I have a optimus 22 on the operating table. I need to reattach the fuel connector to the tank. I guess only brasing will do? Is any part of this tank soft soldered? I am thinking specifically about how to protect the end of the pump tube (fill it with water?). Thanks for any ideas Dan
Dan, havent done any surgery on that particular part of my stoves. I guess you are referring to the pick up tube inside. First, check if anything is soldered and if it is, then silbrazing would definitely melt the lead and fall off. I believe its soft soldered. Try it first with tin solder as it will easily remove if buggered. Be careful also with the tank joint so use a wet towel on parts you dont want to heat up. Ron
Had a crack at it, pretty hard to do the nut that I am trying to braise (I am sure it has to be braised) is a bit wonky and I am very surprised how little contact there is between the tank and the fitting (about 1mm). I am leaning toward making this a parts stove because this connection has to be perfect for this stove to be safe. Will sleep on it Dan
I have done a similar repair on the DIY 199 I am slowly making. That was very easy compared to this as I had plenty of surface area to work with... The 8r tank was all brasied so nothing melted.
I got it done, it was tricky. The fitting kept falling inside the tank or moving with the weight if the fuel pick up tube. I tried a few ways to position it and finally got it with a loop of wire through the pick up hooked over a line running in front of the tank. I am really please with this repair, only a few weeks ago this would have been far beyond my ability. I did not bother to use a heat sink of any kind and luckily it turned out that all the joins where braised so nothing was damaged. The stove does not have cleaning needles installed and came with a tank cap with a release screw so I still need to find some parts but other than that is it all go. This is not the type of stove I collect so will most likely sell it at some stage next year. better use it for a while to be sure the repair is safe and sound though. Seems good so far. Dan
Hey, Dan, BRAVO, Mate!! Well done on a very touchy job of fettling!! Now, why is it that you don't like the 22? Mine came from down that way, as you may remember, and I dearly LOVE it!! In fact, I "may" even esteem it more than my other three 22B stoves, and that is saying something, I must tell you!! So, why not keep it, and use it, Dan??!! Of course, I know that not every stove blows up every Stovies skirt, so if it's not your cup of tea, then by all means, use it until you are sure it's safe, and then sell the little bugger to someone who is lusting after it!! You should be able to get your coin back, I'm thinking!! 8) Thanks for sharing this stellar bit of fettling, Sir, and again, well done!! God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi Doc, Thanks for the comment I do like them but I reckon its more fun to use 2 stoves than one. If I kept every stove that crossed my door step I would need a hobbit hole (and a lot more money). Dan
My brilliant repair lasted 1 day. I have redone it but this time melted the pump tube solder which I thought was braise. Fixed that easily enough only to find that I have a leak at the tank seam now. On it goes... I will get there in the end...
Soft soldered the tank seam. All go again. I then decided to soft solder over the braise around the fuel pick up, this braise is not structural, I just did it to see if it would melt when the stove ran. It didn't. Makes me wonder if I could have soft soldered the pick-up it the first place. Would have made this job a million times easier. I was going to sell this stove but, having spent all this time on it, it has really grown on me.
Hey, Dan, Sorry you're having all the problems, but I guess that's the way it was supposed to be. This stove may well end up being a "keeper", after all the work you're doing on it!! Thanks for sharing your journey with us, too, as every little bit of new info is always much appreciated by all Stovies here at CCS!! Well done, and good luck with the rest of it. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
