I have just unstuck the generator cleaning needle and reinstalled it. The stove now runs. How clean does the cleaning needle need to be? I have not been able to remove the coil from the generator, how important is this? The slits in the side windshields do not seem to hook into anything. There also round holes that the windshield keepers, rods slip through. So why the slits?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the stove runs well and produces a "full size" blue flame, don't touch the generator. Yonadav
Yes, kind of curious about those side screens. As to the coil in the generator, I would also leave it if you don't absolutely have to clean it. I had a really dirty generator on a Coleman once that must have been used with some awful gasoline. After heating and quenching a few times I was able to get the coil out with a very stiff wire with a small right angle bend in the end. I screwed that all the way in and was eventually able to pull the coil loose.
The cleaning needle should be clean as in no carbon deposits on there. How important is it to get the coil out. If you can't get the coil out that means there is still a lot of carbon build up in the tube. I'm guessing it will just take a little longer to get to operating temperature and run with a yellow flame when first starting up but once it is running, the flame is a nice pretty blue. Depending on the fuel you use and the frequency that you use the stove, will shorten the time before the next generator tube cleanup. I left a number of suitcases like this since I don't use them all that frequent and figure that I know how to clean and it works fine. I'll probably not go back to some of those stoves for several years and it won't be any worse and will still fire up! So, only if you want to restore the generator to zero-day condition, I wouldn't mess with, especially if you just want to see it work and if you are going to sell it!!!! That's a really nice stove, by the way!!! sam
Hello, DO NOT try and remove that coil. I have tried and just ended up breaking it off. It seems as though over the years it just kind of corrodes into place. If you are getting good fuel flow and the flame is nice and bright don't messs with it. You can try and use Carb Cleaner and maybe a car valve cleaner type solvent, let it sit and then just hook it up and blow it out with the fuel letting the heat burn out the residue. I have damaged allot of stoves in my haste and have many that are just sitting on the shelf because of that haste. Chuck
