Hi Jeb,
Thank you very much for answering a thread from 2006.
I have several questions but I do understand you've now
quit using it and your "hands on information may be a little
cold.
Brief Background.
I'm following in behind a close friend, Chuck Springer, missing persons, May 2008, whom we lost literally via dimentia and him going for a walk here in Maine and never returning.
Chuck bought this unit in 1993. We are looking after his place for his family, and will be working out of here on our enegery related new product development work. I'm a 63 year old engineer - which means I know enough to be dangerous.
TARM
Per the above, there has been on "hand off" from a previous user. It is in it's original, installed, working configuration. It is a Wood and Oil configuration with hot water baseboard circulation. I do have what appears to be the original literature and instructions and have read them thoroughly.
Questions (And feel free to be brief and/or answer one at a time.
1) There is a left side round, screw open, screw closed vent. The instructions say to leave it closed during start-up, which I've done. I "believe" I've figured out that the ROUND SIDE vent is the air source for the secondary or higher temperature burn in the ceramic portion.
My question is, how does one have any idea how much air to introduce there? Does it or does it not significantly affect the boiler temperature gage on the front (The one the book says to run at 190 to 200 degrees? My thinking was that it does NOT affect that gage much? But even as I write that, I'm not sure why I think that.
Along those lines I'm wondering if I'm missing a stack temperature gage? There is a 1/4 inch or so hole in the pipe leading to the chimney, and before the barometric air inlet. My thought was that stack temperature mignt be the thing i need to know for setting that ROUND SIDE air inlet?
FYI, I've only now operated it about one week in warm conditions - day's 45 degrees nites 25-30.
I've also had some trouble getting it to settle in at a good working temperature using the chain knob which controls the PRIMARY draft at the bottom, but don't worry to much with that now, as I think maybe the set screw could be loose under the know - I have to check out all that the next day or so.
Last, thank you again for answering. I'd like very much to follow up with you over time. I'd be particularly interested in the "un-repairable" failure of your unit - was it a water leak or a fire box leak? Given this one's age - bought in 1993 - I am concerned about failure modes. Also, if we are in the same part of the country (I'm in Belmont, Maine), I may be interested in your salvage parts or literature you may choose to dispose of.
Lowell
mainsail @ westweb1.netFeel free to write direct if you choose.
