Mt Vernon, M55, and dealer questions

[parallax1]

I have an M55 and can answer a few of your Qs. During startup the agitator runs with the auger motor for several minutes. If the unit is in "Premium Pellet" mode then then agitator will only run about once an hour for a min or so (constant on), after startup. If the unit is set to the other modes "Regular Pellets" or "Multifuel" then the agitator runs when the auger motor runs, a very short duration every few seconds. I believe this is right...been a while since I tried it. But yeah you can defiantly hear it, maybe since the rest of the stove is pretty quiet on low. I find that light up times can really vary, if you prime the unit by throwing a handful of pellets into the pot before startup it lights in a couple of minutes. The agitator does work really well, I've gone probably through a half ton before touching the pot out for any reason, and then it was just to take a peek, it didn't need cleaning. I usually just need to clean the glass. I do wish I had more control over the convection blower to crank up the speed at lower heat settings.

How loud is the auger motor normally? Can you hear it over the blower? It was pretty loud on the demo unit I've seen, so I'm just trying to figure out if we should drive the hour+ to go to another dealer, or accept that we weren't looking at a defective unit?

 

[jtakeman]

My Omega has the same engine as the M55. The agitator is quiet until there is some carbon build up in the burn pot. Then it will sound like a whale until I remove the build up. Depending on the pellets I am burning I get about a week out of it before I have to de-carbon the burnpot. With the cheap pellets I get maybe 2 to 3 days.

Only time I notice the auger is on start-up. Once the blower starts I don't hear it.

 

[BIGISLANDHIKERS]

Ahhh... you say that it shutsdown... but when it starts back up it doesn't need to use the igniter?

It does.

This feature of the AE I believe is its major flaw. The ignitor is being used about 8-10 times a day. When it burns out(and it will) it will not restart after autoclean. Not a big deal if you are home and restart manually or exchange igniter. I am on my 4th igniter in 3 years.

Also, sometimes the pellets or corn don't fall during the autoclean and this will cause trouble after a while when the pot overflows.

BIH

 

[smoke show]

3rd year.
1st igniter.
guess it varies.

 

[michaelma9]

I have an M55 and can answer a few of your Qs. During startup the agitator runs with the auger motor for several minutes. If the unit is in "Premium Pellet" mode then then agitator will only run about once an hour for a min or so (constant on), after startup. If the unit is set to the other modes "Regular Pellets" or "Multifuel" then the agitator runs when the auger motor runs, a very short duration every few seconds. I believe this is right...been a while since I tried it. But yeah you can defiantly hear it, maybe since the rest of the stove is pretty quiet on low. I find that light up times can really vary, if you prime the unit by throwing a handful of pellets into the pot before startup it lights in a couple of minutes. The agitator does work really well, I've gone probably through a half ton before touching the pot out for any reason, and then it was just to take a peek, it didn't need cleaning. I usually just need to clean the glass. I do wish I had more control over the convection blower to crank up the speed at lower heat settings.

How loud is the auger motor normally? Can you hear it over the blower? It was pretty loud on the demo unit I've seen, so I'm just trying to figure out if we should drive the hour+ to go to another dealer, or accept that we weren't looking at a defective unit?

I can hear my auger motor when the stove is set to approx 3 or below, at 4 or 5 the auger motor gets drown out by the convection and combustion blowers. I would say its only noticeable at the lower settings since the stove is pretty quiet overall.
What setting did you see that stove run at?

 

[parallax1]

I can hear my auger motor when the stove is set to approx 3 or below, at 4 or 5 the auger motor gets drown out by the convection and combustion blowers. I would say its only noticeable at the lower settings since the stove is pretty quiet overall.
What setting did you see that stove run at?

We heard it at both 2 & 4... I think we'll visit another dealer this week, and then make the decision over the weekend.

In case you can't tell, we're really trying to make the M55 work out, and we're trying to figure out if this is square peg into round hole, or round peg into round hole but the dealer had let the peg elongate into an oval (how's that for a messed up metaphor). And whether if the dealer can't even keep their demos working properly, what does that mean about unit reliability or their ability to service...

Why can't multi-thousand dollar decisions be easy?

 

[pelletdude]

Sorry for taking so long to respond - we have been outstraight at the shop and no time to browse the forum.

The M55 FS ( non-cast) model is an excellent unit and extremely quiet. I have it installed in my great room in one corner and my big TV in the other. If it wasn't for the huge flame that lights up the room, you wouldn't know it was running. I clean the stove every other week, and scrap the burn pot about every two to three weeks. Depends on how many bags went through the stove. As for the Cast version I have one on the floor, I have not burned it yet. I imagine it will burn the same as the FS.

 

[Brianm58]

Pelletdude,
I'm not sure if this is frowned upon here, but what do you retail the M55(FS & Insert) for at your store? I got a price from a local dealer in my area(SE Mass), but have no one else around to compare. Also, does $1400 for installation, flexible pipe, & permit sound excessive? I am really interestedin this stove & trying to convince my wife the extra $1000 over other stoves we are looking at is worth it, especially with a big house that we have. All the reviews I see are all positive.

 

[acardo]

I am from CT and this is one of the stoves I was looking at I just got 2 prices this weekend for the M55 insert in black paint and both were $5000.00 to $5100.00

 

[acardo]

I am in Ct and I got 2 prices for the M55 insert in painted black the prices were $5000-$5100.

 

[pelletdude]

I am in Ct and I got 2 prices for the M55 insert in painted black the prices were $5000-$5100.

That would installed including lining and Material. Tax extra.

 

[acardo]

That includes installation liner and tax

 

[Brianm58]

Thanks. I got $4900 for FS & $5300 for insert. Sounds like the dealer I was at is right in line. Now we have to figure out which one to go with. Problem for the insert is that my opening is very large & would need extra work done on the surround. They don't make a 50 inch widesurround.

 

[pelletdude]

That includes installation liner and tax

That's a good price.

 

[ARGlock]

Thanks. I got $4900 for FS & $5300 for insert. Sounds like the dealer I was at is right in line. Now we have to figure out which one to go with. Problem for the insert is that my opening is very large & would need extra work done on the surround. They don't make a 50 inch widesurround.

If you get the insert, keep us posted as how you like it. I'm very interested in this high output insert.

AR

 

[Brianm58]

I wasn't sure it it was or not because everyting else I was looking at was about $1000 cheaper, but the M55 seems to be a better stove. Also, those prices were installed but no tax. Forgot to mention that until after i read your post.

 

[acardo]

Iam also looking at the quadrofire mount vernon ae that is an even higher input. I am trying to compare the two anyone out there have a preference on which is better