Hi again
Just trying to get my brand new Russian Stove running. It is an Optimus 8R clone from the 1980ies, a flee market bargain.
But: Everything (!) was covered/soaked in some blue conservation fluid. It hardened on air contact, and now is a rather hard, enamel-like layer. It is also in threads, jets, tank, you name it ...

Does anybody know the secret weapon against that stuff? WD-40 did not work. Some solvents I tried did not work well, either. Only thing so far was heat (open flame).
The stuff has kinda bad effects on threads - I managed to get the jet out, finally, using a special tool being triple the size of the entire stove ...

If somebody can read russian - here is the original manual that came with the stove. Maybe there is some hint in there?

http://mitglied.lycos.de/motorang/public/optimus8R_and_clones

THX
Andy

Andi WD40 is not the only thing to try. I take it this is a paint type thing on the stove. can you cut off a strip of this and take it to a paint place to see if they have something to desolve it. or Try the safe and common things you can think of first. try soaking in Water with washing powder, paint thinners, Citric Acid and water. Precausion must be taken with these paint strippers, Caustic soda.
Albert

Besides the coverage Albert made, you might want to try this, if everything else fails.

The carburator cleaner.

It will take all kinds of gunk out. But one needs to use it carefully, because it dissolves paint rather vigorously. It might help to put a dab on a piece of rag and gently rub the coating, but not let it touch the original paintjob.

Brake fluid works well against paint, as you will know if you've ever poured it over the wing whilst topping up brakes or clutch.
You could always try an overnight in a bucket of paraffin.
Ian