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[intensedrive]

Just wanted to post to see how everyone's stove is holding up?  How many are still running, or swapped it out.  Things seem ok here, burns a ton of wood.  I found the key to long burns is load the wood heavily to the back, much as you can get.  Took me a season or two to realize this.  The baffle under the chimney doesnt reflect enough heat down, and the wood to the front doesnt last long.  I think most of the heat goes straight up.  I have had many issues in the past, would like to keep a open discussion at least on dealing with what we got.  As the old saying goes do the best with what you got.

[Roscoe]

Got rid of the solenoid eater after one season. Best thing I ever did! Guy who bought it is still running it and hasn't developed cracks.........yet

[Banna]

We are on our forth year, and it has worked fine. I need a new door gasket, I tried the WD-40 trick but no luck.

Ours works good for our climate, Tennessee. I would think it might fall short in a colder part of the country.

I will try putting some wood in the back of the fire box, I have always loaded it toward the front.

[ridgeman]

On the 4th year here with the 6000. First year went through half a dozen solenoids and 2 aquastats... Fixed the cracked firebox 2 years ago and had it recrack, so I totally cut the old face off and  separated it with new plate. So far so good. Its really a work horse even for as cold as it gets here in Great Lakes region. Once you get all the bugs worked out lol

[U.P. Doug]

On my forth year, welded the cracks to get through last year then removed the front of the firebox and replaced with 3/8 plate. Been running for 3 weeks or so and working great. Really been happy with the stove, except the poor design of the front of the firebox that I fixed. Still on my original solinoid, must be lucky I guess.

[Chicken farmer]

On my fourth year. Minimal trouble last year. No issues so far this year.

[intensedrive]

I suggested large amounts of wood stacked to the back of the boiler for large burn times in cold weather, with a smaller stack in front.  Can anyone relate to my method?

[Chicken farmer]

I just fill it front to rear and check it twice a day when burning hard.

[braveblaster]

Third year of use and thank God and knock on wood everything is working as day one. No a single blemish, issue or problem at all. Have gotten excellent response from Tim at Ridgewood every time I've contacted them. I am happy, am blessed.

As far as loadin -- what I noticed provides me with the best burning cycle is to NOT overload the firebox with so much wood. I now know exactly how much wood would take me through the night and for at least 12 hours.

[Banna]

I have been guilty of overloading the fire box, sometimes less is better.

[Chas]

5th season with my 6000. Fixed the crack problem before last season...so far so good. On my 2nd solenoid. Still working good and saving me money

[braveblaster]

5th season with my 6000. Fixed the crack problem before last season...so far so good. On my 2nd solenoid. Still working good and saving me money

What year did your crack show up?

This is my third year and no signs of cracks yet knock on wood and thank God!

[Chas]

I found them after 3rd season. I'm not sure when it actually cracked.

[tinfoilhat2020]

minus the poor design on the front, they seem to be solid stoves...lots of them in my area. farm down the road runs Dual 7500's...pretty cool

[KevinSantelik]

Halfway through my first season with my 6000,  I burn about 1/3 cord a week, loaded in the back for the best burn times, mixed hardwood. 

I'm curious of the age of my boiler,  I bought it in 2016, from a guy in MI, named Craig who said he had been using it for a couple of years.  The reason I am curious is that there are 4 gusset plates on the interior of the boiler in the areas that it is prone to cracking,  I wonder if it manufactured this way, or it had cracked and been repaired. The solenoid hums, but everything else is working great.