Firelight 12...buy a new stove or rebuild?

[aansorge]

I'm actually seeing quite a few posts about this stove on here and with similar issues to my uncles jotul firelight 12.

The stove's burn times are down to 3 to 4 hours. He has rarely used the cat over the years but always got longer burn times than he is getting now. I'll look at the gaskets, but could it be time for a rebuild? If so how tough is this? He claims the cat still works even though it is about 17 years old. I suppose if he rarely uses it this could be true. He also claims the stove has always run to hot when the cat is engaged. Maybe he needs a flue damper.

A very nice, slightly used jotul 500 Oslo is nearby and priced right (1200). Is it time to upgrade or is a rebuild a better choice? For a nicely setup firelight 12, what are the burn times compared to a new 500? I'm guessing better but maybe not.

 

[Bluerubi]

My firelight 12 only looked like it needed glass, but it took almost 1000 to get it rebuilt properly. I could get 12 hour burns once done, but after now getting an oslo I can say its much easier to run. Burn times aren't as long on the oslo, but less work required.

 

[webby3650]

In a stove like this, or any stove for that matter, there is no way that cat is any good! How hot is too hot? It should run hotter with the bypass open I would think. I would bet the top gasket, door gaskets and the cat are gone.