Hi everybody I'm new to the forum and stoves as well. I’ve had been looking for a Peak stove for a little while but never knew too much about the various models. I came across a Coleman 400A and purchased it as it looked in good condition. It arrived yesterday and it looks very robust although the pump felt very loose as if the seal had gone. I spent over four hours trying to get the stove to function but ran into some problems along the way. Firstly I seated a large O-ring in between the original seal and brass spacer on the pump shaft. it provided such a good seal that when the valve is closed and you push the pump down (finger over air hole) the whole thing forces back out. Obviously when you open the valve it pressures the tank. After this was sorted I could hear and see gas bubbling out of the red on/off lever when it’s set to on. I had to unbolt a fixing that the lever runs through and apply some grease. After this there was no leak but who knows how long this will last. The main issue I had was the generator. It seemed to be blocked because when I reassembled the unit, pressured it and opened both valves, no gas/noise coming from the hob (at least there were no leaks). I took the generator off and tried blowing through it, but no luck. I heated it up with a gas cooker and eventually it cleared it out and air could pass through it. After reassembling it and running it through again, the generator blocked as soon as turned the valves. I put some heat gel on the generator and pumped the unit some more and eventually the thing lit. After a minute it simmered down and produces a lovely roaring blue flame! The fuel control on the unit is very good! All of the above was using unleaded as my Coleman fuel hasn’t arrived yet, perhaps this is partly the problem. I understand that this unit isn’t designed to run on petrol. Its makeup looks very similar to the multifuel counter part? Is the difference a wider generator or something? Is it worth me buying a new generator for my 400A given the issue I had above? Thanks for reading!
Theres a bunch of places to find a new generator - thats generally the issue when the 400A's long loop of a generator has been run on regular gas for a long time. the deposits gum it up and it gets choked with carbon - I'd try saoaking it in carburator cleaner for a while and see what that loosens up first but if you still need one i work at a store that carries them new just PM me, they may have some left. if you're getting air through it try adding a bit of carb cleaner to the gas tank and running it that way - sometimes deposits inside can get dissolved that way - if it clogs while running try the cleaning needle, that may be all it takes for a while before the stove gets used to its new "clean" home =) leaking valves can usually just get tightened up a bit pump cups can be either leather or rubber types. I prefer the leather, but either way be sure to give it some oil overall the older 400A are designed to use white gas only but are cracking little stoves
Good work on getting the stove running. Especially in clearing up the generator which is no sure thing. I agree that if you plan to use the stove on a regular basis, especially with petrol in it, it is worth having the spare generator. Amongst its other hazards, petrol will leave deposits in any stove, including the "dual-fuel" Colemans. I assume the Coleman fuel is not cheap for you, and if so, you might check out some of the naptha products other folks on this site use (panel wipe & prepackaged 4-cycle engine fuel, etc.).
Thanks guys, appreciate the replies! I really like the stove and most of all, the regulator for controlling how much fuel burns through the stove. It seems like a great bit of kit that I think I will expand around with a few spare parts and fuel bottles for my trips away. It’s a real shame that it isn’t designed for unleaded, but like you said they all get clogged at some stage I imagine. I’m guessing that unleaded leaves more residues that Coleman fuel. Just out of interest, what is the Cleaning Needle?? I’ve bought some engine residue cleaner so I may leave the generator in a tray. Could I fill the whole thing with engine cleaner and pressure the stove, running the residue cleaner through the whole system? Or would this be a real bad idea?!? I’ve bought a new generator for the unit but it seems a shame to get rid of the old one when I could save it.
Howdy, Cake444, Welcome to CCS, and congrats on getting what I consider one of Coleman's best backpacking and camping stoves, the 400A!! Roars like smelting furnace, and simmers like a baby kitten, purring!! What more can you ask?! You are right, however, in believing that this stove is best run on Coleman fuel, or something called "panel wipe". As your location is "GLOS", I am assuming you live in Scotland, is that right? If not, where do you live? Different locations around the world will offer it's populations different fuels, or similar fuels which are called something different. Please let us know where you live, and we can try to help you find a good local source of the best fuel for your 400A stove. We have used our original 400A for many, many years, without a single mishap, and we've only burned Coleman fuel in it, which is a very clean fuel with very few deposits. OH, and whilst it may appear similar to the Coleman Multifuel 550 stoves, it is not the same in that it will not burn kero, auto gasoline, or any other fuel than Coleman, with any reliability. Treat it right, and it will work like a champ for many years. we use ours with a folding windscreen to help cut down on wind interference, and you might consider that, too, if you want top performance out of your stove. In any case, the 400A is, IMHO, the best of breed of all the similar stoves that Coleman has offered over the years, and far more robust than most of the others. Have fun with yours, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
There is a cleaning needle that clears the jet, it is operated by the long lever on this stove. Sometimes if the stove is running and it seems to loose power, just move the lever from open to close and open again -- it can do wonders. There is some chance that in an older stove the needle could be bent or broken off. If you remove the generator, you should be able to see the needle tip peek out of the jet.
previous owner may of removed it and been unable to put back. Without it the stove will not be reliable enough to take into the bush. It comes as part of a new generator
Welcome aboard the Ship of Pyros(Tm), Cake. Coleman stove have their their own solid (fanatical? maniacal?) following. Now that you have the 400 sussed, you are going to need a companion (or 20) to go with it. Just for choice, you understand.....you know you are a hopeless stove junkie when the longest part of packing for a trip is going through your collection and trying to decide which one to take this time.....you'll see.... There is no such thing as just one, for the weekends.
Appreciate the feedback, sounds like the 400A is a good stove! I found the cleaning needle inside the generator but I’ve got a new generator on its way in the post. I think I will try some heat treatment and engine cleaner on the old one just as a project. I’m based in the UK in Gloucestershire although I’m originally from Scotland. I’ve bought some Coleman fuel online for the 400A so hopefully it will be all set once the new generator arrives. i have fallen into the trap of these burners though and have bought another! I bought the Coleman Exponent dual fuel Feather 442 Stove. I managed to get a brand new one for a good price including a spare new generator for it. I like the option of being able to use unleaded if need be. Seems like a good bit of survival gear and I’m sure both will do well when away shooting and camping etc..
Morning, Cake444, Unfortunately, no. Neither of your Coleman stoves will run effectively, and trouble-free on paraffin. Much too heavy a fuel for their design, and it's best to use them with Coleman fuel, or panel wipe, for best, and long-lasting results. Enjoy them as they were originally designed, and call it good. There are plenty of kerosene stoves out there that will work a treat for you, so why ask for trouble trying to run the Coleman stoves on that fuel? Best to let that one be, Sir, and stick with the intended fuels for both stoves. In fact, I'm not much of a fan of running the dual fuel on auto gas, either. Still tends to clog the generator, and that stove is also best used with Coleman fuel, or panel wipe. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Ah ok, will stay away from paraffin. I have a nice little brass stove for paraffin and it works well with a folding wind shield. It weighs virtually nothing anyway so I could take both if I have the room. Found some relatively cheap Coleman’s fuel and panel wipe to burn through them both as petrol sounds like a last resort! Really appreciate all the advice
Doc's right, of course. Since those generators aren't straight, they can't be cleaned very effectively or easily. It can be done but is time consuming pain in the *&^. The 502, however, will burn kerosene very well with a good preheat and a few turns of brass or copper wire on the generator. But the 502 has a straight generator that's a snap to pull and completely and easily clean. As Doc stated, auto fuel will gum up the generator pretty fast too. So enjoy the 400 on Coleman/Panel Wipe/naphtha type fuels only for trouble free operation. If you don't mind buying generators, auto gas will work. There are several posts here on the cost benefit analysis of auto fuel and more generators vs the higher cost of Coleman fuel and reduced generator maintenance. Check them out. Mike
I think the instructions on my 400A specifically say to periodically tighten the nut behind that lever. Your dis-assembly/reassembly may have fixed it. I'm surprised it ran at all on regular gas. I love my little 400A, hope yours works out well too.
Seems like a good stove. Left it in a tub of engine cleaner last night and it really did a good job of sorting the generator out. Fired it up first time with petrol and ran it for half an hour just to see how it did. Received my Coleman’s fuel today though, plus I’ve got 5 litres of Panel Wipe so I’m all sorted for some clean running! The 442 arrives Monday
Hi guys, Received my Coleman 442 today. Nice bit of kit, very light but I favour the 400 a little more. I’m going to ask a few stupid questions again I’m afraid so I apologise in advance. I have various fuels to use in my 442 including Coleman’s and some Panel Wipe. Panel Wipe being the more regularly used fuel as it costs sod all. Will not be using petrol Are paraffin and Kerosene the same thing? I’ve seen a few videos of people using Paraffin in their 442's? Would this require any special equipment such as heating the generator?
HI, Cake444, Congrats on getting your 442. It's a nice stove, but I prefer the 400, myself. It's power and simmering are very hard to beat, even today. Yes, paraffin and kerosene are the same thing. I would caution you about judging whether something is a good idea, using videos as your guide, Sir! Conservatively, I'd wager that more idiots are posting "how to" videos, than experienced outdoors folks, and that many of the things I see in such videos are downright dangerous!!! The 442 was never designed to burn kerosene, or ANY fuels heavier than Coleman/panel wipe. The auto gas in some countries "can" be burned in the 442, but whether it's a good idea is so hard to say that I'd recommend not doing it. Even though Coleman says you can, you WILL be going through generators like poop through a goose, and who needs that kind of angst and problem!?! As you already have kerosene stoves, it's best to stick with burning kerosene in those, and use only the lighter fuels in your Coleman stoves. Less hassle, less problem, better results all around! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. I've posted this before here at CCS, but here's a shot of my very first Coleman 400A, along with the great little matching lantern, at the CASG#1, some years ago. This little stove is still using it's original generator, and still roars like a lion and simmers like a whisper!! That's after almost 30 years of outstanding service, during which time I only burned Coleman fuel in it! I still trust it with my life, and that's the highest praise I can give any stove, period. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
Generator, hell, Doc, you have so many stoves that you may still be on the first tank of fuel too. LOL! On "how to" videos: I can make a stove burn great on just about anything flammable for 5 minutes. Shooting a "see, it works" video is not the same as long term use. Your car's engine will run fine with transmission fluid instead of motor oil in the crankcase....For a while. How do you think it will hold up though. There are tons of "expert" videos on the web and a healthy chunk of them are done by idiots that can't even read the instruction printed on the side of the stove they're lighting. So best to stick with the recommended fuel for these models. Mike
Appreciate all the help guys! I like the pic Doc Fired up the 442 last night, it was really nice as i boiled up a few pans of water in quick succession. Was very impressed with how little fuel it burns through and how hot it gets. It simmers quite well also but not as affectively as the 400 My 400A is upsetting though, it keeps failing to work correctly with leaks out of the red on/off and black fuel inlet. I had to throw a blanket on it yesterday as the whole thing burst into flames! To fix the issue with the red on/off valve I unbolted it and input a small o-ring around the shaft with a bit of grease. Then tightened it up quite firmly. I have received a new generator in the post today so hopefully I can get the thing working again!
The red fuel control valve nut is just a retainer, not a packing nut. O-ring seals like this shouldn't be cranked down to tight since it does nothing to help seal it. The o-ring should be a snug fit when inserted, or it WILL leak. Get the right size o-ring and inspect the sealing surfaces and you should be good to go. Mike
