Multi Fuel stove (Morso Squirrel) maintenance. New riddle grate & door glass FAILURE!

[@bigKDL]

Absolutely brilliant comedy narrowboat vlog how not to use a screwdriver ten minute job turned into comedy narrowboat vlog great work keep it up

[@lifeafloat5450]

Thanks! I can assure you I did not find the situation very comical at the time it was a bit frustrating! haha. Take care, Mark

[@taniaallison7253]

It's great for you to show that you are having a go at jobs on the boat Mark - even if they are problematic. Must give hope to anyone else facing similar hurdles, and you are getting loads of suggestions of things to try. I'll be pleased when you update us on this one with glowing coals behind your newly installed glass 😊

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hi Tania, hope you are keeping well :-) Yes I have had some great comments which is fantastic. I have a few ideas of things to try now so will certainly give them a go. I will keep you posted! Take care, Mark

[@christaylor4145]

Hi Mark , please don’t think about buying a new door, all you need is a special bit that you can buy to put in your drill and it will have those screws out in seconds, but you will have to buy four new screws because it kills the heads on the screws, but it will be a darn sight cheaper than a new door. Also to clean your glass better I used to use an old green scratchy that you use for washing upon my wood burner, or better still and it is great for all glass including mirrors , try some triple O gauge wire wool, it is brilliant, and it definitely does not scratch the glass, and that tip was given to me by a guy who worked with glass , anyway good luck and all the best.

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hey Chris thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, much appreciated! Yes I think I am going to try either some mole grips or screw extractors, both things I would need to buy but would be much cheaper than a new door! Didn't think about trying wire wool to clean the glass with, I have some although not sure what gauge it is off the top of my head! Take care, Mark

[@hellyavard8552]

Maintenance is ongoing isn’t it! Well done! There must be lots of little bits and pieces needing attention before Winter! Looking forward to your next video!

[@lifeafloat5450]

It is certainly a never ending thing on a boat. There is such a saying I think as a boat is never finished! Not if you buy second hand anyway haha. Thanks for watching. Take care, Mark

[@barbarastevens3053]

Mucky task cleaning fireplaces and chimneys. I remember when we were allowed to have coal fires. I used to clean the chimneys in my house, what a load of soot came down, made a mess of me and it settled everywhere. Hope your job is going well. Best wishes to you and Daisy.

[@lifeafloat5450]

SO MUCKY! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. The job is going OK :-) Take care, Mark

[@James-h3r8l]

Hey Mark....hope you're well. Best thing I think for cleaning the stove glass is kitchen towel/newspaper dampened with water and dipped in fine ash from the grate. Use this to gently remove any build up on the the glass. Then buff up with a piece of dry kitchen towel, Done daily its so simple and prevents build up. I use this trick on my own wood burner.

[@lifeafloat5450]

I have done this before and it did work pretty well. I just used the WD40 as it was there and I wondered if it would clean it or not haha. Thanks for watching. Take care, Mark

[@jimbob356]

Hi Mark, funny enough I have just changed out the morso squirrel glass on my boat, I had exactly the same trouble. What I did was tap the clips round with a hammer and chisel, to be honest it did crack the glass further but it meant I could remove the broken glass. Once the glass was out the clips just spin round, what I did then was to clean and wd40 the screws. Again to be honest the screw didnt move alot but enough that I got ghe glass back in and span the clips back round by hand.

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hi Jim thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. May well give this a go! Just worried that I won't be able to get the clips back over the new glass haha. Take care, Mark

[@NarrowboatWill]

You should give mole grips ago. You really do need to change those cracked bricks otherwise the fire can split at the seems. I had to weld mine after I learned it's a common fault. Good luck buddy.

[@lifeafloat5450]

Oh blimey, righto thank you I will get some on order ASAP then. I've a feeling it's going to be a bit fiddly trying to get them in with the back boiler being in the way haha. Take care, Mark

[@WHIZZER86]

I’ve just changed the glass for the first time on our 12 year old Morsø. You have the right idea with the WD40 but the screws heads you are trying to remove need an Allen key not a screwdriver with I think you were using. Pick the crud out of the head thoroughly first. Mole grips will also be a help if the heads are chewed. They will come out mate. 👍🏼

[@WHIZZER86]

Oh & wire wool to clean the glass, works 100% 👌🏼

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hi thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I've got one screw head clear of all dirt and it is certainly a cross head. I notice the the Squirrel 1430 stove has allen head screws though which I've found out as I bought some from a chandlers thinking they would fit but they are slightly smaller too so I haven't removed these as yet because I don't want to be without a stove so waiting on a delivery of the correct screws which will be this week! I do have some mole grips now though and am pretty sure I will win the fight haha. Take care, Mark

[@hmarc417]

The bottom two screws you might just need a pair of vice grip pliers for. and use the removal tool on the top ones.

[@lifeafloat5450]

Thanks for watching. The bottom two screws are in a better state than the top ones. I am going to give mole grips a go I think! Take care, Mark

[@vikingthor8060]

thanks buddy

[@seanadams6328]

Hey Mark..Top marks for no swearing on camera!! I reckon i would have been "colourful" by 10 minutes in! Impressed you're preparing for winter already!! Was summer that 2weeks we had? Be safe and be well

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hey Sean thanks for watching. There was plenty of swearing which I edited out haha. Yes Might as well get prepared early! I've heard we can expect a very cold winter! Take care, Mark

[@seanadams6328]

@@lifeafloat5450 A very cold winter?? Great!! I better order in some coal and dig out the chainsaw for logs.

[@lifeafloat5450]

@@seanadams6328 I would if I was you! haha

[@WingingItBoatingonaBudget]

Hey up matey, i had to refit our collar on our morso1410 earlier in the year. The screws were solid and wouldn't move. I sprayed them every day with WD40 and it took about a month of doing it everyday until they moved! So if you haven't already bought a new door, patience may be your friend and save a few quid. Just try a squirt on each screw each day and try turning them each week (after giving the screwhead a good clean out to get the screwdriver to bite best it can). Good luck and if my trick works you can buy me a pint with the money you save!!!

[@lifeafloat5450]

Cheers :-) One of the screws is completely knackered as it's just pretty much a perfect circle instead of a cross in the head, unless its still got a lot of solid dirt in it! I am going to try some mole grips after I have found replacement screws and see it that works. If not I might saw a line in for a large flat head screw driver and see what happens. Cheers for watching mate :-) Always welcome over for a beer if you're ever near by!

[@fourtwosandalf149]

If you can try and find a little garage somewhere that will get those screws out. Like someone has already said get some heat applied Oxy acetylene will do the trick and some good screw extractors. I am sure a small village garage will gladly assist for a couple of quid if they charge you at all. In the meantime give them a regular soaking with WD40 to help start the job off. It is worth a try if nothing else and it could save you a small fortune. Best of luck, keep us updated.

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hi thanks for watching :-) Yes Lewis has suggested I take it to somebody as that will be a much cheaper option. I think I'm going to give mole grips a try first just to see if they do the trick. If not then I think this is the best option! Take care, Mark

[@joesrvhome]

if the only fix is a new door, i'd try to drill out those screws and use a removal tool...might work...

[@lifeafloat5450]

Yes I did think about that. Having found second hand doors on ebay for £120 ish which I can't afford at the moment I think I need to try and find the size of the screws to get some new ones. I do have somewhere a removal tool for drilling out bolts which might work on these. I just don't want to do it and be left without a stove as the weather is getting cooler haha. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Take care, Mark

[@lewisgardner1660]

Hi mate take the door to an engineer it will be cheaper than a new door

[@lifeafloat5450]

Hey mate hope all is good with you. I've got a couple of ideas to try from peoples comments but if all else fails, then yes I think I may well do! Take care, Mark

[@gareysherrod3886]

Greetings , if ever I get a NB I would opt for the Diesel stove myself. Do you have any thoughts? How knows what the future holds....Cheers TTFN

[@lifeafloat5450]

Thanks for watching again Garey, I don't have an experience of diesel stoves so can't really comment on them to be fair. I've heard people say good things about them though. Take care, Mark

[@northernnarrowboater8423]

Probably start an argument but I think Morso stoves are absolutely overpriced and poor quality. Everything is cast in component form and I have seen at least 6 where either the front or rear panels have split where the bolts are fitted not to mention the flue collar and the riddling plate has fallen apart as in yours. Seized bolts in the doors are a common issue on most stoves the only way I’ve ever got them out without snapping is a bit of oxyacetylene heat and a prayer.

[@lifeafloat5450]

Thanks for watching :-) The stove was already in the boat when I got it. I have no experience of any other stoves but have read somewhere online of people reporting the sort of issues you mention. If I ever replace it I will be doing my research into alternatives just to see what else is out there. Take care, Mark