Harman Magnum Feedback

Good Morning:

I have a opportunity to purchase a 01 Harman Magnum for $1200.00.
I am looking for some feedback on this deal. Is there anything I should be looking for in the model? It appears that it needs new gaskets and the glass is pretty bad and the screws to remove the glass are pretty rounded/rusted. Other than that it appears to run just fine.

Thanks for any info,

Mark

The most expensive part of the stove is the stoker assembly. Check to see if the aluminum pusher block moves back and forth when the stove is plugged in and the thermostat terminals are jumped.

Second thing to check are the blowers.

The glass can be replaced for about $60 or so, its not really glass but a high temperature ceramic.

Any flaking or corrosion on the inside of the stove?

If it passes all this then its probably a pretty safe bet.

Good Luck and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome,
We fired it up last night in the guys driveway and it runs really quiet. No sounds of binding or anything from the motor and the blowers were very quiet also. It is rusted in the firebox but nothing major (surface rust maybe).

The guy did not have the thermostat for it.
Would I require a Harman thermostat or can I just pick one up at Ace?

At what point is it worth it to kick out a few extra bucks for a new stove?
How much are the Leisure Line Econos going for?

Thanks for any additional info.

Mark

You can use any thermostat you would like, it requires nothing more than a contact closure. The one that Harman suplies is a simiple mercury bulb type.

Harman Magnum's go new for about $2700. I know the LL stoves are less expensive, but not sure by how much. You can post a question in the LL section of this forum, I'm sure somebody there will have a better idea.

If the rust is just some surface corrosion, that's not bad. If the pusher moves freely and the controller and blowers work, then that price sounds pretty good.

Glass, gaskets, and the grates seem to be easy enough to replace, though I haven't had to do that yet.

When I bought my mag, the first owner ran it in his basement and only brushed the window off once in awhile, so the glass was completely grimed over. I actually just used a good shot or 12 of windex, and a roll of paper towels, and she cleaned up nice enough to light my farmhouse's huge kitchen quite well at night, it's just a little foggy along one edge, but if I take it out I could probably get it even better.

I've also taken the blowers and cleaned the "squirrel cages" with a swab, that made mine run much quieter. Took 15 minutes.

As for thermostat, mine is an "off the shelf" from the local hardware store. Two wires and a wall is all it needs. Hope this helps, I've learned a lot from the good folks on here.

Thanks for all the help. I actually struck a deal and got it for $1000.
I looked at all suggestions posted and everything checked out.
I think I got a pretty good deal and I will post an image as soon as I pick it up and install it.
I just have to move my OLD Alaska Kodiak? stoker out of the way.

Anybody looking for an old monster Alaska heat-blasting stoker? runs great!
It needs a new hopper although it still holds coal just fine with a little assistance from the "helpful hardware man's" sheet metal
And the grate is cracked. But it still cooks like a hot bed of lava.
Perfect stove for the basement!

Once I get this new Magnum installed I will post the Alaska in the classifieds.

Thanks again for the friendly advise

Mark