I bought what I considered a rather pedestrian Coleman stove last week, a model 508. Came in pretty good condition, not perfect but a good user; just had to replace the pump cup and clean it up a bit. I am surprised there are no photos of this stove in the archive. I will get some photos tomorrow and some flame shots, too.
They are good stoves. Kinda became a replacement for the 502. After the 505, 576, & 400. A great car camping stove. I like the gray plastic case for the 508. I had some pictures of the 508 somewhere. Jeff
Yeah, the 508 is kind of a forgotten stove. I've got one too and pictures to boot. Haven't taken time to put them up. Sold one a few months ago. Has the simmer control similar to the stoves that Jeff mentioned, so a little better than the 502 and bigger than the others. sam
Here is one neat post on the subject Link Forgotten stove indeed. I have a manual for it somewhere. There was two models the two lever and single lever.
I love my 508 it is a great little stove, and i wouldnt hesitate to get another. I just recently purchased a newer 533 and of course the darn thing became a fire ball within 5 mins of trying to light it! so i guess i have some work to do on that one. I would gladly trade the 533 for another 508 though...
Good to read that they are comparable to the 502's. I've used a couple of my 502's car camping but only this past summer came across three of the 508's at various yard sales. I never paid more than $5 for any of them....And they came with their storage cases.
I have a 508. paid little for it and gave it a decent fettle to remove the rust on the font, flame plates (mmm crinkle cut). Was happy with it till last november when I took it to oban and it failed due to the cold. I couldn't get any pressure into it at all. I think the pump cup (rubber) had frozen. luckily had my trusted RM which fired up first time no issues and made porridge and brews in the snow. the old girl has since been retired, drained, clean and boxed for a brighter day. Replaced by a chinese stove instead oh the shame. still a cracking stove for summer car camping though, infact i think i feel a fettle coming on. need to look at the control valve.
Have ye found fault with the messenger or the message. Me thinks the fault lays not with the stove and the pump leather but with an oil on the leather which would not withstand the cold. I've used my stoves in temps well below 0 deg F and never had a problem such as you site. But then i plan for cold and treat my leathers beforehand to ensure they are fit for the conditions. Instead of using olive oil or some other vegetable oil or heavy engine oils i suggest you treat the leather with a good quality light machine oil designed for cold. I would suggest you invest in some Marvels Mystery Oil, Singer Sewing Machine Oil, Cold Weather Weapons Oil, all of which have never failed me in temps well below the tempature at which most oils congeal and become like sludge. lance
Another oil to consider for low temperature use is hydraulic brake fluid. Perhaps ATF too. I'm not sure of their exact usable temperature range, but I haven't heard of car failures due to any of these two "freezing". Yonadav
All my leathers are soaked in sewing machine oil and always will be (what with having 4 litres of it from a shop clearance). However the pump cup on the 508 is rubber (as mentioned) so no amount of oil will prevent it from freezing solid and not maintaining a seal. As stated the rm with a leather pump cup ran without a hitch. Perhaps i should consider making a new leather cup for the 508 at some point. For now it will reside in the shed and i will use my new shiney T-08 instead.
Sorry lad, i'd not noticed this to be a rubber pump cap. Had i, i'd not have been so harsh. I beg your forgiveness. And may i suggest you don't make it but buy a goodly supply from our good brother Sefa in Turkey. His are by far the best on the market. A PM to him will result in a reply which i'm sure he will respond to which will more than satisfy your needs. lance
No need to ask forgiveness. A while ago Sefa did a how to on making your own cups. Since then i have changed the method i used to similer to his and made a good few myself and will continue to do so. making a new leather for the 508 will require a new die set but i should have plently of space on the end of the existing unit for that. need to add on the right size for the T-08 at some point as well. i may appear a new boy what with only 15 posts but whilst i have little to say i have been around a while (2009 although i thought it was longer) and worked on many stoves. If only i could find an 8r for a decent price to mess with.
My 508 had the rubber cup and it did not generate any pressure. Once the rubber wears undersize, no amount of oil will help. It now has a Sefa leather pump cup and it works fine.
