Harman SF-260 Coal Boiler.

Here are seven pictures that I took when I went to look at a Harman boiler listed locally for sale.

Despite some minor surface rust, the boiler is in perfect condition including the grates. But, this is a monster sized boiler and not suited for a small home. However, not many nice boilers exist or ever come up for sale in central Connecticut so I am interested. Not sure how to move something that weighs 800 lbs. I priced out a power liftgate for my truck, that was quoted at $ 2500 or I found a jib crane/hoist that mounts in the back of a pickup truck for $ 300 and up depending on the capacity and whether its manual or electric.

What is your application? Or can't you pass up a good deal? A long ramp is way cheaper than a lift gate. My Dad had a Tommy Lift good for about 1000 lbs. Tried to lift a 2 door safe and just dented the top surface when we pulled the lift handle. Moving companies aren't out of the question for short moves. My buddy installs heating systems and it is not uncommon to have a couple of "Hells Angels" to come over for $300.00 and put what you want where you want it.

Another option is a small trailer with a fold down ramp. I use one all the time. I rent a 1200 lb. hand truck from the rental place and just pull it on. Not as high to get it up and not so high to get it off.

While this might be a huge boiler and way beyond your needs, it might actually suit you better than most. The thing is, this boiler has a huge deep bed. Maybe it work well if you downsized the coal from stove to pea and ran it real slow. the pea might slow it down and give you loooonnnggg burn times. Or you could make a spacer to shorten the bed length.

Hi Scott,

I think in the second picture you can see the firebrick they laid in the box to shorten it. Not sure if thats the same firebox reducer sold by Harman or a DIY fix?

Nice boiler, and until you stand in front of it you don't realize how big it really is.

I agree that a low trailer with a long ramp is the way to go, no need to put it in a pickup truck.
If you are reselling it, just put it on a strong pallet or have an overhead lift available to pick it up.

From the photos, I'd be concerned that it may have some corrosion problems?? Leaving the firebox full of ashes and half-burnt coal invites corrosion.
Did you clean out the firebox to inspect the grates?

Greg L

Hi Greg,

I pushed back some of the coal, just enough to look at the first grate. But, I did look in through the ash door and the grates were all level and plumb to each other.

If your friend is interested, I can help broker the deal the best I can, gratis of course.

i rented a piano dolly, had to cut some 2x4 boards to put under center lip btween feet of boiler, plus put 2 3" straps around whole unit to keep it from moving off dpiano dolly worked good.

I just got rid of an old Chickering upright piano this morning. I got to tell you, that boilers got nothing on this beast .

Sierra's suggestion is the way to go! I went to a tool rental place in town to see what they had for dollys or hand trucks and ended up hiring 3 guys from the place to move it. Best $90 (I actually paid $120 with a tip) I ever spent. ($30 an hour per guy) They had a really wide heavy duty hand truck with big air tires on it they used after it was out the door and on the front lawn. They also did an upright freezer while they were here which is like a feather after that piano. Stuck them both into a 20yrd roll off I had in the drive.

When I had a new steam boiler installed down in the basement the plumber called a guy with a backhoe and he lifted it with a chain and lowered into the cellar via hatchway.