I just found this site last night and I've spent a fair amount of time today reading. Mostly about Wood Doctor as I've picked up a used one and I'm about to set it up. However, I have been running my E-Classic 2300 since Dec. of 2008. I usually run it until the end of May before summer shut down. I too replaced the fusion combustor early in the second season. Then, last year my air channel really started cracking pretty bad and even seperating from the side wall. I was given the go-ahead to call in a welder to repair it. I was also told that Central Boiler, at a cost of $200 to me, would take the unit back to the factory and give it all remaining updates as well as new, "straight" sidewalls, filling in where firebricks were shipped in the sidewalls. This was Jan. of 2011. My dealer told me to call him in the spring and we'd make arrangements. When I called in July, I felt like I got the run-around, but being in business I was too busy at the time to pursue it. Recently, I had noticed that one of the patches on the air channel (left side) is in really bad shape. I have a hole approx. 1" x 2 1/2". I have also always had trouble with build-up inside the air channels which makes airflow difficult to maintain. I can't believe they don't give you any way to get in to clean out the channels. I also developed a small leak in the firebox. I have had a welder come in and take care of that. Central Boiler will cover that cost 100% as long as it's not corrosion related. This leak was right in a corner weld that went bad. So far, that is holding. With regard to the air channel, my dealer did call Central Boiler about that again and forwarded on my pictures. I was told they would do 1 of 2 things. Either send me a new air channel kit and pay up to $400 for a welder to install them or we could arrange to send the unit back at some cost to me. I hope to have all of the details on that Monday.
There is a lesson I've learned here. Buying the 1st model year of anything is a bad idea. I will say that overall my dealer and Central Boiler has been pretty good to me. I only wish the 3200 model was available when I bought this one as I heat greenhouses with it. It is a challenge to keep my water temp up during that time. Hence why I picked up the used Wood Doctor unit. The price was right.
Hope this info helps. Any questions I'd be happy to try to help. - Jeff