Hi! I have just joined this forum, so, heres hello to everyone. This is what it is. A couple of nights ago we had a huge power cut. So we dug out an old stove, a Radius 21 and tried to heat some water. It did eventually, but not very well. So, the plan is to fix it, and to get another stove, (all set for the day the world ends and the leckie goes down for good!) So, I have bought another old stove off ebay, which I am hoping will work, but until it gets here, I won't know! And the little Radius has been examined in minute detail. The thing that seems wrong with it is that it is leaking around the jet. So, we are going to get a jet spanner and a new jet for it. (hubby is a mechanic, he's good at stuff like this) It needs a few other bits too, but Base Camp seems good. What I want to know is this. I hear that these stoves can be jetted for other fuels. Does anyone have the specs for such jets, ie. size of jet/type of fuel? Also, these jets, are they the same fitting as carb jets in motorbikes? would they be interchangable? See, until we can get the tool to get the old one out, we can't look at it proper. And we have a ton of carb jets in all sizes.
Welcome Lille, the stove you have is just for kerosene, its not just the jet, its the design of the burner which dictates the fuel used.
Cheers. That's Ok, just so long as I know. I'm pretty new to this stove stuff. The poor little thing has been kicking around for a while, and we thought it was time for it to be useful!
Lillie, Without seeing photo's it is hard to determine what the problems your stove might be experiencing. It isn't safe to say right off the bat that your jet is bad. If it is in fact leaking around the jet a simple tightening might be all that is needed. Once tightened your stove should work well and have little problem boiling water. The best way to tell if the jet is bad is to light it, let it burn, ensure there are in fact no leaks and then observe the color of the flame produced. It should be all blue or very little yellow. Which model do you have? Oh ya, welcome. This is a good site and am sure that you and your spouse might well find friends here. Rob
Hello, Lillie and Hubby, Welcome to the CCS forums! Yes, your Radius is a nice little stove, and with a tiny bit of care and upkeep on your part(s), it will function very nicely for good, long time! Please keep us posted as to the progress of your little stove, and yes, by all means, please post some photos! Good luck, take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Thank you for such a nice welcome. The reason we know it is a loose jet is because he tested it. (some arcane mechanic type procedure!) Yes, it might just need tightening, but jets wear with time, they do in carbs and they will in stoves. If we are getting a spanner to tighten the fool thing we may as well replace it. Have a nice new one. The flame is poor, pretty much blue, but quite small. Presumable because a lot of the fuel is exiting from around the jet and not going up to be lit. The tank holds pressure, the burner has been cleaned in an ultrasonic (a good one, left over from tattooing!) There does not seem to be much else wrong with it except a missing wind shield, and a chunk missing out the edge of the flame spreader. We will be trying to get this stuff, but as I got another stove off ebay I'm waiting for that to arrive, so I know what that one needs, then I can try and get all the stuff at once. I'll let you know how we get on with the Radius, and what the 'new' one turns out to be. I think it might be a primus, and with a bit of luck it will be a big one. I have been watching a few stoves on Ebay. What is a reasonable price to pay for one? Because I have no idea. I got the one I bought for a tenner (British pounds) and I have no idea wether I got a bargain, or got done good and proper! That said, no one else bid on it, so perhaps it is just rubbish, and everyone knew but me!
Hi Lillie Value is very subjective. To the collector, then some stoves will be worth more than others. 10 quid isn't a bad price, if it's a runner. That said, if someone asked you "what would you pay for a piece of history, that burns cheapo paraffin, in all weathers, has a soul and is a effective as any camp stove you can buy now?", what would your answer be? Exactly. Oh, welcome, by the way. Paul
They do have souls, don't they! And personalities... They are also worth their weight in gold when there is no leckie! I'll watch them on ebay for a bit. See what other people pay! As it stands I am not collecting them, I just want a couple of usable stoves, and although you are quite right, and value is very subjective, I don't want to be the prat that payed far too much cos they didn't know any better! So, a tenner not to bad then! (assuming it is in some kind of working order) Good stuff!
Famous last words It's a bit of a mystery what people are prepared to pay on Ebay. As Doc mentioned in a post elsewhere, the same stove can get two different prices on different days. Whereas we might pay well for a little-used stove minus its box and assorted extras, other people will only buy pristine stoves in shiny boxes and prickers still in unsullied paper envelopes. Frankly it's a mystery what a stove is worth. My advice is bid low to start off your collection before getting serious about spending money on stoves. Anyway, that's me done for tonight, nos da. GC
