Fired up the Ol' Vigilant II Today!! (Can I Throw a Party?)

nuthead · Post by **nuthead** » Sat. Oct. 17, 2009 4:24 am

i know that vc has an adaptor for the 3810, but I am having a tough time getting info on it. my dealer said that it goes for $62.00 and she never returned my call for more info. I will let you guys know when I get the info.

also nut vs pea in the 3810 I nver used pea
thanks

nuthead · Post by **nuthead** » Sat. Oct. 17, 2009 4:33 am

sorry my model is a 3810 looooong night

VigIIPeaBurner · Post by **VigIIPeaBurner** » Sat. Oct. 17, 2009 7:22 am

nuthead wrote:sorry my model is a 3810 looooong night

Long night for me too. Hey, post some pictures of your 3810. What's the difference?

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Sat. Oct. 17, 2009 4:00 pm

VigIIPeaBurner wrote:I got the urge too! It's snowing, roads covered and the temperature is 32. But since there was so much talk about those angled fire brick pieces on other threads, I thought I'd butter them up. Well, then there were a few cracked brick so they came out. Then I started thinking about how other VC haters always talk about the tie rods rusting out, I figured what the hay, I'll pull the sides out of the stove to check that and the grate shaker rod. Report: all's well after 8 years of use, the rods look just as they should. I could use new glass as the old is showing some crazing but I'll use it one more season. Mission for tomorrow is new brick an, batten down the gaskets and away we go!

Then I started thinking about how other VC haters always talk about the tie rods rusting out, I figured what the hay, I'll pull the sides out of the stove to check that and the grate shaker rod. Report: all's well after 8 years of use, the rods look just as they should. Edit: Now vig 11, you have to admit, if it wasn't for me stating all 4 of my tie rods being rusted almost in two, no one would be checking, including you. If your rods are in good shape, that shows you have been maintaining your stove, cleaning out the fly ash from between the inner and outer castings. I bought my vigilant used. Apparently, the people I bought mine from did not take care of thier stove. I would have never known the rods were almost in two, if it wasn't for replacing other parts. It's something all vigilant owner's should check, especially if buying used. Who said anything about hateing the vigilant. I thought it was a cute little stove. After heating with the vigilant, I would not recommend it as a whole house heater (. I now have HITZER's. The one in the basement heats the whole 26' x 65' basement, and house very well. I can say from personal experience that the vigilant I had, couldn't hold a candle to the HITZER. It's a night and day difference.

VigIIPeaBurner · Post by **VigIIPeaBurner** » Sun. Oct. 18, 2009 7:55 am

oliver power wrote: Now vig 11, you have to admit, if it wasn't for me stating all 4 of my tie rods being rusted almost in two, no one would be checking, including you. If your rods are in good shape, that shows you have been maintaining your stove, cleaning out the fly ash from between the inner and outer castings. I bought my vigilant used. Apparently, the people I bought mine from did not take care of thier stove. I would have never known the rods were almost in two, if it wasn't for replacing other parts. It's something all vigilant owner's should check, especially if buying used. Who said anything about hateing the vigilant. I thought it was a cute little stove. After heating with the vigilant, I would not recommend it as a whole house heater (. I now have HITZER's. The one in the basement heats the whole basement, and house very well. I can say from personal experience that the vigilant I had, couldn't hold a candle to the HITZER. It's a night and day difference.

Hey OP, didn't intend to include anyone in particular in the 'haters' club. I haven't read too many anti VC-coal stove posts lately but for a while they were common when people asked about the old and new VC stoves. Maybe the open membership has ended

"Cute little stove" it is! Made from cast iron with Federal period (that would be post Rev war era) inlay iron casting craftsmanship we don't often see in this country anymore. Only one my wife would be happy with ( happy wife, happy life!)

You're right about checking the rods - thanks for the tip. It's a good thing to do every so often. I did check them in my old Defiant and never saw a problem after ~25 years and it's still chugging along into it's 31st year

I've been guilty of leaving coal ash in the corners for more than a few down seasons in this Vigilant. But this check shows no damage at all. I think that moisture has more to do with it rather than cleaning out the fly ash. As far as using for a whole house heater, ours does just that job for our well insulated 3100 sq ft. Could use a few more BTUs in the extreme cold. If pushed, the Vigilant II can do it - ours has but it's a model II, not the model I (one) you worked with. I've been told that the 2310 has a larger fire box There's a lot of other members doing it successfully with the model ones. The model II didn't take too long for a former wood burner to figure out. Generally only tend it 2X per day. My loving wife runs it just fine even though it might only be a few times a season. All but one of the Hitzers models have a higher output. Look like well built units. Do you run the 254? That's the same output as the my model 2310.

Should be finished putting it back together today. Got waylaid from the project. Now I'm copying Scubasteve's line but ... Can I throw a party too !

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Sun. Oct. 18, 2009 9:55 am

Hi VigIIPeaBurner, I know you weren't singling out any one person. By now, most people who use computors should know not to take things to heart. When it comes to the Vigilant, you're very knowlegable, and a great asset to this forum. I for one, enjoy reading your post/replies. Now, lets get back to the chit chat. I've been around stoves most all my life. The vigilant is the first stove I've burnt coal in. What an experience! All trial & error. I did get quite good at it though. No one else in my area could run it (not on coal). That's how I ended up buying the stove for $100.00. Fifty in cash, and mowed down a 5 acre field. Didn't know of this site back then. It probably wasn't around. I have to say, compared to the HITZER, the older vigilant stoves were a little difficult for the average Joe to keep going. Don't know much about the newer vigilant. That's where you come in. My stoves: 50-93 in house basement, 30-95 in pole barn garage.