Hello, i recent got a FREE Optimus 199 from someone in my city. I cleaned it and so far it looks great. So before finishing up cleaning it, i attempted to fire it up. But the stove was not pressurizing. I filled the whole bottom pan with alcohol and used the pump 10+ times. But after allowing it to heat up that much, the stove just looses its flame within 30 sec. I know there is a leak or whatever but i cant find it, i put a flame near all ports and nothing is catching on fire. If someone can help me figure out why my stove is leaking, I will be very appreciative. Thanks
First thing to check is the seal under the tank cap - check it with a thumbnail or the tip of a ball point pen - if it is hard the stove wont hold pressure. Easily replaced. Next, the pump washer (cup) - has it gone hard and not pumping? - will a few drops of iil soften it enough or does it need replacing? Norm
using a flame to find a leak of anything flammable is a good way to lose ones eyebrows. better way is to pump it it up then place the whole thing in hot water Bubbles will tell you where to look
I don't think it'll ever work right again. Why don't you send it to me and I'll make sure it's properly disposed of. Only Joking! Seriously, well done getting a 199 for free. I had one on my wish list for nearly 3 years now.
Hi Chibi - you don't need one of those in Regina, send it to Smiffy (lol). It's most likely the fuel cap gasket and/or the PIP (molded rubber piece) in the Safety Return Valve (SRV). If your fuel cap gasket has dried out/hard there's a good chance the PIP has as well. Since you have the little external pump your fuel cap will have the rounded center tube jutting up, which holds the PIP/spring of the SRV. Do you have another Optimus stove or a stove with the fuel cap of the same thread-size as your 199? If so, and you know its fuel cap's gasket/PIP are good use it instead. You don't need a pump for the 199, she'll pressurize fine without it (albeit a little slower). If she runs just fine and doesn't lose pressure then you know it's the original fuel cap that's the problem (gasket/PIP/spring). As others have mentioned, holding a lit flame around a running, pressured stove looking for leaks is not a good idea - vaporized fuel can easily catch and generate a fire ball. There are a few other places it can potentially leak from, but the fuel cap gasket/PIP are the first and easiest place to start.
Ok well i put the stove underwater while it was pressurized (with the pump) and there where no bubbles. I have another pump and cap from my 99 but the same problem happened. The gasket on the cap is fine for both, IDK about inside the tube on the cap tho. And btw, the stove still doesn't pressurize properly and run properly.
Hmm- I have a 199 and have not encountered that type of problem with her. Perhaps the wick isn't set properly or needs to be replaced or some kind of blockage in the fuel tube? All the other usual things - proper fuel type (it's multifuel but I use her Coleman fuel), clean the jet with the internal pricker, tried the 199's fuel cap on the 99, etc? edit: removed 20 hard returns entered by cat treading on keyboard.
Ive tried using my 99 parts on the stove but nothing has changed, ive also pricked the nipple cap with thee internal cleaaning needle and the same thing happens. Ill post a video of me lighting it up hopefully in the afternoon.
Smolsen, 199 does not have a wick. Gundam, I wonder if you are pumping with the reg valve open, make sure the needle is down when you pump.
Hey, Chibi, Your problem is perplexing, as most 199's are very dependable and reliable. Check the Reference Gallery for catalogs and parts lists for this great little powerhouse, and they you may find that you are missing on your own 199. I have two of them, and after many years of running them on all three fuels they will accept, I've yet to have had a single real problem with either of mine. Please keep us posted, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. Just thought of something: At a past Stove Gathering (in Oregon), BernieDawg fettled a 199 for one of our members, and it needed a tender and experienced hand to fettle! He spent a good long time on it, and if memory serves, there was a problem with the fuel pickup tube inside the fuel tank of that 199. Gary had to so some really in-depth fettling to fix it, but fix it, he did!! So, don't give up hope. I'm sure your 199 will come around, too, sooner, or later!
I just checked my 199 - and what I thought was a wick is a long metal fuel intake tube lying along the tank's bottom. I did not not take mine apart to determine if a wick lies in there, so assume based on the above that it does not.
Parramethtrol linked, the wrote: Doc Said Quote: P.S. Just thought of something: At a past Stove Gathering (in Oregon), BernieDawg fettled a 199 for one of our members, and it needed a tender and experienced hand to fettle! He spent a good long time on it, and if memory serves, there was a problem with the fuel pickup tube inside the fuel tank of that 199 somebody block it with a wick ? Howdy, Bill!! Great to see you back at CCS again, Sir! Nah, no wick.... and you are right, the 199 does not have a wick, at all. The burner does have a brass mesh strainer (roll of small mesh brass), but no wick. I tried to scan the parts page in my instructions for the 199, but for some reason, my scanner is taking a siesta right now. Must have taken "Labor Day" to heart, and is not working, today!! I'll post it as soon as I can. My own thoughts are that the original poster needs to replace the fuel cap gasket, AND the SRV pip, and that should take care of it. If not, then I'd completely disassemble the burner, and clean it out really good. One other thought: the O-ring in the Opti mini pump probably needs replacing, too, and then a good coating of graphite powder, in order to work as it should. Failing all that, if the stove is sent to me, I'll check it out, fettle it as needed, and return it to the owner, no charge. I'm certain that we have other members, probably closer to the owner of this stove, and that might be easier for him to access. In any case, the offer is there, if he can't fix it himself. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Im adding a video of it attempting to ignite soon on Youtube, ill throw the link in a few minutes while its uploading, but the first problem if i where to disassemble the stove is that the nipple cap where the needle comes from Cannot be accessed with the key, so i cant remove the cap, and second, how do you disassemble the burner haha, it welded together or something like that.
HI, Chibi, I can tell from your questions, that you are fairly new to fettling stoves. Not to worry, as all of us started that way, many years ago, and learned, one step at a time. I still suggest that you spend some time doing research here at CCS. There is SO much great information here, and if you take the time to seek it out, you will learn, just as many of us Old Timers have learned, how to fettle stoves! The jet, or nipple, is removed from the top of the burner. Remove your outer, and inner caps, then use a special T-wrench, which you will need to purchase, to remove the jet. Once that is removed, you will use your regulating wrench raise the cleaning needle, and remove that. Then you will need to unscrew the stuffing box nut, and remove the complete spindle assembly. You will also unscrew the nut holding the burner to the fuel tank, and remove the brass mesh strainer, which you may need to clean (using fresh Coleman fuel). Last, you will be cleaning insides of the entire burner, using fresh Coleman fuel, or carburetor cleaner, or something similar, until no carbon deposits come out of it. Replace all the gaskets and pips, and the goodies you have removed, and make sure they are nice and tight, and you will have accomplished the job of disassembling,servicing, and cleaning your stoves burner. BUT, no matter how nice the fuel cap gasket looks replace it. It's easy to be fooled by a fuel cap gasket, especially with you are new to the hobby. Do some further research, and learn how to remove and replace your SRV (safety release valve) in the fuel cap, too, which will also require a special tool to accomplish. You can purchase new fuel cap gaskets, SRV's, and when you need them, NRV's (non-return valves) in The Fettle Box, right here at CCS, and you can purchase the proper wrenches from Stu, here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/17803 Last, mucking about with very flammable fuels, and equipments that burn them, is serious business. Please take the time to learn the necessary skills, and practice until you get them right. Don't waste your time trying to make do with regular tools, and instead, spend the small coin that the proper tools require. You will NEVER regret it!! I hope this has been helpful, but don't forget that CCS is a fantastic treasure trove of valuable stove information. And, just about everything you need to know can be found here, IF you are willing to spend the time looking for it!! Good luck, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Here's what your stove should look like, once you replace and clean all the goodies that need your attention:
Wow, that was a lot of info. Thanks a lot for the tips and help, i honestly didn't know how to take apart the stove. Anyways, if you want to see my stove dieing on me I posted a video on Youtube. Ill get back to you on repair it soon. [media=youtube]sf70JcElFrA[/media]
Hi, Chibi, You are most welcome. If you follow along with what I suggested, I'm betting you WILL get your 199 up and running as it should be. One more thing, remove the cleaning needle, completely, and test the stove, after you have replaced all the seals and pips I've suggested. IF the stove runs fine, then it's also possible that your cleaning needle has been improperly adjusted. Optimus actually shipped stoves with their needles adjusted poorly, now and then, and it's an easy fix, if needed. More info later..... First, have a go at my suggested fixes, and see how that works. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Haha ok! But before you go lol. How do you properly adjust the cleaning needle. Ive had problems with this on my 8r and 99. Ive seen BernieDawgs video of him reassembling his Svea 123 but don't understand how your supposed to place it properly.
