I have a pair of Primus 71 stoves. As you can see, the filler is directly opposite the spindle in my examples. Many stoves in the Gallery https://classiccampstoves.com/forums/primus-no-70-71.144/ show the fillers in many different orientations. Some have the filler on the right side. Some on the left. Some right next to the spindle arm. Does anyone know if there was any consistency at the Primus factory putting these together? We know the Svea 123 always had the spindle aligned with the 1 but were the 71 burners tightened to wherever they ended up? The 71 on the left is dated 1953 and on the right is an undated short tank probably from the 30's. Both only needed fill cap washers to get running although I did also change the jet on the '53 for a more even flame pattern. Ray
Hi Ray, WAS THERE ... consistency at Primus factory putting these together? I "think" yes, I have too many P71s but do not know that answer with certainty (I DO know, I am impressed w/your shorty ), thx for posting! There is an "indicator" I can share. NOS unfired is best but other good P71 examples to check are ones that are complete and appear to have very little use. You have shown us two quite different P71s. YOUR 1953 happens to have an SRV lid. Referring to 3 broad categories (there are more) of Primus 71s for your question there are: > pre-1937, > 1938-52 w/pin and >1954 - 62 w/SRV. The indicator I will share only pertains to the 2nd 2 categories (the categories are for this question, not a P71 "reference" overall). When I look at good P71 examples 1938 - 62 I find the same trend re valve location. I find (my opinion AFTER looking) that from Primus they likely DID position the valves on all those P71s, when new, very close to the same position to the right of the lid. Re positiion: If you consider a top down view and consider tank lid at 6 oclock, the valve (from Primus imo) is at approx. 3 oclock. Plenty examples are close to 3 oclock but even more examples match if we say between 3 and 5 oclock. All comments are welcome, I offer only this "opinion" (re 1938-62 P71, FROM Primus) ...imo... I give 2 answers: either > Valve usually positioned (90 degrees) to the right of the tank lid or at the 3 oclock position (if lid is 6 oclock and valve NOT located before 3 btw). -or- > Valve positioned at approximately 3 oclock, or at a point of 3 oclock or after 3 (3-5) but not too close to the lid. thx omc PS1 reading between the lines my opinion would also be 38-62 P71 valves not 3-5 oclock are likley not in original position (but I do NOT suggest they be moved btw). PS2 fwiw YES vast majority of Svea 123s, valve is left of the lid aligned w/#1 (The earliest Svea 123 valve is to right of tank lid, not #1). IF I'm tightening a Svea vaporizer i stop less than 1/3 turn after it is snug, align w/ANY OF 3 positions perfectly aligned w/WS.
It appears the proper orientation of spindle to fuel filler is to be directly opposite each other. Ken's catalogue illustration and the examples in the gallery show this clearly. Still not sure about the SRV cap models. @OMC @snwcmpr Thanks! Ray
Above should read: It appears the proper orientation of spindle to fuel filler FOR THE SHORT TANK MODEL is to be directly opposite each other. Ray
I continued my search. 1967 catalog shows a different orientation. 1953/54 was the year the SRV came on the 71.
Thanks Ken. This illustration shows an Optimus key and by '67 may possibly be a rebadged Opti 80. The Primus SRV was different than the slotted Optimus version too.
Nicely done guys, I'd say, I want to say we 3 agree, this post is re valve position, btw. There is no confusion here I understand & agree w/info you're both sharing here. fwiw Short P71's were available well after 60's (possibly the entire P71 Primus/Optimus run). So, the valve position is different (vs 38-62) on earlier Primus 71s as shown in Ken's example from 1937 catalog. My sneak peak of earlier examples supports this too. AND valve position "shown" as different yet again in Optimus's 1967 Primus PTC catalog. Thank you both for the education as these factoids were not obvious to me 'til Ray posted and Ken researched it. thx again omc ,
The burner connection has a tapered thread, so the end position of the spindle can vary. Many stoves had been opened in the past and it's very easy to tighten ¼ turn too much. It is recommended to mark the position of the spindle on the tank before unscrew the burner. Much better, not to unscrew the burner at all, if it's not really necessary. Short tapered threads in brass are vulnerable. Best Regards Radler
I think I "borrowed" this NOS Primus 71 pic from eBay or possibly the Gallery: It looks like Ken's illustration but with a Primus key. Can't see if it has a Primus SRV cap or Optimus but fill cap is on the opposite side as compared to OMC's NOS domed cap model. This one has the steel flame plate same as my '53 although the case is different. Mine have 5 round air holes on both the right and left side instead of the vertical slots of this model. Is that a Primus Trading Co tag or BAHCO?
@OMC In your last post in this thread you referred to "factoids". A perfectly good definition of "factoid" is: "An invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print". I think you do your colleagues a disservice. They were presenting facts, not factoids. Cheers Tony
With threaded holes and spindles it seems like there would have to be variation. It is a tapered thread as mentioned so exactly where in it's rotation is it tight enough? Is a quarter turn further tight, or an eighth turn? Either will vary the relation of spindle to filler cap. Also when the thread are cut with a tap, just where did the tap actually start to cut the threads, the first lead into the thread could be anywhere and will influence where tight is. Same goes form where the die started to cut threads on the on the burner. Seems to me that where they start will determine just where they end up tight.
Yes, unless the factory 'clocked' the parts, in the machine, for the thread, then the right position should be predictable, like the SVEA 123 clocks the spindle to the "1" of "123". I am sure the Primus fixtures changed over the years. So, the clocking may change with it. I think Ray wants to display the stove correctly for his stove. I think he is on to something there. Ken in NC
Ray, I'll back away from part of my previous comment 1938-62 being on the right at 3 oclock. I did see examples to support that btw: (2) 1956 and (1) 1962 w/valve on R when I included all the way to 62 (but seems i spoke too soon). Now, with time to take another look, I am still ok up until 1954 so 1938 - 1954 I still see as I said, imo, from Primus w/valve on right (at 3 oclock) that is what I see and we shall see what else might shake out BUT re 1955-62, in hindsight, those BAHCO years are NOT as clear to me. Having another look, I see (3) 1955's w/valve on left (at 9 oclock) and (2) 1956's with valve back on right (at 3 oclock). A 1961 back on the left and multiple 1962's I see also continue w/valve on the left (at 9 oclock). [[[ Only in hindsight I see the one 1962 I originally checked (on right) is actually more the exception than the rule.]]] I credit your inquisitive nature to post this and to advance the topic. I'm thankful for that. omc
Greetings, All, Been super busy, and that's going to continue for a while. So, my visits will be short and possibly infrequent, for the near future. However, regarding @Tony Press 's comments about those who use "factoids", I cannot agree more!! I believe that those who own, and have some deep experience with the stoves in question in any post, can and do offer the best information in answering any all questions about the stove under discussion. I have long ago grown tired of those to post "factoids", like a Chinese menu, in lieu of personal experience. Not my cup of tea, and as Tony wrote, I, too, believe that doing such things does as huge disservice to those Stovies here who DO speak from experience, rather than from gleaning so-called "experience" from the posts of others. Just my two cents....... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Question for those who have changed the wick in these gems (I still hanker after one ... one day). Is the tapered thread on them a twin spiral? You'd have a 50:50 chance of it going on the other way if you did. Also, IIRC, the videos in you tube of Svea 123 maintenance show that you really have to crank the burner quite hard to get it to reach the correct orientation. I suspect there are some stoves out there that are not aligned as designed because the fettler didn't have the strength to turn it the last half turn. Regards John
That is a good thought. On the Svea 123 .... If the fettler did not set the spindle orientation correctly, there are 2 other places that the spindle will line up with the windscreen openings. As there are 3 openings to access the spindle. If they do not, then the openings do not line up, and I have received a few like that. Personally, I have never had difficulty getting them clocked properly when changing the wick. Ken in NC
More factoids, from wiki -- "Since its creation in 1973 the term has evolved from its original meaning, in common usage, and has assumed other meanings, particularly being used to describe a brief or trivial item of news or information. So it is a factoid that "factoid" means something that is true." But of course, a major source of both kinds of factoids is Wikipedia, so ... Moreover, if the definition of a factoid is also a factoid, how do we know if the definition is correct or not?
