I fired up my "new to me" Svea 123 a little while ago. I primed it with alcohol, which ran down to the dimple in the font, but I didn't see a problem. It lit up and burned fine, however, this being the first time I have used a self-pressurising stove like this, I don't know what it should be doing. With no windscreen other than the one on the stove, it sputters and purrs and pulses. Is this normal? Thanks guys! Best, Randy
Yes, that's what a 123 is supposed to do. If you set a pot of water on the windscreen more heat will be reflected onto the stove resulting in the trademark purring roar that the small self pressurizing petrol burners are noted for. Until you've lit yours up to heat water for coffee and some hot supper in a drizzly, gray, darkening evening you have no idea what a comfort that sound can be. The snotty hiss of a gassie, to paraphrase Mark Twain, "Just don't qualify". Gerry
The 'dimple' is what passes for a priming cup on the 123. For extra prime power, put a wrap of fiberglass rope in the depression. use a piece of copper wire to make the loop. It will hold a lot more fuel and burn much longer, giving you a better pre-heat. The rope is a woodstove door seal...
I actually looked up "gronicle" or "gronical" on the web... I think it's a nautical term for batteries.....so; battery powered pot-lifters Gerry???? Thanks for the answers guys and .............Where the heck are Doc and Lance. Seen Lance posting. Doc must be busy with business, but I would have thought the Holiday Inn or whichever would have web access. Hope you are ok!!! Best, Randy
Randy--these guys make up words as they go along--it took me awhile to get it.. Doc is off for a couple weeks....and yes the putter of a 123 is a wonderful sound. it's sort of like a steam engine in that it has a life of its own--after a bit you will be able to "read" that sound and adjust the flame by ear---
Gerry has a wooden boat, or had if he has sold it. Google "Gronicle". You have to spell it that way, if you spell it "gronical" you still get results.....weird results, but results.. It's something on a wooden boat....I sh#t you not.....lol Now, maybe ol' Nordicthug is just freestylin' entirely, but I don't think so..... http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7316 The poor fellow above had a seized gronicle......... Arrr, A pirate's life for me!!!! Don't forget the FSM! Raaa-men........ (edit) oh how embarrassing.....a damn gronicle seems to be the nautical version of a "board stretcher"............. Board stretchers, Snipe hunting, and now, at 51, caught green with "Gronicles"..... Did not even have to hunt to hear about Snipe..... Gerry, you rascal you! Thanks for the laugh and the laugh at myself!
Gronicles are one of those things, like henways, that can be found at the 1500 foot level of abandoned brass mines. They were commonly abandoned in place so that the more useful weasel pins could be salvaged. One of the rarest tools on the planet is a weasel pin reamer. You'll need glasses to see one. Usually four will do it. Six, and you'll note differing directions of cut. If someone asks you "Whadinell's a henway?" the proper answer, is "Bout 2 1/2 pounds, allowing for feathers." What amazes me are the guys who read these threads thinking they'll learn some arcane marine secret. Most arcane marine secrets are made up as we go along. Gerry, Master Marine Arcanologist BS, MS, PhD (Bullsh*t, More of the Same, Piled Higher and Deeper)
Interesting... These small self pressurising petrol stoves are quite new to me, so my experience with them is limited. However, when first firing one up, I was thinking about small, single cylinder two stroke engines. For easy and reliable operation, the user should be somewhat familiar with them. They run a bit rough, but can produce quite a lot of power... A small mechanical, somewhat noisy (in a postive sense) device with a lifte of its own Another thing: Mostly for fun, I have tested a few stoves and tried to compare boiling times to the manufactureres figures. Not that I care too much about these figures - eg. the ability to simmer is often more important - but interesting all the same, and it gives me an excuse to play with the stoves. Normally my boiling times are significantly longer than the "official" times, and there could be several reasons for this - tank pressure, type of cooking pot and so on. But in the case of the Svea123, I have been able to achieve the "manufactureres timing" - just slightly more than 7 minutes for a liter of (really cold) water to boil, and exactly 3:30 for half a liter. Yet another thing When seeing images of a Svea123 with the regulating key inserted, there are often a few comments about burned finger tips. I normally leave the key inserted, and it becomes nice and warm, but nowhere near burning hot. And my stove seems to burn just as hot as anybody else's. In the boiling time test above, the stove burned for about 45 minutes; at full power for 20-25 minutes. Key inserted all the time, yet no problem to operate it comfortably. Anybody else experienced this? Knut
I own two 123R's, one old and one (was) new: Yup, reliably burning my fingers on both of them when forgetting the key. Same on the smaller Enders, though: Same pain, but different pattern on your fingers...
Something wrong with your stove? They all get hot, but after a while you learn to turn the heat up or down fast
Rik, After the grief I had with the Russian, don't get me paranoid I've run mine for 30 mins at a time and it boils a litre in 8 mins so I think it's okay
Hi mate, your burn time is right but the keys get hot on all my 99's, 8's, 123's, 199. I use a spare key and knob off an old 111 now to be honest
