I can't believe this. I was test firing one of my Optimus 99s and was having a little trouble getting it lit. So, I decided to clean the stove up and also remove the jet to see about cleaning inside the burner body. I went to turn the jet with the jet tool and off came the rest of the burner minus the tank-to-fuel tube. I couldn't believe my eyes as the burner separated from the tank tube. Has this ever happened to anyone, ever? I guess the tube got really old and brittle after someone really got some use out of it. I would beware of similar issues on stoves like the Optimus 99, 8R, etc. sam
Sam, the tube may have had some micro cracks and just decided to separate. My suggestion is to replace that tube and silbraze a new one. Never happened to me yet. But there is always a first time to e verything. Ron
i know the 99 burner head is tapped for the bottom screw, but is it not possible to replace w/an 8R burner head? (speaking as a stovie w/absolutely no silbrazing fettling skills)
I remember now. Moments before, the stove was lit up but flame was quite weak. I had a mini-pump installed but couldn't build any pressure. I had put on a new gasket and pip in the old cap but that didn't help any. The mini-pump came from a working system. So, now I think I know what was really wrong. Funny thing was, there were no flames coming from that area. Weird. The wick had no carbon build-up and was relatively clean so the stove wasn't clogged, as far as I know. It could be clogged inside the burner, though. I guess I now have access to the internals of it now! The 8R burner has a threaded bottom for the spirit cup. I have a spare 8R burner. I suppose I could do something with that. sam
I've had some comments on replacing the burner on the 99 with an 8R burner. The problem with doing that is that the 8R is threaded on the outside and is a little taller than the 99, which has a hole in it and is threaded in the hole. The height could be another concern fitting everything in the case and closing it. With the 8R burner, the case may have trouble closing. Haven't done any measurements to be sure. Here's the 8R compared to the 99. You could replace the burner but you wouldn't be able to fasten the stove to the bottom part of the case, so it would just flop around. This is really the only way to keep the burner attached to it. Here are the 8R and 99 burners compared. The 99 is not as tall as the 8R burner. I'll get around to getting the pieces back together again. All the king's horses and all the king's men are on a tea break right at the moment. sam
Unscrew the part that has the red 99 in your photos. It has female threads on both ends. It screws onto the burner base(the same as the 8R spirit cup), then the screw from the outside of the 99 case works to secure the burner. Think of it as an adapter. Am I crazy?
You are not crazy. That will work! Hadn't noticed that before. But, then again, I'm still going to fix the 99 burner. sam
Sam, I absolutely agree, there would be no point(or fun, for that matter) in Not fixing the burner. I just checked Here and the burner for both the 99 and 8R is listed as #2004. Have fun sil-brazing(?) your burner. Jim
Hey, Sam, Keeping in mind that I owe you one (or more!), if you want a brand new 8R burner and new wick, minus it's jet, burner bell, and spirit cup, I have just such a critter in my burner box, and I'd be happy to send it to you on February 8th, when your own box of MSR stoves is finally returned to you. What say you, my Friend? That way, you can remove the part that Abman47 mentioned, add to the new 8R burner, along with the burner bell, spirit cup, and jet from your knackered 99 burner, and VOILA, ready to go!! Sound good to you? I have two of those burners, and would love to send you one of them!! Let me know, and I'll make a note that it's yours. You can still mess around with silbrazing your old burner, but the pressure would be off (pun definitely intended!)!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
OK Doc! Sounds like a plan! Your offer is too good to pass up, my friend. Although, I'm going to give the broken burner a fix that will beef up the tube immensely. I've been working on it and preparing it. It's going to be good, once I get there, I hope. (There's always that possibility that my fix won't fix.) Your kindness will be well received. Thanks, sam
Howdy, Sam, Outstanding! It's a done deal, then, and when I ship your box on the 8th, I'll be sure to include that new 8R burner and wick. I still owe you, though! Glad to help, just as you have helped me, my Friend! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
