Mt Vernon AE opinions?

[OhioBurner©]

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.

 

[DMKNLD]

Hey Ohio Burner,

Lots of Quad folks on here. Kap is a Quad tech master who posts on here, kappel15, and he has an MV AE that I believe is a bit older model than the 2009 you are interested in. He would certainly give you the heads up on that stove model, as will hopefully others.

Burning season is finally winding down, so it may take a bit longer for folks to post back to you. If you have access to the stove or can get someone to find the production date that is stamped on the plate behind the left side stove panel, that would be helpful, as earlier vs later model years had different issues.

As in any used purchase, I would definitely recommend you 'try before you buy' - fire it up outside to see if the fans, igniter, auto-clean, auger feed, electronics, etc all work. Buying used can be a crap shoot - depending on how it was maintained and serviced. It can look brand new on the outside, but need hundreds of dollars or more in Quad proprietary part$ to get it running right, or it may just need a cleaning and be good to go. Buyer beware !

Hopefully Kap or other AE owners will chime in tomorrow with more specifics. Good luck !!

 

[bogieb]

As DMKMLD says, buying used can be an interesting experience - especially if you aren't currently a pellet burner. Go thru the manual, and perhaps hit a You Tube video for instruction, to see what the recommended cleanings are (daily/weekly/monthly/end of season). Then go thru the stove as if you are doing a cleaning (don't actually have to do it, just take parts out that are recommended for removal) and see if they seem to be in reasonable shape. If you are somewhat handy, you shouldn't have a problem figuring it out. If you aren't handy, you may want to re-think buying used.

From reading what Quad folks have to say about their stoves, that price seems reasonable if the stove is in decent shape and you are getting the pipe and pellets. Oh, yeah, check out the pipe. If it hasn't been run for a couple of years, and hasn't been blocked off, it may have been sitting with moisture in it and be all rusted out - so you could be buying pipe anyway.

 

[kappel15]

At that price, even if you had to buy some pipe, or a part, you are way ahead. And at 465 lbs., you will need some help loading and unloading. Carefully. If it is an 09, it should have most of the updates in it. I can't remember when the new pot design came out tho. If it doesn't have the new pot, you can modify the old one real easy. I can send you pics. You can also look at an owners manual on Quads website for all the info you are looking for as far as cleaning and maintanence. kap

 

[OhioBurner©]

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.

 

[DMKNLD]

Depending on whether the basement it has been stored in is climate / humidity controlled or not, and whether they have used damp-rid or some other moisture desiccant in the stove, will determine how much the rust issue is a factor. Looking inside the firebox will tell you allot, and if you can access the combustion and /or convection fans to spin the motor shaft you may the hear tell - tale rumbling of rusted bearings or degraded motor windings.

That may or may not give you any more haggle room, as that is a great price , but it might. Look up the retail replacement costs for each of those major components, then get a feel for what may need replacing when you look at it. Then offer to split the cost of replacement parts by 1/2 to 1/3 with the guy, and see if he'll discount that off the asking price, which is the process used everyday on car deals and other used equipment purchase agreements.

They may or may not know what the retail price is, or they'd rather just be rid of it with an interested buyer standing there with his checkbook in hand, especially if he's had to secure some extrication help to get it out of the basement. The worst he can say is "no", then you cut him a check for $1500. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained".

A buddy of mine lost his house and his Quad stove last year in a divorce settlement, and his ex sold off their 1 year old Classic Bay on Craigslist with everything included - 4" venting, nice hearth pad, stove cleaning stuff, 1 1/2 tons of leftover pellets, ALL FOR $800 !!

My buddies ex clearly didn't know what that stove was really worth, and just wanted the quick cash, so that guy who bought it got the Craigslist stove deal of the century ! Good luck, and post back on what you decide on the purchase and how it shakes out for you.

 

[OhioBurner©]

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.

 

[bogieb]

Even if you don't get to see it burn, that isn't the end of the world. I bought my P38+ sight and burn unseen (soon to be hooked up in place of the St. Croix). When I bought the St. Croix, I saw it start up, but never inspected the innards. Both times I figured they were good stoves to begin with and the price was right - I could fix any issues and be way ahead. With the St. Croix it turned out to need a good cleaning of the ash traps, a couple of gaskets. And a little detective work on the wiring to figure out why a thermostat wouldn't work when I hooked it up. The AE is a good stove, I wouldn't over analyze it unless you see obvious red flags when you go to pick it up.

 

[OhioBurner©]

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.

 

[kappel15]

You need to have them check the REV number on the white label on the control board. If it had the upgrades, it will be an SRV7000-456C. They have to take the left panel off to get to it. They could also check the wall control to see if it has high and normal elevation. kap

 

[OhioBurner©]

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?

 

[kappel15]

No. They are programmed to do an auto-clean every so often, depending on fuel that is being burned, and at what heat setting it is on. As cheap as igniters are any more on line, I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, the newer stoves go thru them too, just not as often as they changed the fuel tables, and if only burning pellets, they have a lower watt igniter, to last longer. The biggest key is if he had a good dealer, that kept up with all the upgrades as they came along kap

 

[kappel15]

If it doesn't have the newer control board, and matching wall control, offer him less, since it will need to be upgraded, and buy them. It would only add a grand to the stove, which is still way cheaper then a new one.

 

[kappel15]

If it has the older parts, I would offer him less for it, since it has to be upgraded. Will cost you a grand for a new wall control and control board. kap

 

[OhioBurner©]

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.