Fall maintenance

Since you got it running, I believe a small air vent, minimal cost and time to install will bleed out all the rest of the air. I would still drain the expansion tank.

Is everything working OK now? What was your decision about the coil gasket?

So far so good with the air purge. I still hear a lot of gurgling but I'm making heat. I'm working on figuring out the best place to put an air control device that saves me the most headache. I did tap some water (not all) out of the expansion tank to allow room for the air bubbles to find their way to the tank. It hasn't been THAT cold yet and I still have my settings at 150/200 for summer operation so I know I'm not getting the most efficient heating yet. I'm working it up slowly as the temps stay lower so I don't get outfires.

I switched gears to finding coal at the moment (which I think I got worked out) and I'll get things together an order and I'll get a gasket then. While I'll be draining the boiler to do air control, etc I will definitely put that in before I have to start welding plates.

I hope to change the oil in the unit this weekend and hopefully will go get a couple ton of coal on Saturday so let it get as cold as it wants!!

If you have the ceiling hung expansion tank, you don't need the scoop, but you should drain it all the way with the hollow tube method. Otherwise, you can convert to an Extrol or Fil-Trol tank and use the scoop and air vent and get rid of the ceiling hung tank.

They are fine in most cases, but sometimes they give trouble.

I'm guessing the hollow tube method means draining the water and then using a hollow tube inserted into the hose bib to get the water out of the "vacuum" that is up there?

Correct. Your tank might be actually full of water, but only a few drops will come out, making you think it's empty. You need that space in the tank for your system water to expand when it's hot.