Seeing a picture of Doc's 99 reminded me of a little test I carried out, using the Optimus mini pump, they do make a lot of difference in output Using the pump without using the pump The output with the pump is very high, I won't risk that indoors again
looks like it's pushing the envelope on that first photo---could it take that for long without melting something???
Ooooooooooooooooooooooh I can feel the heat over here Lovely flame, Rik. Question: size wise, how does the 99 compare to an 8r ? How similar are they as stoves ? Enjoy THAT Flame Rik Spudz
I always thought that the 8R and 99 were the same stove, the difference being the aluminium case for the 99 versus the steel one for the 8R. Now if someone wants to send me a 99 I will be happy to prove it It's a lovely sunny Good Friday here, a day for a bit of outdoor cooking me thinks ! Keith
Likewise, Keith. Normally, St George's day is the official first bbq of the season, but I'll make an exception today.
Good Morning, Rik, and All, Yes, the Optimus mini-pump does make a huge difference in the performance of any stove on which it is used! It does this, however, at the expense of using more fuel. But, when you are out in the wilderness, have logged 25-30 miles on the trail, the light is failing and you need food, and need it NOW, using a mini-pump will do the trick for you! Also, if you use such stoves in the winter, having the mini-pump might make the difference between the stove actually working, or not working at all. Easier to prime, too, after using the pump. I keep a mini-pump in all the stoves I use on the trail, like my 71, 80, SVEA 123, Optimus 199, and now my Optimus Ranger #10. (Thanks Dag St?le!!) For "normal" use, they are probably not necessary. But, who's to know when you are going to find conditions rapidly heading South on you, and when you might really NEED such help as the pump can offer? So, better safe than sorry. In regards to the differences between the 8R and the 99, yes, they are basically the same stove, with different cases. However, if you weigh them, you will not find much difference between the two. Odd!??! The little 99 offers you the chance to use it's lid as a small pot, something that the 8R does not. I like having both of them, personally, and I'll bet the rest of you would, too! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Hello Doc, I trust you have had a good Easter. I hope you don't mind me asking you a question. Like you I rate the mini-pump very highly and always use it with my Svea 123r and my 8R. Not for extra output but for easier starting. I have a nice "new" Primus 71but my adaptor for using the mini-pump will not fit my '71. Can I ask where you brought yours from? Oh and thanks for those wonderful pics you posted today, excellent photos Regards, Alan
Thanks Doc, For showing the - after all obvious - solution to my Primus 71 preheating dilemma. I'll be taking that stove on a 5000-km motorcycle/camping journey to Spain (light, small, all-in-one, excellent performance, fits very well in side panniers). But I was still wrestling with the preheating arrangements. Taking a seperate meths flask just wouldn't be ideal, weight and space wise, as those two commodities naturally will be at a premium ('light is best, dump the rest' and such) . Never thought of taking my Midi-pump and -tanklid, associating these with Optimus stoves only, untill Doc showed they can be used on the Primus 71 as well. Upon testing one easy stroke with valve slightly open provided quite enough fuel for preheating, whilst the extra power boost surely will be welcome at 2000+ Pyrenees elevations. Looking forward more than ever! Jur
Good Morning, Lads, Thanks, very much, for all the kind words! It's great to have had some free time to do some playing with stoves, and I'm glad the play was interesting to you, as it was to me. Alan, I replaced the fuel cap of my little Primus 71, with one of those that are setup for use with the Optimus mini-pump. That's all you have to do in order to use the mini-pump with the 71 or 80. Works a treat! I actually had such a cap in my parts bin, so I didn't need to go buy one. But, I'm sure you can get one from Base Camp, and if that fails, A&H. If I had an extra one, I'd send it to you, but that one I used on that little 71 was the last used one I had on hand. Spudz, just call me your "Stove Pimp"!! To paraphrase the old line, "So many stoves, so little time"!! Yes, there are so many neat little stoves out there, and part of the fun of enjoy stoves is finding as many of them as you can to add to your collection. You blame ME for luring your into seeking more of them out; I blame Colin Fletcher, and also ROSS, for doing that to ME!!! 8) Jur, I'm glad the tip about using the mini-pump with the 71 helped give you the idea to give that a try. I'm sure that combo will work perfectly for you, and if the temps fall, you will be very glad to have that little pump with you! I've used the pump with my 71's and 80's for years, and find, like you, that it does help with starting. Plus, the increase in tank pressure also helps both stoves work better in the wind, too, though I still like to use a windscreen, or windbreak of some kind, with both of those stoves. Take care, Stove Mates, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
I have used my mini pump with my 123 for years. I wouldn't leave without it. Makes starting in the rain much easier.
Evening, Ewildes, I'm with you on that one, and use my pump most of the time with many of the little Optimus stoves. Works quite well! So, you're up in Snowqualmie? Do you ever get over to Snohomish? I get up that way around once a year, when Sweet Bride and I are working near Seattle. I've found some outstanding buys in the local antique stores up that way. From books to pocket watches to medical implements to stoves, I've found it all up your way!! Neat area, that's for sure! Take care, and God Bless! EVery Good Wish, Doc Mark
I have an ancient Olympus Mini - pump that I used to use on extended bike trips. However, I was always afraid of losing it while biking. As such, I made another pump that works very well. If it is used as intended, it is a very reasonable substitute. If used wrong, it could be described as a disaster waiting to happen. Assuming you have the necessary tank cap, here is how I made my pump. It takes a short piece of 3/8 inch rubber hose. I used a small portion of an old wash machine water hose. One end must be adapted to hold a Schrader valve such as used on auto tires and the like. The ones I bought have a 1/8 inch NPT male end. Get a 1/8 inch coupling and a short ( 1 - 1/2 inch is fine ) 1/8 inch male pipe nipple. Screw the Schrader valve ( air inlet ) onto the coupling and the nippe and push it into the 3/8 inch rubber hose. Mine is about 4 inches in length. You are finished. No clamps are needed as the pressure must be low. The Mini - pump fits onto the tank lid by a friction fit of an " O " ring. Your new pump should be a very tight fit. My tank lid measures about 0.415 " in diameter. Your hose is 3/8 inch and will be a tight fit. But it will fit nicely. Then, with the stove all fueled up, lid tight and ready to go, give it a couple of pumps with your tire pump. Remember, I said I use it on my bike trips. Have to carry a pump. Do not over pump. Two is more than enough. Then apply fuel for pre heating and then light. USE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. Works fine. JUST BE SURE TO KEEP THE PRESSURES LOW. We are trying to make cooking faster, not a personal disaster. The usual disclaimers apply. Blow yourself up and you are on your own. Ken H.
Hey, Ken, Welcome to the CCS site!! What an interesting idea for bikers that already have a pump in their kit!!! I can see that it should work very well, though as you say, you would have to be very careful about overpressurizing the stove and causing a blowout! If I may ask, on what types of stoves have you used this contraption? Does it work with all the stoves on which you've tried it? Does the hose ever get hard and crack, with exposure to fuels? Again, a very interesting concept, which is easy to make, and should work perfectly for the bike trip camper!! Thanks for dropping in, and for sharing your invention! I'll look forward to more posts about some of your bike adventures, if you'd care to share them with us. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
In response to your questions regarding this home made pump, I have only used it on an Optimus 8R. The most important thing of course is to have the fuel cap intended for use with the mini pump. The regular cap will not work. The rubber hose that I use does seem to stretch a bit with use. While I have never had to do so, since the hose is a bit longer than necessary, the stretched portion can be removed by trimming the hose by about a half an inch or so. Nothing critical here. Since the hose is not really exposed to the fuel, it does not seem to be bothered by it. Most important though, keep the pressure low. Nobody wants to end up on the evening TV news as a stove casualty. Thanks, Ken
Hi Ken Welcome to the forum, and what an interesting idea. Any chance you could post a photo of your creation ? There's info on how to post photos here Cheers Keith
Keith I am working on the pictures of this creation. I want to take them outdoors but it has been raining off and on. But I do want to continue to stress that it is imparative that the pressure be kept down. A pressure of only one pound per square inch could shoot a spray of gasolene almost 30 inches vertically. I did once see a reference to a cap on an 8R that had been drilled out and fitted with an air fitting such as to enable it to be pressurized by an air pump. NOT A VERY INTELLIGENT IDEA. Ken H.
As even the smallest bike-air pump would be very much larger than an Optmus midi pump, indeed it isn't difficult to imagine what a full stroke would mean for stove pressure ... Very interesting idea though, and looking forward to pics. Jur
As a bike camper and also one who likes to take the bike out for a day with a stove, a pump isn't a problem, but indeed a full stroke could cause a disaster ! Regards Keith
