Apologies for my ignorance, but how exactly does one test the pressure release valve on a petrol stove (let's say an 8R or 111B) - or, I suppose, a kerosene one? If it doesn't work, the possible consequences could be startling!
Sorry, Can't tell you. It's secret stovie stuff and you don't get to know until you have at least a 100 post count. OK. I'll tell you. But. You gotta promise not to die, or sue me if you survive. This is only how *I* do it and is in no way intended to convey any sense of expertise or actual knowledge of important and quantifiable factors that may lead you to certain doom. IE - Do not assume I know what I'm doing. I use an air compressor. I rebuild all the "safety caps" that come into my hands. I copied a penta wrench that exeteryak designed and built once upon a time. So, I disassemble the safety cap, clean as necessary, replace the pip with a new nitrile pip and button the assembly back up. I have a compressed air blowpipe with a soft rubber tip. I put the rubber tip against the safety cap air inlet (the part normally in the tank). I set the cap to just open at 30psi and open fully by 40psi. "Set the cap" means that I adjust the pentascrew until the cap fires at the mentioned settings. Oh! And, I apply a dab of threadlocker out of sight of the finished assembly to lock the setting in place. I use the type of threadlocker that can be undone with some effort later. (I forget whether that's the red or the blue stuff. Sorry.) My experience (one time) is that the safety cap does not open completely in one big burst. Instead, as the presure builds in the tank, a properly serviced SRV (safety release valve) will open very gradually. A cute little flame will form at the outside end of the cap. The flame says, "Turn down the stove, you moron!" Or, at least that's what *I* heard it say. Turning off the stove and removing the pan/pot/kettle should result in a quick disappearance of the little flame. Now. One other thing. Svea advertised in catalogs posted here at CCS that they pressure tested their tanks to four atmospheres. An atmosphere is 14.696psi. Four atmospheres is then..... well, what*ever*, something more than 60psi. I reckon since I'm setting SRVs to start to open at half that and fully open at two-thirds... that means it is "safe". Your mileage may vary. blah blah blah more disclaimers blah blah blah Let the flaming begin! Wait. No. I don't mean on the *stove*, I mean people disagreeing and stuff. 8) Cheers, Gary
Not a stupid question at all! A very good one. But like Gary has pointed out. There are a few schools of thought on this. Some repair/replace seals and test their caps. What Gary has done. Some replace their caps... with old stock caps. Which can't be any better than what they already have. Its like buying 30 year old tires for your car. And some just replace the seal without testing. And some let them be. If it ain't broken don't fix it. I believe what Gary has it right. Repairing these old stove caps is that best hope they have in order to be used safely . Unless you like them on the shelves. Jeff
Gary and Jeff cover the issues in their summaries perfectly, but there's more discussion on the subject here: Safe stoves I strip down valves and check the seal(s) and springs, replacing the seals as a matter of course and the springs if necessary. John
