there are a lot of st. croix stoves on craigslist in my area for under 1000, and i have a lopi leyden found for 1500, heating open floorplan 1500sqft. Looking for efficiency, and reliability. I am pretty handy at fixing things so maintence isn't a huge issue. I just want a good stove that puts out some heat and is quieter than others.
lopi leyden vs st. croix
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St croix are pretty simple. Mine is not excessively loud. Parts are readily available for st croix and they have parts commonality across there line of stoves. I dont know much about Lopis?
zrtmatos
Feeling the Heat
tchdngrnby
Member
Looks like a St. Croix Prescott EXL. I own one. Reliable stove. Versa Grate system can make a bit of noise however, if you keep it clean and lubricated the noise is minimized to a bit of rattle in the gear box. Can be remedied by packing it with more grease.
heat seeker
Minister of Fire
How did you open the Versa Grate gearbox? Mine is crimped shut at the bolt holes.
tchdngrnby
Member
Mine is not crimped shut, just took off the nuts and the cover comes right off. However be careful, the gears and shims tend to stick to the grease on the cover so, make sure you are paying attention when you pull the cover off, amazing amount of parts in that little gear box. I wish they would simply fit it with a zerk fitting so you can give it a shot of grease now and again.
heat seeker
Minister of Fire
Thanks for the reply! I don't know if my gearbox is original or not, but it differs from yours. When this heating season is over, I'll try to open it up. The auger gearbox needed lubing, so I'm sure this one will, too. A Zerk fitting would be great, but would probably cost the manufacturer all of 50¢!
tchdngrnby
Member
I was thinking if a person could find a zerk designed to be self sealing and held in place with a jesus clip on the back of the cover would do the trick as long as could be placed as to not interfere with the gear train. All that would need to be done is to drill an appropriate size hole in the cover. Another option would be to find a zerk with a short run of threads and nut it on the back of the cover. Again, gear train interference would be the issue to contend with. The cover does not appear to be thick enough to accept any threading. By the way, the grease in this gear box appears to be a clear slicone based lubricant.
heat seeker
Minister of Fire
Now I'm thinking…(watch out!) -
All you'd need is a small hole in the housing. There are grease gun adapters that come to a small point for tools like impact guns, etc. No Zerk needed. The hole could be covered with a piece of tape, or a short sheet metal screw.
All you'd need is a small hole in the housing. There are grease gun adapters that come to a small point for tools like impact guns, etc. No Zerk needed. The hole could be covered with a piece of tape, or a short sheet metal screw.
tchdngrnby
Member
Xena
Minister of Fire
Mine has a grease fitting. Some nice forum member sent it to me several years ago
but I forget who and the pm's are gone. No noise since I installed it. I grease it once a year.
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All the new ones have the zerk. Most of the noise comes from the cam, anti seize grease will fix that. Very good stoves, worked on many. Lopi also makes a very good stove and the Leyden looks nice too.
Xena
Minister of Fire
On mine there was no noise from the cam that I had always kept well lubricated w copper anti seize. It was the gears inside that made the racket. Being able to grease it made the noises go bye bye. Good to know the new stoves have a versagrate w the fitting.
9th season with my St Croix Prescott. Room blower and versagrate only two parts that I ever had to replace. This thing is indestructable and heats incredible. Paid $2400 new, nine years ago. Would buy another st croix in a heartbeat if I moved to a new home.
9th season with my St Croix Prescott. Room blower and versagrate only two parts that I ever had to replace. This thing is indestructable and heats incredible. Paid $2400 new, nine years ago. Would buy another st croix in a heartbeat if I moved to a new home.
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