Hello all! I just received in the mail today a package from a bloke in Quebec. I believe the stove here is an MSR XGK - though I admit I am terribly confused when it comes to telling these kinds of MSK stoves apart. Even going through this forum and with google searches I am not 100% confident, but oh well. She's a beaut, Clark! Best part is all of this only cost 60 Canadian rubles! I plan on getting a new type MSR fuel pump, as per the recommendations of folks on this forum, and I am also keen on finding the X-type post supports to replace these flimsy dowsing rods - any leads at all? I would love to hear any thoughts, tips, tricks, anecdotes, tall tales, or recommendations!
Evolution of the MSR XGK Ex Stove @OMC is reliable, IMHO. The date, on which I trust me, is October 1991. Actually, I trust the MSR literature. The three digits codes have the first 2 digits as the month, the last digit is the year, 199x. But I don't blame you for being confused- this has been widely debated for years. The appearance is that of an XGK II But... The Sigg bottle is clearly not correct. But then you have the correct MSR bottle. The Sigg will work- just use the lid that closes, not the pouring lid it has on right now. The grey pump is correct for the age, but the new pumps are better. So much better that if you want to use this stove, buy a current pump. The 4 extra jets are from the service kit. The larger do not fit this stove. The smaller XK jet is the kerosene jet. I would assume that the stove has an XG jet in it. The XK jet will be original to the set- use it for heavier fuels. You can burn gasoline through the XK jet but the peak flow is reduced. You cannot burn heavy fuels through the XG jet. The foil reflector has a hole at the centre, the current ones don't. I expect it is 30 years old, like the stove. As for the dowsing rods ... pull the washers up tight and the pot stands will flop about a lot less. Good luck on finding some newer stands to buy- most people now make them, as they are sold out and useful.
And welcome to the club- a great stove if you want reliability. One other tip- simmering is a challenge with the MSR pumps and works differently between the grey and the new pumps. Read up, practice if you want to simmer. These were built to melt snow and boil ramen, but can be convinced to do other tasks.
@Scrambler Thanks for the information and the tips! Especially the run down on the jets, that is good to get cleared up. Interesting that the current foil reflectors don't have a hole, but I imagine not much heat is lost from them laying on the ground, instead of fanalged around the burner. Also, thanks on the date clarification as well - I /think/ I remember reading a post of yours a while ago regarding what you thought the dating system was? It was quite convincing. Though perhaps I have you confused with someone else. I have read through A LOT of what @OMC has had to say on these stoves and that's where I have gotten most of my knowledge from, excellent advice all around!
Thanks @swcw117. You are correct that I have a date interpretation theory. Didn't help me personally- my stove is an X-GK with no date stamp. It shouldn't exist. The MSR MMY date code appears in the roughly 1995 XGK II to XGK II Shaker literature and is explained there, along with the jet advice I have repeated above.
With that user name, and you change the stove instead of making it work? We gotta get you a new name.
Nah, they are good stoves for their intended purpose. I just don't care for any of the "plate burners" for any sort of serious cooking.
@Fettler , I’m in a different camp when it comes to using a simmering plate. I’ve had great success using such a plate on my X-GK stoves, including the X-GK EX! I can do real cooking on those stoves, with a simmering plate, and they way I use them, I always lower the pressure when doing so. Works a treat, and without problems. I love the Peak 1 M400, too, and it’s simmering is really top of the line. But, you CAN still cook real meals on the X-GK stoves, with a simmering, plate, and that makes them far more versatile, in my view. Now..... I’m getting hungry!! Take care, and God Bless! Doc
Well it begs the question, why would you want to? The MSR here is intended primarily for backcountry use and particularly high altitude. Torching snowbanks into drinking water, boiling water, that kind of thing. They are good for that. Dogs can be made to walk on two legs, it "works" but that doesn't mean it's good idea. I've rarely had the need to simmer anything on an extended outing, everything is pretty much "just add boiling water" for the most part, or boiling for a few minutes at most.
It's kind of what you want to achieve and how, @Fettler. I tend to use a carbohydrate base for a hiking meal, with pasta or rice. No need to boil those vigorously but boiling for a few minutes is useful. I don't carry "boil in bag" meals etc. And carrying liquid fuel for a longer walk, carrying a robust, cleanable stove, I've used the X-GK. Besides, hard to find snow to melt locally (though it did snow on our big summer hike in Tasmania.)
Evening, @Fettler , When we backpack, we eat meals that require simmering, most of the time. Also, I like having a multi-fuel stove, just in case you can’t find the fuel that you were originally planning to use. We have found that the X-GK covers all those bases, and more. So, why not take it? Yes, we like other stoves, too, and use them. But, the X-GK can do it all, even function on cartridge gas, with a proper adaptor setup. In any case, “horses for courses”, and use what you want to use. For us, the X-GK has a lot going for it. You eat differently than we do, and so use what works for the meals you like. Speaking of eating, tonight, I’m cooking up some grilled fresh caught Alaskan Wild Salmon, along with candied baby carrots, and Sweet Bride’s excellent recipe for Brussels Sprouts!! Yummy!! All that, is being cooked up on an X-GK EX right here in our kitchen...... OK, the meal is right, but on the kitchen range, and not the MSR stove! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Congrats! That vintage XGK was probably way better built than the new ones I got yesterday. Mine gave a strange flame pattern right out of the box. It only heat up a third of the burner bell as shown below: More tests with different bottle pressure and valve opening gave the same result. The spreader was in a good shape and well seated. Upon close check I noticed an odd chisel mark on the pre-installed GK jet (later I realized it was caused by over tightening during installation) Here are some pictures: I thought I had to deal with MSR warranty, but the retail store was kind enough to offer me a quick exchange. The second stove also had a similar mark on the pre-installed jet. Worse, its shaker needle did not make any sound no matter how hard I shaked it. I suspected the needle was missing and decided to unscrew the jet to take a look, but it was screwed too tight as if it was welded onto the base. It was just impossible to loose it even after I stripped it, and only then I realized how the chisel mark was made on the opposite side... Should a pre-installed jet come off reasonably easy on a new XGK? Both stoves had the same mark on the fuel line block as MSR 0921. Does it mean the stoves were made in September 2021? I hope others would have a better luck with this batch of production. Best, James
Yes @Cody, that is the meaning of the date code. Slightly hamfisted worker that day? Do take it back. The jets are interchangeable and there is a tool to do it with, which you would have twisted to pieces if it was that much trouble. It should be a field cleaning job to remove the jet.
Thank you @Scrambler for the date code. I have twisted my MSR multitool into nearly 45 degrees but the jet didn't give a slight move. I went back and tried yet another stove with the store staff. None of us could loose the jet even with a long leverage. The last stove also had "MSR 0921" on the block and probably came from the same batch. Someone in the factory may have found a new love with impact drivers perhaps
Given the design intent of these stoves, and their marketing, this is a significant fault. I would expect the factory to correct the issue, potentially a recall on affected stoves. Once upon a time, all MSR stoves were factory tested - fired - before packing for sale. Not any more, and sad to see that testing is not what it should be. Fairly clearly a random test on that batch would have identified the issue.
Are there tool marks on both sides? It looks like just one side which implies a defect in the jet production. If so, then not caught in assembly. If the assembly slipped I would think it would mark both sides. Or not.
I would say the tool marks were on both sides, with one side more notable as if the driver head slipped off from its tip. I feel the driver head being used was either too small for the jet grove length, or not centered properly before applying the torque. I was given another exchange yesterday. I thought the third time would be the charm, but this one has its burner bell fitted with 7~8 degrees tilt. Interestingly it also beared "MSR 0921". Not trying to be picky here, but the workmanship on their trademark line isn't overly impressive for the recent production.
