RayPak RP2100 R335 repair vs replace

[jp4120]

18 year old RayPak propane heater - use it 30 times a season mostly for spa - 8 foot diameter - but sometimes to take the edge off the pool or use up propane allocation.
started cycling on and off so my reg pool guy referred me to a heater specialist who I told just evaluate first to see if its worth fixing...of course he said yes and now I am $450 in and its still not working 100% - its firing up but now there is a gap in the asbestos firebrick on the back side (non water feed side) and heat is super heating the metal and (per specialist) causing the sensor to shut down due to excessive heat escaping.

Questions for the TFP team
1. I have pics of the gap in the firebrick but having trouble uploading- anyone every try to repair this and rig a bracket? I am planning to tell the heater guy forget it and try it myself to avoid dumping another $300 and have him tell me I need a new one anyway. not sure if I can get the asbestos firebrick or if people think its worth the hassle or if everything else will start to crumble.
2. since I only use the heater 20 to 30 times a year I wonder if there is a better option than spending $3500 plus on a new RayPak....(probably not I assume)
3 for new heaters any recommendations? anyone using the sta-rite that looks like r2d2? I know sta rite is the lower brand of Pentair but a friend likes his so far...also it seems like Leslies is a few hundred cheaper than my regular pool guys for heater installs in general....any feedback on Leslies doing a heater install?

thanks to all.

 

[Pool Clown]

Something is causing the excessive heat. Was the exchanger checked for sooting? What has been replaced? The heat is probably causing the cycling. Try to get the pics uploaded so we can look at the crack and how wide it is. Firebrick is still available.

 

[jp4120]

the 'firebrick' which seems to be rigid asbestos slab 1 1/2 inches thick has fallen away or dropped due to bracket failure and become damaged..I was thinking I could replace the entire bracket and insulation if not too expensive (myself) or just wedge some into the gap.

 

[jp4120]

Probably going to just get a new one rather than deal with this all summer....leaning toward Sta-Rite (the rounded fiberglass one) based on a friends experience and will get the 400,000 btu instead of the 333,000.

 

[skimmerswimmer]

I got my Raypak 335k RP2100 NG heater for $1650 at Inyo Pools last year, so a new one for you should not be $3500.