's trying to talk me into the Leisure line model hyfire 1 w/ take off hood for duct work. Damn just when i was getting close to making a decision .
 
Hey 64 convert Iam a Leisure Line dealer in western Pa. if you have any questions just ask. With the new thermostat being stock on all new stoves Leisure Lines are the most efficient and easy to use stokers on the market today......
 
dont know about the Leisure Lines, they are likely a quality unit, just avaoid anything without a year or two's worth testing out there among the consumers! The Alaska is a quality unit, inherently simple. Lighter guage steel, no thermostat, its a stoker, but a more manual stoker. Still a good unit, should be a fair amount less than the Harman Magnum Stoker. You pay more for the magnum stoker, as its also more automatic. Sweeper sounds pretty local though, maybe can show you the "ins and outs" of all of the above units!
Good Luck!
 
Sweeper, I saw the hot air jacket for duct work hook up. Don't they have a simple knockout to hook up to?


Hot Air Jacket

The optional Air Jacket pictured here fits either the Hyfire I or the Hyfire II. This unit can be piped directly into your existing hot air system. A great supplemental heating source will cut into those high heating bills. The Hyfire jacket does not come with filters or a cold air return.

Along with this stove option, there are other options mentioned in the descriptions of the other stoves in this brochure. Many of these can be added to any stove. If you have ideas or questions regarding the customization of your Leisure Line Stove, please ask!
 
Hey 1964convert, my parents have a Harman magnum stoker. Forgot to mention that in my previous post. They love it. They paid aroud $3000, I think, from a place in Williamsport, PA. I can ask them what the name of the place was the next time I talk to them. Dad picked up and installed the stove himself. Plain black, nothing fancy, just lots of heat. You could also try the Bloomsburg fair at the end of Sept. There is usuall a guy there selling them as well.
 
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