Optimus 45 Tank burst - Todays excitement.

Hi, today I received an Optimus 45 stove which I purchased "for spares or repair".

It looked good, with a nice Optimus pan-ring,so I gave it a quick clean and took the rust off the legs.
The stove was missing its flame-ring, reserve cap and filler cap. I therefore fitted a NOS Sievert filler cap, a new flame-ring, and washers. I then tested the NRV, oiled the pump leather and filled the stove with paraffin.



As you can see I was using the stove out-doors as it was new to me and it was a nice day.

I primed with meths, and once the prime had almost burned out, started pumping, with a few strokes.

The burner ignited but was a bit sluggish. I had pricked the nipple so I knew it was clear, so I added another 6 or so strokes of the pump.

Suddenly there was a loud "Pop", such as you get when opening a ring-pull beer can, and paraffin came gushing from the bottom of the tank. I released tank pressure and the flame went out. Paraffin continued to flow in quantity from the tank base.

Once I had drained any remaining fuel from the tank, I examined the base expecting to see a failed solder seam:



But nothing was apparent on first glance.

I then examined the tank base more closely, and this is what I saw:



As you can see, I have a brittle failure of the tank base. There is no evidence of "ballooning" of the tank, and no seam failure....indeed I had not used more than a dozen pump-strokes to pressurise the tank.

I reckon I have fettled and operated over 500 stoves, blowlamps, and pressure lamps so far, and this is the first instantaneous tank failure I have ever experienced.

I have had leaks from joints and solder-seams before, and from tanks suffering from stress-corrosion cracking.....but never a tank rupture under pressure!

The droplets you can see on the tank are rain-drops not tears!

The positive side is that I was using paraffin as a fuel, so despite rapid release of a full tank-full of fuel from an operating stove, there was no resulting fire.

Luckily, I was also following my own advice and test-firing my new acquisition out-doors.
I was able to extinquish the stove and there was no drama.

I still have most of the parts of an Op.45, so If I can find a donor tank I will be back in business.

Aren't Stoves fascinating?

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Hi Kerophile,

As I suspect your wife might wash your smalls I bet she isn't half glad that wasn't a petrol stove!

A salutory lesson for us all

Cheers, Graham.

 

What a shame kerophile but lucky it was not petrol fueled and allso it burst after the stove had been lit for a short time it could have been a bit nasty if the fuel in the tank had reached its max tempreture.it whould have been more volatile and a good idea for lighting stoves out side for the first time

 

& at a very low pressure .

 

Lucky nothing worse happend.
Actually I had the same experience but with a lamp , an Optimus 200. But there I found that the tank was quite corroded, when I expored it afterwards.

Best Regards
Joakim

 

wow kerophile, good to here all is ok (except of course for the tank). I learned my lesson after I had fettled an AGM lantern. I put coleman fuel in and pumped it up. ready to light when I noticed a stress crack in the side of the fount where fuel was squirting all over my pants.. its on the shelf now.

 

scary stuff
one to watch out for in the future

 

Oh, yes. Scary indeed.

I fired up my old MSR Whisperlite a few years back after not having used it for some time. The "O" ring around the tank must have deteriorated because some fuel dripped out -- and caught fire. Shall we say it's not the most comforting thing to see a pressurized tank of Coleman fuel with a fire directly under it!!

Fortunately, I had thought to a) test the stove before taking it into the backcountry where I would be depending on it, b) test it in sandy open area, and c) place a ready supply of water close at hand.

I got the fire quickly out without an explosion, but my original fuel pump was a melted mess. I've kept the melted pump just as a reminder.

Yikes! Gotta be careful with that stuff. Maybe I should invest in a good kero burner even though they do burn sootier. Coleman type fuel is basically the de facto standard in the USA for liquid fueled stoves. You can get stoves that burn kero, but generally they're marketed toward those who travel internationally (where Coleman fuel may not be available). My dad's MSR Dragonfly is that way. It comes with a Coleman fuel jet installed, but you can swap it out for a jet that will burn kero. I don't even know off the top of my head where to get kero in Los Angeles. All of the camping and outdoors stores sell only Coleman type fuel for liquid fueled stoves. Nary a one sells kero.

 

Never seen one like that before, George!

 

I've never seen that before either . . . and it is why new stoves should be lit outside.

Mind you this one behaved itself, when lit previously

 

Wally world, Home Depot, True Value... usually in 2.5 gallon containers. They also carry pure alcohol for priming in the paint dept. by the gallon.

 

lol. Yes, a hardware store would do it. Of course in the place the size of Los Angeles there will be kero available somewhere. I was more saying it's not very common for hikers, campers, backpackers, etc.

It's rather nice that it's less volatile and I believe kero actually can produce more BTU's per gram than Coleman fuel, but on the other hand kero doesn't burn as cleanly, is smelly, tends to stain things, and generally requires priming via another substance. Perhaps that's why kero isn't common in the US? Or perhaps Coleman's dominance in outdoor products for so many years caused Coleman type fuel to be the de facto standard?

 

Yes.

 

Hi all: You were lucky, it could have been exciting. Years ago I had a 111 blow up and burn my tent down. Mike...

 

Also if you fill the stove up then forget to wash your hands when cooking later, you can get a very bad case of the trotts (Please don't ask )

Si

 

Hikin Jim said:

"and C: place a ready supply of water close at hand."

Unless you foresee a burned skin etc. you want to douse in water, it is NEVER a good idea to fight a liquid fuel fire with water!
All you manage to do is to spread burning flames, which indoors usually lead to disaster.
A bucket of sand to pour over a burnig stove is usually adequate to block air/oxygen and hence stop the fire.

 

Good Morning, Kerophile,

Dang, that's a stroke of bad luck! But, I really glad that no damage was done, other than that which took out the bottom of your fuel tank! If you are in need of a replacement tank for your Optimus 45, I do believe that I have a spare one down in the Hobbit Hole. Say the word, and I'll be happy to send it to you. I've long thought about what I could send your way, after you so very kindly sent me that special silent burner outer cap, and now I can repay your kindness! Neat! If memory serves, the tank in question is solid, not not cleaned up, at all. I know that, with your special magic, you can get it into tip-top condition in no time at all! Just let me know, and I'll pop it into the Post. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

Hi Doc, thanks for your sympathy, and very kind offer. I will send you a PM.
I made the Post as I thought the experience interesting, and perhaps educational for stove fettlers. It doesn't hurt to take a few simple precautions when working with a newly acquired stove!
Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Good point, and, as you say, particularly indoors.

However, the water did the trick inasmuch as I was able to cool the tank and disperse the flames in the sandy area I was "test firing" in. I will bear in mind the bucket of sand though. Thanks.