New MSR X-GK II Shaker Jet stove.

Greetings, Friends,

A few Summers back, I chanced upon a brand new MSR X-GK II Shaker Jet stove, in a gun shop, and ended up getting it for a very nice price, indeed!! It came with the stove, "X" pot supports, windscreen, parts bag, with tools, and such, and it's original red and gray pump, plus it's storage bag. This pump is one of the poorer ones that MSR has made over the years, and so, I bought a brand new one, recently, to replace that older and weaker version of the pump. I did this because this new X-GK is getting ready to take a trip overseas to meet my very good Friend, Dag Ståle Karlsen!! I would hate to send him a pump that very well may break in just a few uses, and feel better about him using this stove with a brand new, and much more robust pump. So, before it heads to Norway, here it is:









Now, it will soon be DSK's job to decide whether to fire it up for the very first time, or keep it as a "show stove"! I hope he chooses to fire it up, but that decision is his to make!! Thanks for checking out DSK's new stove, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

Hi Doc

Nice gift to DSK . The MSR X-GX is a reliable stove . But the red and grey pump was a "disaster" .I still do not know how MSR could include this pump. Did they do any testing? Ruined mine on a hike in the mountains and caused a lot of trouble and anger Got a new one of course!

Regards

Jens

 

Hey nice one Doc! A splendid gift.

That total package looks to be complete and in excellent condition.

I saw a 1969 Chevy Camaro the other day with the license plate that read, "1 Owner". Looks like you'll have to take the "1 Owner" plates off of this one!

Thanks for sharing!

sam

 

Hi, Doc,

A nice stove, a great presentation, and an excellent gift.

Yeah, the pumps MSR manufactured between the old yellow pumps and the modern duraseal "seahorse" pumps left something to be desired. They work, but you do have to be very careful with them. The new ones are a definite improvement although I don't like MSR's choice to replace the leather pump cup with a synthetic rubber one (a problem easily enough remedied). It is nice to be able to service the pump cup without "walking on eggshells" the whole time worrying that you'll break the pump tabs.

In a way, the XGK II of the type shown here is the final version of Larry Penberthy's original Model 9 design. Yes, changes were made along the way as the Model 9 became the G (and GK), the XGK, the XGK II, and the XGK II Shaker Jet, but really those were refinements and the stove bears much of Penberthy's mark. In many ways, the XGK EX marks MSR's departure from Penberthy's design although even the XGK EX, as do all of MSR's liquid fueled stoves, still preserves Penberthy's "game changing" breakthrough of using the fuel bottle as the stove's fuel tank. Sometimes we take that remote tank style as a given nowadays, failing to recognize Penberthy's brilliant innovation.

HJ

 

What? No flame shot? No tea test?

 

HI, Yonadav, and All,

Nah, this one will be a virgin when DSK receives it, just as it should be!! Dag Ståle has been a true, honest, and sharing Friend, ever since he came up to spend a few days with us in our mountain home, years ago!! He has sent me some very nice stoves, over the years, and this is just a small "Thank you very much!" for all his kind generosity! But, then, that's what we all do for our Friends here at CCS, isn't it?! Thanks, again, for all the nice comments, Guys. Much appreciated. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

P.S. If DSK decides to fire this one up, then maybe he will share some photos with us. Up to him, completely, though, whether to fire it, or not. 8)

 

Hi
First of all, thank you Doc!
In some way it is more easy to give a way a stove than to receive one! (Take it easy, I may gess what you are thinking )
I found a stove some time ago, just knew this one was for Mark. No hard decision at all, it is not a matter of money, but of value.
When Marks answering with this stove, he had a job to convince me, this is not a pay-back. It comes from his heart! And yes, I believe him, as I know him and his.. as caring people with great harts. We all know the XGK (variants) expert here is Doc. And he had this one, and he knew I did not have any. He also know my skepticism to some of the weaker points of the most used expedition stove in modern times. The plastic pump, and the missing legs, and he hels to solve this too.
This thread is actually not about stoves, it is about friendship.

For those who cares more about whats happening later, with the stove.... Sooner or later it will be fired used, and pictures will follow.

God bless
dsk

 

Doc, very generous of you. I guess they would do the same for you. 7 x 7 x 7

Ron

 

Guess what came in the mail yesterday.
To have it and touch it the xgk gives a feeling of solidity no other MSR has given mee before. As an old 111 fan, I have to admit, if the 111 is a jeep, the XGK is a tractor. I understand better why this has been "THE" expedition stove, still surprised of the unstable design, and the old weak pump design.
Pictures from expeditions has shown the xgk mounted on som kind of plate, and this setup makes it unbeatable, but probably not easy to pack. The combination you have made for mee, with a new solidly looking pump, and the real XGK with no hose will probably be unbeatable as an expedition stove, Thank you!!!
Best regards
dsk

 

Dear Dag Ståle,

I'm very happy to hear that your new MSR X-GK Shaker Jet II arrived, safe and sound, at it's new home in Norway, and that you are happy with it!!! In truth, especially with the "X" pot supports that your stove has, this X-GK is not that unstable, especially with a little practice. Of course, on snow, or ice, you will need to put the stove on something that will not allow it to melt down into the stuff. But, that's fairly normal for most stoves. In any, case, I was honored to choose a stove that I felt might "call your name", and am very happy that it did, indeed!! Have fun with it, and I hope you are getting over your recent illness, too, my Friend. It's never fun to have to put up with such frailties of our human bodies. Take care, best to the family, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

Dag,

When the fuel tube is attached and locked in to a pump on the fuel bottle, the XGK becomes far more stable. The rigid fuel tube joins the bottle reasonably solidly to the stove, and the fuel bottle then becomes part of your support.

MSR does make a three-part folding metal base called the Trillium. The Trillium base works fairly well in snow although I find a square piece of closed cell foam -- the kind of foam that backpacking sleeping pads are made out of -- wrapped in duct tape also makes a good snow base (although it's not quite as secure). The foam is of course lighter to carry and less expensive.

Best regards,

HJ

 

hi Doc,
I just ran into the same stove, an almost new MSR XGK II Shaker Jet, at a good price. It came with the "X" sopports like the one you show here, a 22Oz bottle and two repair kits.

It is my first stove ever (and this is my first post on here).

I read from you all that the pump that came with your purchase (one with to thin plastic tubes sticking out from the bottom and from under the rubber o-ring) is not a reliable one. The pump I got is exactly same as yours but only with black and gray instead of red and gray colors. I do not know if it makes a difference.

My question is, if I may, what suggestions do you make for me to do with the stove before I take it to a year-long journey in Southeast Asia.

For example, shall I replace the pump? If so, do I go for the old yellow pump that I have read about, or get something like what you got (under what name?)?

Also, which fuel do you suggest me to use in that part of the world, considering some will be hard to find?

Any additional modifications that I should do while I am at the comfort of my home? (e.g the foam base that is described above).

Things to avoid doing with the stove?

many thanks

 

here is a photo of the whole set.

 

Good Morning, Inanc-inca ,

Welcome to CCS, Sir! Your X-GK is a very good stove, and the grey and black pump that you got is one of the somewhat better versions of the MSR plastic pump, and far better than the red and grey version, which, along with the orange and blue version, were pure junk. However, if you are going to be using your stove for a year, in Southeast Asia, I would suggest that you buy a brand new pump from MSR and take that one, along with your grey and black one, so you will have two pumps to use. Also, purchase a few more maintenance kits, just for safeties sake, and learn how to service your X-GK in advance, before you actually need to do so.

Next, I would suggest that you try to use kerosene when on your trip. Coleman fuel is the best, as you can prime with it, too. But, kerosene, properly used, will work a treat in your X-GK, and should get you through your trip. Since you will be in a place where clean kero is possibly not available, be sure to take along a proper funnel with a felt filter inside it, and filter all your fuel as you put it into your MSR bottle. You will probably be very surprised at how much detritus you see filtered out of the fuel, and your stove will run much more reliably, with less need for service, if you habitually do this very important filtering.

I would further suggest that you practice, regularly, and in many different kinds of weather and situations, so that you grow comfortable with your new stove, and can fire it up in your sleep. The X-GK is a very reliable stove, and those of us who love them, probably COULD fire them up in our sleep! 8) The more practiced you become in using your stove, the safer you will be once you are away from situations that you are used to finding.

Next, get a simmering plate to take along with you! If you are going to be doing actual cooking on your X-GK, you will immediately thank yourself for having brought along a good simmering plate. I always use one when doing regular cooking on my X-GK stoves, and with it, you can cook just about anything, with attention and stirring, whereas without it, you will be fighting burning your food.

On your trip, which sounds like a great adventure, you should probably service and clean your stove on a regular basis, just to cover that base. Most of the time, unless you have to burn auto gas in it, which I don't recommend, you will find that the X-GK really needs little more than cleaning, when it comes to servicing it. Removing the cable and cleaning inside the fuel tube with it, is probably all that you will need to do, along with pricking the jet. Make certain that you take along several spare jets, half dozen would not be too many, just in case!

Let us know more about your trip, as it sounds very interesting. Why are you going? What will you be doing? Are you going with a group, or solo? What other gear will you be taking along with you? Walking, biking, or other mode of travel? Best of luck to you on your trip, and you really couldn't have chosen a more reliable and trustworthy stove to take along with you. Get to know it, deeply, far in advance of your trip, and I believe it will serve you well, in all situations! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

hi chaps.
just a thought ?.

why should you have to change the pump on a so called expedition stove ?.
should it not be able to cope with anything ?.
and for what they cost, they should.
something not right there is there ?.

not having a dig at msr or users of msr but this is something i just cant get my head around.
nice gift by the way.
kez

 

Hey, Kez,

Your point is well taken, Sir, and in truth, most folks who love the X-GK, and other MSR stoves, have long railed at MSR to do something about their crappy plastic pumps!! The original white pumps, and the yellow ones, were, and still are, the best of the lot, in many ways, and if you learn their few foibles, they will last for many, many years. But, almost all of the "updated" ones, made after MSR was sold by Larry Penberthy, the original owner of MSR, and designer of the X-GK stoves, were made more to offer a better profit for later owners of MSR, and NOT because the pumps were actually better. The newest version pump is much better than all but the earliest versions, and therefore worth using. On any expedition situation, no matter the stove, I would take along an extra pump, just in case. All Arctic expeditions of which I'm aware, do this as a matter of course, actually. Just a good precaution, no matter if the pump is plastic, or metal.

Some folks can't deal with such things, however, and for them, the "Plug and Play" stoves, as I coined them many years ago, are probably not a good option. But, others of us really appreciate what the good P&P stoves can offer, and understand their foibles, just as all stove owners must, no matter which stove(s) they use.

Good point, Kez, and absolutely spot on! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

I rather like that all the potentially fallible parts are all in one easily replaceable unit that doesnt weigh much or cost very much. If you get a problem at any time you can just swap pumps and keep going, then investigate and fix the problem at your leisure.

The notion that a pump unit should be able to 'take it' is attractive, but then they said the Titanic was unsinkable too...

 

Hi, David,

Well said, Mate, and absolutely true!! Nicely done! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

That's a very good looking stove! With just a touch of care, an XGK should be with you many, many years. The XGK has the reputation of being one of the most reliable out there.

On the gray an black pump that you have, inspect the "O" ring that seals the pump to the fuel bottle. This is a common point of failure. If it's hard or cracked, replace it. This is the voice of experience speaking here.

Getting a modern pump is a sound idea. It's worth it to carry both the modern pump and a gray and black pump in reserve. Be aware that the gray and black pump has a higher compression ratio than the modern pump. MSR found that people were over pressurizing their fuel bottles and reduced the amount of air delivered with each pump stroke on pumps that came after the gray and black. If you get used to the modern pump and then switch to the gray and black, you might over pressurize your fuel bottle which could be dangerous. I had a fuel leak one time while the stove was in use from just this issue.

Which brings me to my next point: Always use your windscreen. True the windscreen protects the flame, but it also protects the fuel bottle. You in general don't want the fuel bottle to get hot and in particular it will help protect leaks from becoming a fire.

With regard to maintenance, it appears that you already have a service kit. This is good. You might also consider getting an XGK Expedition Service kit. Be aware though that your stove is an older version of the XGK. Not every part in today's Expedition service kit will fit, but if you buy the modern pump the parts will work with that pump. The most common failures I've seen on MSR stoves are cracked "O" rings and blocked jets. The kit will contain "O" rings and jets, so I think the kit is worth having.

With respect to jets, use the jet with a "K" (kerosene) on it for paraffin. Paraffin (kerosene) is the most widely available fuel world wide.

For priming, I think a small squeeze bottle of meths is your best bet. The little plastic bottle with the black cap in your photograph is just for that purpose although it's a little small for an extended trip. Priming with paraffin/kerosene is a sooty mess. If you can't find meths in the country you're in, high proof grain alcohol (liquor in other words) will work as will methanol and even isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is smoky and sooty, but it's a little bit better than priming with paraffin/kerosene. You can also prime with automotive gasoline or aviation gasoline although they're less desirable I think than alcohol. In a pinch, you can run an XGK on diesel or jet fuel (use the K jet) or aviation or automotive gasoline (petrol) (use the G jet), but kerosene is definitely preferred.

You may want to look up what paraffin is called in the various countries you visit. Here in the US, if you ask for paraffin, they'll hand you candle wax.

HJ

 

"Here in the US, if you ask for paraffin, they'll hand you candle wax." that's funny , but i seen it before . Anyway, i got a pair of XGK Expedtion (nos) , anyone know where can i get a coulple XGK Expedition survice kit for good price ?