HS Tarm cracked loading door

[KaptainK]

Hi there folks,
This is my first post but I have been lurking around enough to know that there is a vast amount of collective knowledge/experience on this site. I am going into my second winter with a '70s era HS Tarm OT boiler. I am new to woodstoves/boilers and homeownership in general so the first winter burning wood in the multifuel boiler with no storage was quite a learning experience. In my ignorance, I would load up the firebox and let it idle all night or all day while I was at work. Obviously this created lots of creasote and junk so I did some research and found it was more efficient to burn shorter hot fires. After burning two smallish fires this year, I found two vertical cracks on the loading door. Now, I am not 100% sure that these have formed recently or if I just never noticed them but I am concerned all the same. So I guess I have a few questions.

1. Is it fine to use as is? (I don't think so)
2. Can the cracks be welded? (I hope so)
3. Does the door need to be replaced?
4. If the door needs to be replaced, where would I find parts for this model? I haven't had much luck finding replacement parts for these online

Thanks for any help with this,
-K

 

[easternbob]

I would fix that door right away. Depending on how it's pressurized you might have a CO issus.
Take the door off and go to a good welding/fabrication shop. If they know what they are doing they should be able to weld what I assume is a cast iron door.
Good luck

 

[JTWALL]

I would fix that door right away. Depending on how it's pressurized you might have a CO issus.
Take the door off and go to a good welding/fabrication shop. If they know what they are doing they should be able to weld what I assume is a cast iron door.
Good luck

Where is your approximate location? I am located in Chenango County. Regards.

 

[easternbob]

tioga co.

 

[KaptainK]

Thanks for the input guys. I got it welded up over the weekend and I am going to keep an eye on it. I'm hoping that holds until I can find a new door.

 

[flyingcow]

I agree! Not a good situation. Might be worth contacting Tarm to see if they would replace door as this is obviously a defect.

1970's boiler. A defect? Too funny.

 

[KaptainK]

Yea, I don't really have any expectation of them replacing a part on a 30+ year old boiler. I'm not even sure if they still import them at all.