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[slimjim]

  We know what your beefs are, funny you never speak of the good things that burning wood in the 250 does for you and your family, cleaning the tubes jim, lots of creosote, right? If there is no creosote in the tubes then the stove is gasifying period, if you are getting moisture to that extent then something is wrong, Coolidge says he could hear the wood sizzling, yes you can burn green wood in the Optimizer 250 (KEEP A GOOD LOAD ON IT WHEN YOU DO!)

[martyinmi]

 
      My idea of a "thorough cleaning" usually takes a bit better than 1 hour.  Usually includes a skinned knuckle or 2 cleaning the verticle tubes in back.  (think they rectified that in latter designs)
     

Bill,
I think I've talked to you in the past?
If you pm me your cell phone number, I'll send you a video of a tube cleaner that we are using here in mid Michigan.
I can EASILY clean my vertical tubes in less than a minute.
For that matter, if someone here is less electronically challenged than I am(read NEARLY ANYONE!), I'd happily send that phone video to them if they would be able to somehow post it here.
Even though yours is an older model and you have the upper door ledge in the way, the hydraulic hose will easily make the bend and allow the 2" hole saw cutter to clean your tubes.
A quick cleaning for me takes just under 10 minutes. A thorough cleaning takes 15-16 minutes.
If I get time this weekend, I am going to make a video of the cleaning process. My 12 year old thinks he can show me how to condense it down to about 2 or 3 minutes, then put it on you-tube, and then provide a link here.
He tried to teach me to cut and paste a week or so ago and that didn't so well!
Time will tell how that goes.

[randy_1]

Ok martyinmi I'm sold... Can you hook me up?

[Bill G]

hey Marty,
      Yeah, still kickin here in PA.  Been awhile.  Hope all has been well for you since last spoke.
      I'll send the phone number for wifey's phone as she has the fancy model, and I couldn't tell you what has become of my old flip open jobber!
      Rough winter for you too I'm sure.  Just so glad to beable to heat our house with wood as I could only imagine what the propane bill would have been for this year.
      Still feel I should have went with a conventional P&M furnace.  As you know, less than thrilled with 250.  But, as stated, she does make plenty of heat, just maintenance intensive. 
      I recall you telling me about fabricating a cleaning tool for a drill, using flexible hydraulic hose?  Never got around to making one and my knuckles sometime regret that. 
      Appreciate your taking time to send pictures of said tool.  Thanks in advance.
      pm sent to you, Marty
      Still got your phone # and will call to further compare notes, one of these evenings.
Bill

[martyinmi]

Bill, if you had ran a conventional boiler first (like I did) then switched to a gasser, your outlook would be much different than it is right now.
I am what I consider a "wood gatherer". I usually clean up fence rows, blow downs, etc., and it seems that where ever I go, I end up cleaning up my messes that I make by hand-and by myself! It will take me 3+ hours to process a cord of wood when I factor in all the steps involved, and I'm still not factoring in my time on the road or my money spent on fuel. I don't believe that it takes me the equivalent of more than the time spent processing one full cord of wood to do maintenance on my boiler for the entire winter.
I'll probably go through 9-10 cords by the time I'm done burning wood for this heating season. I'd have burned close to 15 cords with my conventional boiler. 5 less cords of cutting, bucking, hauling, splitting, stacking, moving, as well as cleaning up my mess, amounts to a lot of time. Much, much, much more time than what is involved in cleaning my boiler every week or every other week.
Make yourself a cleaning tool like I did. If you need my guidance in the fabrication process, feel free to call me.
I am fat and slow, and I easily pull maintenance on mine in 15 minutes.
If you had the proper tools and you weren't so detail oriented, you could clean yours in 14 minutes...or less!
Looking forward to talking to ya'.

Marty

[martyinmi]

Ok martyinmi I'm sold... Can you hook me up?

I'll take a few pictures of the tube cleaner with a tape measurer next to it and send them to you.
I built 3 of them in 30 minutes. Very easy to do.

[karlk]

Marty send me pictures also

[Bill G]

Marty,
       Got your pic's on cleaning tool, and Thank-you for that.  If you get chance to send diagram/sizes of fittings and hose, etc., I'd sure appreciate that as well. 

KarlK,
       Hello neighbor, it has been awhile.
       Could you please cast me one of your nozzles?  Ring up the bill of sale and I'll pay you upon pick-up.  No big hurry, as can't see any down time for furnace in near future!  Thanks in advance, Karl.

Bill G.

[slimjim]

Karl, have you made any progress in opening the nozzle up just a bit for those who have a larger heat load.

[coolidge]

Thanks for the video Marty, that shure looks like it would work good, I will have to build one.

[karlk]

slim I cast the slightly bigger nozzle with better inside tapper, works great.
Hi Bill it has been a while, I have nozzles anytime you need one .