Mt Vernon AE opinions?

I had a post a while ago looking for stoves that met my criteria. There where only just a few that did (main thing was that classic gothic looking cast iron plus 80# or larger hopper). I'm doing this to save money, and I burn wood as primary so the pellets as secondary I couldn't sink a lot of money into, so I was mainly just looking for used. I doubted that I'd ever come across any of the models I was looking at used, but a coworker who moved into a house this winter doesn't want the pellet stove that came with it. And it happens to be one on my short list, the Mt Vernon AE. They don't know anything about the stove other than that its got a manual with a 2009 copyright. They said the previous homeowners were only there for 2 years and also either didn't use the stove or not very much. From the pic it looked brand new on the outside (though its just plain finish unfortunately). They said they would take $1500 and give me all the pipe, thermostat, and half a pallet of pellets that were left (didn't ask what kind) and help me load it. That seemed to be a good deal to me, they go for over 4k new.

Doing some searching here of course turned up lots of threads with issues, but that's to be expected since hardly anyone titles a thread about how well there stove is working. So wanted to get some input from Mt Vernon AE users here, are there lots of happy owners too? Any particular problems to look out for? Anyone use it with corn? And what kind of cleaning interval do they need? I hate having to shut down my englander ever 2 days to clean it out. And deep cleaning/vent cleaning way to frequent as well. Hopefully this will be a nice upgrade both in looks and function on the cheap.

Ok thanks fellas. Yes I'm 'handy' and a pellet burner, but not sure how much time I'll have to give it a test run, or disassemble, as its not local and I have setup a time on Sunday evening to go look at it (they will be out of town for work trip on Monday). I don't know these people personally, and they were going to list it for sale soon, so I feel like I need to jump on it Sunday or risk loosing the deal. I'm reading up on the manual now and will try to do a basic inspection and whatnot Sunday if I make it there, but not sure I'll have time to actually fire it up and let it cool. Hoping your right kappel that if there is something wrong I'll still be ahead at that price. And good point Bogieb, I'll of course check out the pipe sections. I doubt they used corn but I know if left to linger that corn can rot out pipe much faster.

It is in a basement but he says he'll help me and can get a couple more people too (I can't). I'm calling a couple stove shops today to see if there is any chance of getting one of those powered stair climbing dolly things but I have my doubts they loan those out. I've installed 3 stoves in my house, mostly all by myself, even into the basement including removing an old wood burning furnace, but I have outside walkup that I can park my tractor by and use the loader to drop something down there and pick up. Never had to take a stove up or down stairs.

Good point DMKNLD... they said the basement was finished but I'll specifically ask them about moisture/rust today.

I found a place that rents the Powermate 1000# rated power stair-climbing dolly. But I'd have to get it tomorrow, and would be wasting my money if I end up not getting the stove. Hmmm. Would make it A LOT easier though! But not having seen one, can the Mt Vernon be safely dollied? Does it have a solid bottom or someway of blocking it up to rest on the dolly?

After reading through the manual though I am a bit disappointed in the cleaning intervals. Even with an auto-clean system it still needs shut down and pot cleaning every 3 bags of hardwood pellets? I'm hoping that's a bit conservative. One thing I hated about my ESW is needing to completely shut it down every day or two to take out the burn pot and scrape it down and vac (ash pan would easily go a week or two). Especially if I came home to a house in the 50's and didn't have time to wait to get it back up to temp before shutting off the stove. Of course hopefully this unit will run better and with thermostat keep the temp up better. So maybe its no big deal. In any case it can't be worse that what I've already dealt with, but some of the coldest days I burn 3 bags in a day which would be at the pot cleaning interval (adding insulation this spring, and a new woodstove too, so hopefully won't be burning as much pellets next year). When my ESW was burning sooty, I was also cleaning that out every day, or twice a day even.

I couldn't find any recommended max for EVL in the manual. My current setup is 4" pipe through an existing masonry chimney. Total of 3 90's, 2' horizontal and maybe around 18' vertical. So a bit on the restrictive side. Nice thing is the Quad has optional top-vent, and it might even come with it - they are venting up but I can't tell from the pic if they just used a 90 or the actual top vent adapter (does it make a difference?). I might direct vent it on an outside wall instead, haven't made a final decision. But I already have a hearth and chimney in center of house.

Unfortunately it is a bit older than originally thought, 2006. Is this a game changer? So what were some of the issues/ shortcomings with the earlier models? They say no rust at all and sent me more pics, I'll try and upload em when I'm home.

Ok kap I'm having him check the REV and wall control. I'm starting to get leery of the older unit though, and seems they go through lots of ignitors by many posts here, because they cycle so much. Hmmm. Can this constantly cycling be tricked by setting the stat higher than it can reach and then running in manual?

It sounded like it had not been upgraded, but it doesn't matter now he actually sold it and a matching Mt Vernon insert yesterday at the full price he wanted for both. Which is fine by me, once I found out it was older and there were updates I was shying away from the deal.