Lopi Freedom Bay?

wag218r · Jan 7, 2014

Hello there. I'm new here but have stalked and read a lot on here for quite a long time. I love the info. I have an opportunity to buy a lopi freedom bay (that's 10 years old). I haven't seen anything but pictures since its a few hours away. If its in nice shape as the owner suggests with nothing wrong, is it worth $1000? He was asking $1200 but came down to 1000. Are there any known issues on the freedom bay i need to look for when i look at the stove in person, aside of warped air tubes or broken bricks? I expect to do some freshening up, just dont want to buy a stove on its last leg. Also does anyone e know how to determine the manufacture date from the serial #? Thanks for any help. Wag218r...

jaychino415 · Jan 8, 2014

wag218r said:
Hello there. I'm new here but have stalked and read a lot on here for quite a long time. I love the info. I have an opportunity to buy a lopi freedom bay (that's 10 years old). I haven't seen anything but pictures since its a few hours away. If its in nice shape as the owner suggests with nothing wrong, is it worth $1000? He was asking $1200 but came down to 1000. Are there any known issues on the freedom bay i need to look for when i look at the stove in person, aside of warped air tubes or broken bricks? I expect to do some freshening up, just dont want to buy a stove on its last leg. Also does anyone e know how to determine the manufacture date from the serial #? Thanks for any help. Wag218r...

I am no expert, but others will chime in.
I got mine off CL for less than $1000. It only had a chip on one brick and a crack on another. Other than that it was barely used. I drove a 3 hours in one direction to get it. Also check for cracks in baffle/air tubes, warping on the steel body for overfiring, dollar bill gasket check, see if they installed it properly, you should see minimal surface rust at most, check to see if glass was cracked, does it come with surround and fan?There should be a sticker or stamping on right or left side with manufacture date and clearances. Also double check to make sure it fits your fireplace and clearances.Definitely get lots of pics inside and out before buying. Don't rush in buying. I wait almost 2 years to pull the trigger on my find. Good luck

wag218r · Jan 11, 2014

Well thanks, I appreciate your reply. Since your response that stove has been sold.. Oh well. After not seeing ANY Freedom Bays for sale used in a broad area around me, I decided to post a wanted ad. Would you believe that 2 days later I had a reply. This one is 20 min away from me as opposed to the 3 hours the other stove was! I'm going to look at it tomo morning. This guy like the last wants $1000. Says he won't sell it for less. Its 8 years old and Im having a hard time with $1000 but hope he will budge in person. Like $900 just seems so much better. Anyway, is this thing gonna blow us out of the house? Its a 2 story colonial, about 1000 sqft per floor, built in '86. Not a very "open concept" as its almost like each room has it own doorway. Somewhat drafty windows and 1986ish insulation. What do you think? Thanks for any input!

wag218r · Jan 11, 2014

It would prob help if I mentioned that I'm in eastern pa, winter like now is single digits at night and teens during the day. Average winter 20-30s. Thanks again.

weatherguy · Jan 12, 2014

I wouldn't worry about it blowing you out of the house, you can always move the air around with fans. Does the price include the liner too?

jaychino415 · Jan 12, 2014

In my area the insert, liner and install labor goes for about $4300. The insert is around $2500 brand new. If you get it for a $1000 or under if possible, you are still getting a great deal. If you are able to diy the install, you can get a liner kit from Chimney liner depot or Rockford. You should be able to recoup the cost pretty quickly if you are burning heating oil or propane. The are plenty of people on the forum who have done their own installation.

bob95065 · Jan 12, 2014

I agree with Jaychino. Another thing you should do is check the blower. Wire around the thermal switch to get it to turn on. Make sure it works and there is no bearing noise.

The blowers for these stoves are expensive. I paid $300 to put one on my Avalon Rainier I bought used last summer.

coldkiwi · Jan 13, 2014

You could look for a Freedom as well,same stove without the bay glass.I was very lucky to get mine for 300 bucks unused.

NextEndeavor · Jan 14, 2014

Great stove! Does great job on our 1,300 ft ranch. Was 15 below zero and windy a week ago, held 75 or better for many hours without much attention.

wag218r · Jan 17, 2014

Thanks for all of the replies! I went and looked at this other freedom bay. It wasn't very pretty. Still have an eye out. Chances of finding a lightly used one seem few n far between. Might look for a new one on sale come spring. Can't wait either way.

bob95065 · Jan 19, 2014

As long as it is structurally one get it. Stove paint is cheap, readily available and easy to apply.

I tend to buy stuff that doesn't look pretty or needs minor (sometimes major) repair. I always get a good deal and with some elbow grease something I am proud to own.

wag218r · Mar 29, 2014

bob95065 said:
As long as it is structurally one get it. Stove paint is cheap, readily available and easy to apply.

I tend to buy stuff that doesn't look pretty or needs minor (sometimes major) repair. I always get a good deal and with some elbow grease something I am proud to own.

wag218r · Mar 29, 2014

Hello all. After being on the lookout for a decent used Freedom Bay for quite sometime (around PA and neighboring states), I've had no luck in finding one. So I decided to bite the bullet and buy new. Local stove shop began an "April Melt Down" sale today. Its a decent markdown on floor models that need to go on a first come first serve basis. Needless to say, I was there before they unlocked the door. Got my stove, even with the pewter trim kit the "boss" so much desired. I'm going to take my time doing the install myself to be burning next season. Next step will be purchasing the liner/insulation from where I think will be ChimneyLinerDepot. Any other recommendations?

Anyway, my main concern is making the bend with the flex liner from the 12x12 terracotta flue into my fireplace. It is initially a 90deg bend from the flue but then shortly after changing to more of a 45deg down into the damper area. After the 90, its about 8-10" to the 45. This is a masonry fireplace in the corner of the room, in a "cookie cutter" colonial built in '86. Has anyone seen something similar and am I going to struggle to make the bend with the single wall flex liner? I don't see this being a custom, one of a kind fireplace so maybe someone can chime in who may have dealt with something similar? Thanks so much guys.

lopiliberty · Mar 29, 2014

wag218r said:
Got my stove, even with the pewter trim kit the "boss" so much desired.

The pewter door and trim will really make the insert stand out. Not a cheap upgrade but well worth the extra money. Looks so much better than all black or that ugly brass especially since you will be looking at it 365 days/year

wag218r · Mar 29, 2014

lopilibeyou said:
The pewter door and trim will really make the insert stand out. Not a cheap upgrade but well worth the extra money. Looks so much better than all black or that ugly brass especially since you will be looking at it 365 days/year

I do agree with you lopiliberty about the pewter. The sale basically got me the stove w pewter for the price of the black. Pretty fair deal being the pewter kit adds $400. If I were to get the black, then later buy the pewter kit, its $600+. Very hard to swallow. Thanks for your reply!

Dave A. · Mar 30, 2014

wag218r said:
Anyway, my main concern is making the bend with the flex liner from the 12x12 terracotta flue into my fireplace. It is initially a 90deg bend from the flue but then shortly after changing to more of a 45deg down into the damper area. After the 90, its about 8-10" to the 45.

Kind of puzzled by your description of the bends in the flue. Certainly sounds unusual, normally it's a pretty straight run with the liner, maybe a few gentle bends. In fact, if there are sharper bends, like thru the damper, it's often best to remove brick or metal to make the run smoother. Maybe some pics or a sketch might help clear up what you have and how best to get around it. If you do have a sharp bend like a 90 or a tight 45 there are fittings that might work better than risking having the liner kink when bending.

wag218r · Mar 30, 2014

Sorry for the puzzling description. I'll do my best to take pics you can maybe make sense of. Bottom line is I'm wondering if an insulated single wall liner can handle a 90 deg bend out of a 13x13 terracotta flue. Its 90deg from vertical for about 8" until it turns down at 45 degrees. All in the 13x13 diameter. I'll post pics as soon as I can. Thanks!

begreen · Mar 31, 2014

Not sure without seeing the setup but could this be done with a 90 deg elbow, short rigid connector and then a 45 elbow? If yes, pop rivet it together with stainless rivets.

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