I recently aquired an old beat up Primus No.4 and was excited to get it for the burner. My plan was to add the burner to my favorite Op.00. I took it off the Pr.4 and it fit the Op.00 box perfectly in place of the spirit tin. I set about to examine the burner more closely and found it was almost choked closed by carbon deposits. I took a propane torch to it and gave it about 8 heat/quench cycles. The resulting carbon that came out was quite a bit for a smaller burner. I got it cleaned out and attached it to my favorite 00. I found 2 jets laying on the work bench, obviously I had a stray..and of course I put in the wrong one. The first test fire was a little fuel rich to say the least! I took it out and put in the other one and it settled down to a beautiful, and appropriate sized flame. I had my silent burner!!! I then took a look at the Primus No.4 and wondered what I would do with it...it was beat up, dented, the legs were bent inward too far...but it looked good. I figured I'd have a go at straightening the legs...if I screwed that up, well, problem solved. I removed 2 of the legs, bent them, soldered them back on, the third leg I was able to bend without pulling it off. I sat different pots on it until I felt the thing was straight and even. So far...so good. Now what? Well, I suppose I better try to put the original burner back on it and see how it goes. Well, I ended up actually making the original Primus 4 work just fine and now I don't want to take it back apart!!! I guess the Optimus 00 is going to remain as it was and now I've got a nice little Pr.4 to make a case for.
Hi Matt, I think you took the right decision! The old girl deserves to be rescued . I'm sure she'll do you right and put a smile on your face each time she boils some water for a cuppa. And BTW, her number: Y13 is also the model code for one of the rarest BSA's made! This was a 750 overheadvalve V-twin they made in the late 1930's. As far as I know, less than 20 survivers world wide. Best regards, Wim
Hi Matt, Nice fettle. Pity that you no longer have a "Silent Op.00", but the 1934 Vintage Pr.4 is probably rarer. Best Regards, Kerophile.
Matt, nice work on the stove. I noticed in a couple of your photos you have a rack of pfiel palm tools. Do you do woodcarving too? I have the same set.
Lovely #4, Matt. I'm a big fan of the four and you have one of those most excellent early "deep-dish" burners on yours - my favs. The high skirt seems to create a really nice flame "bubble" on these. Nice job! Cheers, Gary
Wim, Thanks, I feel like it was the right thing to do too. I must say, when I got her all put back together, she has a beauty all her own. This Pr.4 has become one of my favorites, just because it's so unique. It's a good thing I don't collect motorcycles!...I'd be living in a shed by now. George, The Op.00 will just have to remain a roarer I think...although it was nice to see it working with the 4 burner!! It's easy enough to swap back out again, but I have a feeling I'll probably never go to the trouble to do it. Maybe if I run across and much more damaged No.4....who knows? Sparky, Yes, I was an art major in college and have a degree in it. I earn my living working with wood. The veiners, gouges and knives you see I use for making woodcut blocks. I LOVE the quality of those...as I'm sure you do too! Gary, I agree completely. I've never run across or even seen a Pr.4 until I got my hands on this thing. The shape of the burner is quite a bit different than the larger ones. I still have my small silent burner though...in the form a a 96 with a BD silent cap! I'm not all that sad about my 00 staying a roarer....somehow the 4 losing it's burner seemed kinda sad....and the Op 00 losing it's burner did too. I'm just leaving them alone and enjoying them as they are.
