Used HS Tarm MB 55

I've had a conventional New Yorker wood boiler for years now and looking to upgrade but cannot afford a new boiler so Im considering a used unit. THere are some coming onto the market and Ive seen several Tarms.

The issues Im trying to resolve are:
-Increase burn time, I currently have to do a load in the middle of the night during Jan-Feb.
-Improve ability to heat house in dead of winter. Currently when its sub zero the New Yorker cannot keep up, its a 70K btu unit.
-Reduce creosote buildup - my current boiler requires a weekly chimney cleaning, easily done now with an mechanized cleaner but still an issue.
-Reduce wood consumption, currently burn 10 cord a year to attempt to heat to 76 deg and heat our DHW and hot tub year round.

So my questions/concerns about a used HS Tarm MB55 are:

-Are these boilers made of stainless steel or standard?

-What areas of this model boiler are of concern and to check when looking at a used one?

-How susceptible are these boilers to creosote buildup? I burn wood seasoned for one year.

-How hard are they to clean IE if creosote does build up.

-Do these have a refractory and are the parts replaceable?

Anything else I should be asking/should know about them?

Thanks

~ Phil

Hi Thanks for the info, I think I could do/build smaller fires in the shoulder season, may take some learning but it should be doable.

So where would creosote build up if it were to in this boiler and how hard to clean it?

Ive considered storage and the short answer is I dont think we have space, its either have wood in the basement or storage and my wife doesnt want to have to go outside for wood except occasionally during the winter to re-stock the basement.

Thanks

~ PHil

I dont have a large budget for it currently, doing some home remodeling so thats taking priority on costs this year. If I could find a Tarm for $1500 I could afford the cost to move and plumb that in. Ive been off oil now for many years so there really isnt any cost savings, just labor savings is what Im looking for.

What would be a reasonable price for a good working MB55?

As for space for storage, we can hold 4-5 cords inside, we wait till snow is forcasted and fill the basement up and then have to haul in a few more cords before the majority of snow melts. storing less wood would not free up useable space for storage just because of the layout. IE Id be stacking the wood in front of the storage. I know there are big benefits from storage but thats just not in the cards for me.

I attempted several years ago to build storage with 2 used 250 gal tanks but after getting them and starting the process of cleaning and attempting to move them around I realized even those were too big and heavy to consider moving into our basement. Also the stench they caused was overwelming and my wife was sick of the smell while I contemplated how to move and make them useable. I tried cleaning them multiple times to no sucess so I sold them. I did make a small profit from them at least....

Thanks

~ Phil