MSR Dragonfly, dated October 1998

Cheap for a Dragonfly, though without a pump (no matter, I preferred a Duraseal) stuff sack, kerosene jet, tool, spares, instruction leaflet or fuel bottle. I was unaware until I received it that it was unused.






They're a popular stove, have been in production for over a decade and they're still available new when I wrote this (early 2016) so I'm not presuming to be telling anyone anything they've not already discovered for themselves about the Dragonfly ... just my impressions of something I've not tried out before.

Legs/pot rests folded up, as has often been said it's not the most compact to pack.






It's a clever design, unclipping the pot supports from a stowed position relies on their natural 'spring' to flip out into the in-use position ... simultaneously swinging out the burner assembly from it's stowed to clipped-open position.












Jet removal, only necessary to swap a kerosene (DK) jet for the gasoline (DG) one. I'm using the MSR tool/wrench with the burner inlet tube cleaning tool as a lever.




That cleaning tool acts as a reamer in the fuel tract once the burner control spindle has been removed and the wire handle swapped from spindle to tool (and back again after the cleaning's been done).












Firing up the Dragonfly on gasoline (Aspen).








... and it's renowned capacity for simmering. I can vouch for that, very controllable, best of any bottle stove I'd say.




Like the MSR Firefly and XGK I have though, it's LOUD, putting out an unremitting shriek.

That doesn't bother me particularly, but it's good to have an optional silent mode and it was fortunate that this Duo-Burn kerosene stove converter cap that I'd previously adapted to instal on an Optimus Nova fit the Dragonfly perfectly and performed very well.












Full blast - not a usable setting




A very usable simmer.




Finally, some observations on the Duraseal pump. On the Dragonfly version of the Duraseal pump, but not on the version of the Duraseal for other MSR liquid-fuelled bottle stoves (which have a smaller-diameter pump connection tube) there's what MSR call a poppet valve in the stove tube inlet.






It serves to prevent fuel from dribbling out of the pump when the stove is separated from it after use and would stop fuel flow if the pump valve were to be inadvertently left open when the stove is disconnected from it.

I'm a real fan of the Dragonfly. Late coming to it, but better late than never.

John

 

Nice one as always mate. Where can I get the silencer from, or point me in the way to make one. John you have so much nice stuff.

Si

 

@Big Si
I don't know if you ever bought one of those Primus 4010 converter caps for a Primus 100 when Base Camp were selling them, but the Duo-Burn cap is the same specification apart from being made of brass rather than Primus Metal.






Once the Dragonfly's roarer flame spreader's been removed the Primus cap sits in the burner bell just as comfortably as did the Duo-Burn cap without tipping or getting stuck in there once the stove's been fired up.

@cottage hill bill
Moreover, having used it at lunchtime to cook those TRUE GRITS and brewing water for tea a few times since, I can confirm that it gives the necessary thermal conduction to the burner bell to maintain vapourisation and not just while the stove's still hot from the priming charge.






Simmer setting for the Grits.




I notice that in THIS recent post, Ross said,

So even if Base Camp have sold out the Primus product, there's a possible alternative source.

The Grits by the way ...

... uncooked




... cooking




... cooked



John

 

A few final thoughts on the Dragonfly, having used it a lot in the past couple of days.

The pot base level set by the pot rest height above the burner may well determine the manufacturer's commendable commitment to producing a stove with a minimum of carbon monoxide emissions, but it extends boiling times too much for my liking.

In his in-depth analysis of the MSR XGK Rob (Snowgoose) presented this photo of an XGK line-up to show how the changing fashion of pot rest height affected that model. The Dragonfly goes way over the top of these, literally.




Although I wouldn't contradict the manufacturer's stance and am all for stove safety, given that I'll not be using it in-tent or indoors I'll be shortening the pot rests - cutting out a section of each vertical rod and silbrazing up the final version.

True, the use I've made of a silent burner converter cap has probably worsened the effect of the large distance between burner and pot base. The roarer burner has a distinctly vertical flame pattern and the silent burner directs flames horizontally - an endorsement here then for the manufacturer's recommendation not to stray from their specification or modify their product. Fair enough.

Snow fell and I took the Dragonfly out for an evening session.








The converter cap can get overawed by the power of the Dragonfly.






With the throttle turned down a bit, it's fine.



John

 

This stove, more than any other modern stove I have used needs a wind guard. With one boil times are good.

 

No doubt that's true. It's me messing about with a silent burner converter cap.

 

just to add my 2 Toonies worth, I have had mine for several years and I love it. Yes its LOUD, so my fellow campers send me to the next valley when I drag it out to cook a meal, but it does keep the bears far away
Jan

 

Can we use another pump for MSR Dragonfly with some modification? Maybe the metal pump from Primus or Optimus?

I'm thinking to use the adapter below so it can be connected with Primus/Optimus metal pump, and a short cut of safety 3~5 layers LPG hose to attach the propane adapter and the Dragonfly pump-line adapter.

 

Yes, though the Duraseal pump’s not inferior.

 

Thank you sir for your kind response.
May I know how did you make it happen? Where can I buy that connector?

 

@Iming Muslimin It’s one I made. I posted the pics just to reassure you that your project is perfectly possible.

John

 

@presscall , thank you for sharing, I'm lucky to found your thread, and also your "Dragonfly in Trangia" thread.

I want to prepare a versatile option before the MSR Dragonfly pump breaks as any other people have experienced out there.
I liked to hike and camp on mountains, forests, still in a tropical climate, often above 3000 meters altitude. The temperature kind of vary between 8'Celcius to -4'Celcius, or a few Celcius colder. From reading in several forums, some MSR Dragonfly pumps were brittle and broken in cold temperatures. I don't want to be in that situation.

I'd like to reserve the original pump and start to use the Optifuel pump for regular usage. Just because the Optifuel pump has a knob/valve to optionally close the fuel line in the pump.

 

I think there’s confusion here between the old version ‘blue and red’ Dragonfly pump on which the plastic tabs that locked onto the body would readily break off, as on this example ...




... and the current issue MSR Duraseal pump for the Dragonfly, which is a very robust design indeed.




In really cold temperatures It’s the O-ring seals in pumps that are the weak link, losing their elasticity in the cold and failing to seal. A metal pump’s seals are just as prone to that as an MSR one, perhaps more so because of the thermal conductivity of the metal.

MSR sell an ‘Arctic’ pump equipped with O-rings of a formulation that retains its elasticity in sub-zero temperatures. I think it only fits other MSR stoves and not the dragonfly however.

 

I've bought an Expedition Service Kit for MSR Dragonfly, for a quiet expensive price from Amazon Japan, JPY 6757, and it contains a pump cup, only 1 pump cup.
I need to store at least 5 pump cups as backup.

@presscall , beside from the Expedition Service Kit, do you know where to buy pump cups for MSR Dragonfly?
(whether it is an official pump cup from MSR, or it's an aftermarket pump cups, as long as it fits, it's good enough for me)

Another question, which is a better pump cup: leather or rubber?

 

I admire your wish to have spares but if you make sure you oil the pump cup regularly you shouldn’t need as many as five spares. Maybe a second spare? - one already on the pump and two spares.

MSR do a less extensive kit than the Expedition, still with a pump cup but with some other items not included, and it’s cheaper. Other sources I don’t know. Checking here with American experts: @Doc Mark @snwcmpr

Leather gets my vote every time. O-ring type wears, leather degrades only if it’s left to dry out. Lubricated, it lasts for decades.

John

 

Greetings, John (@presscall ), and @Iming Muslimin,

I’ve never had to replace an MSR pump cup. So, I don’t keep a ton of spares on hand. However, I should think that a call to MSR, with an explanation of the trip that this gentleman has in mind, may well get him the spares he seeks. In my somewhat long experience with MSR stoves and their pumps, I’ve found that the O-rings are the only thing that really needs replacement, now and then. And, of course, it goes without saying that proper lubrication is of utmost importance, always!

As to the MSR DF Expedition Maintenance kit, I just looked online, and only found two of them being offered, other than by MSR. So, what the heck, I bought one. Yes, they are rather expensive, but needs must, and as the asking prices are the same as those from MSR, I decided to take the “bird in the hand”, and get one, just because it was there.

@Iming Muslimin, I also agree with Presscall in that I much prefer leather pump cups, to rubber ones. But, as I’ve so far not needed to replace any of those cups, I have not been motivated to seek out leather ones that might work in the MSR DF stove pump. Just my ‘tuppence, but I hope it helps a little. Good luck on your upcoming expedition, and please report back here upon your safe return, with lots of photographs, and a complete report!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

PS - Iming Muslimin, Since you live overseas, I would be happy to call MSR for you, and see if they will provide some spare pump cups for your upcoming adventure. Please let me know if this would be something you would wish, and I’ll call them early next week, then get back to you.

 

@Doc Mark Outstanding, Mark, you stepped up to the plate superbly, as I expected. Thanks for the insights, which I benefitted from also.

John

 

Good Evening, John,

Thank you for your always kind words. I hope my thoughts and offerings help Iming Muslimin in his needs. And, I was glad to offer a few comments. Though not pithy, I do hope the help a bit.

As I was taking my walk around our local lake, I gave thought so seeing if any of the old MSR spare pump cups, and/or pump cups from Sefa, Kerry, and a few others, might do the trick. When I crawl out from replacing our floor (flood), replacing the recently shattered work studio window (drunken, or inattentive owl), and work on the snowblower and generator (simple fixes, but necessary), I’m spend a little time doing some experimentation. IF this produces anything of possible merit, I’ll share it here at CCS, and with your kind permission, will link that to your post here.

Have a great evening, and, God Bless!

Mark

 

That’d be great. Hope your chores don’t prove too onerous! John

 

And I am here with a "Swing and a miss..." I cannot add anything other than never replacing a pump cup. I would bring a spare pump.