Workshop on maintaining/repairing a Wallas

rogerbum

New member
All,

I have to pull my Wallas stove/heater this weekend to take it to Scan Marine in Seattle for repair. I believe it's a clogged fuel jet and if I knew how, I could probably fix this myself in the time it takes to pull it, drive to Seattle, pick it back up and reinstall it.

While I know the brats are split between Wallas haters and Wallas likers (I'm more in the latter category), I thought it might be useful (at least for the likers) to see if Scan Marine would be willing to put on a little workshop on how to maintain and repair these units (at least the items that are field repairable). So I called Scan Marine this AM and talked to Doug about such a possibility. He indicated that they would be happy to do such a workshop. He stated that there are certain items that can be easily field repaired and others that cannot. He also indicated that one of the things they do with every service is a combustion analysis and some fine tuning to make sure the unit is operating at it's best (that's something we can't do in the field) but that such an analysis isn't absolutely necessary if your goal is to just get the thing running again.

Since my office/lab is within a mile of Scan Marine, I suggested that I could get a large conference room for such a workshop if there was sufficient interest from C-Brats. My thought is that we'd set up a table in the front for him to work on and perhaps a camera with display to a video screen so everyone could watch. Doug (or Mike) would do a talk first discussing the basic principles of operation and good maintenance practices and then show us how to open the unit, disassemble and re-assemble the combustion chamber and how to replace the field replaceable parts. Part of his talk would also focus on how to know when you could fix it in the field and when it requires professional maintenance.

Doug seemed really happy to do such a workshop if there's sufficient interest. So.... Who would be interested?

The workshop would likely take 2 hours. I think we could do it on an evening after work if that would work for the brats and Doug. If a weekend would be better, we might be able to work that out too (subject to Doug's availability and willingness). If you're interested in such a workshop, which would be better? Something from say 6-8 on a weekday or something from say 9-11 on a Sat. AM?

It may take a bit of time to get something like this scheduled, I'm just trying to gauge interest.
 
Hi Roger,

I would be interested. I'm with you in the liker bracket, and have had good service from my Wallas, although that service is pretty infrequent, it has always worked.

I talked to one of the Scan Marine guys at the SBS and he recommended I pull my stove and send it in for a check based on its age. I have 850 hours on the boat, (engine run time) and it's an 05 so ......... Probably less than 50 hours on the Wallas. I'm having a hard time justifying $$$ for an item with such little use.

I would come to the workshop if I am in the PNW and accessible. Guess that means I would like a fair amount of heads up time.

On a bit of a side note, I have always thought this sort of "workshop" would be something that would be a good inclusion on a CBGT schedule. For instance, even though the Boating Safety Fair at Friday Harbor was serendipitous, it was provided some excellent learning and service opportunity.

Great idea for a workshop :thup :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I'm interested in a workshop. Either after work or a Saturday works for me. Hell, I'd even volunteer my stove for them to demonstate on. (Was that a thinly veiled attempt at a free service?)

If we do a Saturday and it's later in the summer, let's do an afternoon so we can fish MA 9 or 10 in the morning. We could have a BBQ going in the parking lot for fresh salmon. :D
 
Could someone either video, or do a slide show with commentary of the show, to allow those many of us who do not live in the Seattle area, to benefit from the instructions?
 
I was a liker then became a hater when it stopped working. a lot of my hate was based on the useless manual and the poor customer service of the old owners of scan marine. Most of the hate for the old owners was the complete unwillingness to share info on repair or service manuals. I need to know that it will work in the field and if not that i can fix it in the field. My "learning as I go" repair of my unit many times did not do the unit a lot of good I'm sure. For that reason I would be very interested in joining this class even thou I do not have a wallas anymore. i have had to or been asked to work on several other peoples unit over the years. It would be good knowledge to have.
 
Roger,
If time allows I would love to learn more about our stove. It has never let me down and it came with the boat in 2006.
Oldgrowth Dave and I repaired several stoves at a Bellingham get together several years ago. All but one were simple repairs.
 
This sounds like a great opportunity. I will be gone the last half of June and the second week of August. Let us know when you would like to set this up.

Thanks!



Doug at Scan
1-888-606-6665
 
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