I always had a zippo filled with unleaded in my belt when i was in the army, for emergecies. Kept it taped with electrical insulating tape along the lid, as I never used it regularly. Didn't go dry for weeks. Just a tip.
Must be some true ratwizz they pass off as lighter fluid there. I've used the white paper test to see how fast and how oily the fuel is, and the white spirit AKA Coleman fuel evaporates marginally faster, but both evaporate clean as you could ask for, no worries here. Now, if you want something that burns like a rocket engine, get some Primus Powerfuel or Bestine rubber cement solvent/thinner, pure n-heptane! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heptane Murph
Hello again I have been out this weekend and got some coleman fuel for it! It is running much better, but I'm still not entirely happy with my new stove. Perhaps my expectations were too high... It still burns with some yellow to the flame and the slightest breath of wind destroys the flame. Is this normal? I have taken a photo of it at full power out in the dark. I only have a phone camera so the quality is not so good, but I will try to upload it so you can get an idea. I don't want to sound too negative or down about the Svea! I like the stove a lot. I just want to make sure it's all working as it should. Thanks again for all your help. Jamie
Jamie, seems to be working well. Put a potfull of water on top and see if theres still some yellow flames. Having slight yellow at the tip is normal. Ron
Looks ok to me. There are small tweaking tricks, though. The burner plate can be sitting a bit to low, resulting in more yellow at the tips. Before you start bending the actual plate, you can (as a test) try unscrewing the burner bell a little, which raises the plate (and bell) a little bit. Take caution, you don't want the burner bell to fall of in operation. (=Instant flame thrower) If the unscrewing test works out. Then screw the bell tight again and adjust the burner plate accordingly.
Thanks, I will try unscrewing the bell a touch and see what happens. I have taken the stove out today on the hill for a play. I used it to make some pasta and a hot drink. My evernew pot fits perfectly on top of the Svea, and I was very impressed with the stoves ability to simmer my pasta properly without going out. It does not like even the lightest of winds though. A breeze turns the lovely blueish type flame to a flickering yellow mess which just soots my pot up. I guess this is normal behaviour for the Svea and I will have to just get used to it
Yes, the 123/R's dont like wind so perhaps you need to get a windscreen which is readily available at sports shops for stoves. Ron
Back at home... I seem to have flames coming from the vertical slots in the burner too. Surely these are supposed to be for air to enter the burner rather than flames to escape from?? Strange little contraptions these things...
Jamie, looks to me like its under pressured. If you are using the correct fuel and properly primed, it should not look like that. Your earlier pictures were great. I wonder why you mentioned that there are flames coming out of the burner bell side. Ron
Earlier picture was taken in flat calm. Like I said earlier, the lightest of breezes wrecks it... I have only just noticed that the flames are coming out the side of the burner housing. I might order a new jet to try in it. What do you think? Thanks
I took a short video clip of the stove on the hill today. I have uploaded it to youtube for all to see... [media=youtube]GUufruWLkyU[/media]
Jamie, yes with the wind (watched your video), the fuel does not vaporize properly hence a windscreen is required. Either one from an MSR, Optimus, or Coglans windscreen will cure the problem on windy situations. Alternatively you can try tripling up aluminum foil about 2 inches higher than your 123 so it covers part of the pot and bamboo chopsticks so the foil will not flutter. Yes, it will take a longer time to boil at that situation. Ron
You've got wind Here is my Radius 42 priming up and running: [media=youtube]8WbGceAstvs[/media] You should get a 'purring' note to the burner noise once it is running strongly. A bit of yellow at the tips in no wind is okay. All my roarers will flare with yellow flames if wind hits them. They lose their healthy roar and make all kinds of snuffling noises until they get calm air again. The only recourse is to use a windshield like the one in my video. Here is another example of windshielding in action, this time around the Radius 21:
Thanks very much for all your help. I was a little apprehensive about using a windscreen with this stove as I didn't want to reflect too much heat back at the stove and overheat it(I have had that problem with a few of my home made alcohol stoves). It looks like that won't be a problem though. Thanks to everyone who has posted their thoughts and helped me out. I look forward to many hot meals on the hill
Jamie: A windscreen will really help. I bought a short, 123 / 8R sized one from China last month for $10 USD. Your hill photo reminded me f "2001" or "Whos' Next", without the four wet spots... Paul
Off center? Contact Katadyne customer support. They have a documented problem concerning this. They'll probable send a replacement space gratis. Best of luck. As everyone has said, when you get used to this it will become your "go to stove" AR
