Older Tarms???

[JimmyJames]

I found two old late 70s early 80s Tarms for sale. One is an MB 40 and the other is an MB55. I know that these are not true gassers but I am interested in using one for a few years until I can afford a new gasser. I would plan on hooking them up to storage to so I can burn them hot and not idle. Does anyone have expirpence with theses older units?

 

[Chris Hoskin]

lots and lots of these old boilers still out there. Parts are still available. If you can, look inside the firebox and check the condition of the metal. Look especially for extensive wear where the stays come through the sidewalls of the firebox. If you can't even tell where the stays are, be sure to get the boiler cheap. As with any wood boiler, using these boilers with thermal storage will extend their life even more and put you in a great position to be able to choose among the best gasifiers when the time comes.

 

[JimmyJames]

After checking into the MB 40 it is too smal for my wood that I already have cut spilt and seasoned. The MB 55 was used to burn coal and has the coal grates in it. Can I switch to wood by just removing the coal grates?

 

[Chris Hoskin]

It is fine to burn wood on the coal grates. We do have wood grates available, but they are not really necessary to burn wood. You can burn wood on coal grates, but you cannot burn coal (well) on wood grates. You need to have some kind of grates in the boiler, however, so don't just remove them.

 

[JimmyJames]

Thnaks for the info. I'll have to check it out closely. I would love to buy a new Tarm or Froling but i just dont have the money right now.

 

[old wethead]

Thnaks for the info. I'll have to check it out closely. I would love to buy a new Tarm or Froling but i just dont have the money right now.

I installed the tarm boilers and even the older ones were well built...if you can get either one you should be fine as long as you go with storage...burning on the coal grates is pretty much the way most people burned them and most if not all parts can still be had from tarm... I just regasketed , replaced rope and purchased new grates from tarm for a 40 a couple yrs ago... they were very well built and that boiler was a like 79'...

 

[Rory]

The plumber that installed my Solo 30 has an older Tarm. He says it's not in the same class with mine, but he's been using it for years and it does a very good job of heating his house.