This morning I found a Craigslist add for an old MSR stove. It looked interesting, but not knowing much about them, I dropped a quick note to Doc Mark asking whether it was worth looking at. His response suggested I go immediately - so I did! Here is what I found... I was able to fire it up (it came with an old Sigg bottle) but the pump clearly needs rebuilding because there was little back pressure, and the flame was pretty anemic. I swapped in a Whisperlite pump and it fired up really nicely (although this pump didn't fit too well). So first of all, THANKS (!!!) Doc Mark for your timely advice! I am going to like this stove a lot. Browsing in old posts here I gather that this stove must date back to the late '70s or so - definitely worth having in my collection. But now I need to ask - are pump kits still available for this model (?) and where might I find tear down instructions for the stove and pump? I would really like to get it cleaned up and running the way it should. And, oh yes, the burner plate seems to fit on rather loosely and the heating pattern when it gets warmed up seems to be off center. Is this normal?
Hey old dude, looks like the flame plate needs a little tlc is all, maybe as has been mentioned in different stove topics, clean up the exit area of the jet if after adjusting the flame plate doesn't help. About all you need to do to the pump is replace the three o-rings and get a pump cup if the old one can't be livened up. Not much to go wrong that I have seen. Welcome to the G club as we would say I guess. Doc should be able to help with the end of the pump where the check valve parts are. Check it out for cracks around the fuel control knob area, I have one I use when I take my G or GK out. I need to replace the hose on all of mine, all 8 or so and one needs the brass plumbing part. I placed my BD midi cap on one of my X-GK's and it runs sweet, quiet. Duane
I have the same stove and pump. Looks like you are missing the plastic tube on the end and the pump check valve. From what I gather, it is impossible to find those style parts now. Hikin' Jim recommended to me that I try one of the new MSR "standard" pumps, which I did and it worked perfectly. I too had tried a first generation Whisperlite pump (gray and black) and it didn't fit right. The new style pump will fit perfectly. There is also a small brass ferule that goes in the large plastic tube, apparently to help hold the tube in the pump. Here is a pic of my pump, I am only missing the tube itself. I have the check valve and the brass ferule thingy. Also here is a pic of the pump diagram, it came from a post on this great forum. [
Greetings, Fuelish, GREAT find, Lad, and well done!!! Contact me off-list, and I'll tell you about rebuilding your yellow pump. I still have not posted that info here, but have it available. I'm a bit afraid of posting it here, now, as we have had some folks who JUST do not pay attention to details, nor safety, and in doing something like this, that will get you KILLED!! So, I have decided to hold that info, at least for now, and only share it with folks that I have met, like yourself, who have shown a real interest to learn, and good common sense. Sorry to be so harsh about that, but I'm just too darned worried about the idiots that sometimes show up and do things wrong, when they really did not have the wherewithal to do those things, at all!!! The rebuild is easy, and with a little legwork on your part, you will be up and running in no time. As to the color of your stove, not all of them were blue. Time spent in the Reference Section, and Reference Gallery would show this, quite easily. Again, too many folks make judgement calls about what is supposed to be, and what is not supposed to be, when they have NO hard information to back up their opinions!! So, word to the wise, read, learn, and educate yourself, and then, and only then, should you form opinions about what is, and what isn't correct!! OK off my soap box....... Again, great buy, Don!!! Talk to me later about your pump. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Thanks for the help, all. I will have to rebuild the pump or purchase a new unit before using in the field. This thing would really work well with a BD cap (read - "old dude" is jealous!). I do not know why the color difference. This one is essentially bare metal. Perhaps it is one of the earlier ones, before they got "prettied up". Re: the price, well, Doc Mark thought it was a good price, otherwise I would not have purchased it. Does anyone have tear down instructions for the stove unit? Looking down in there I can see a cotter key. Guess the bell unscrews just like any other stove. The pad at the bottom is a bit chewed up where the sparking unit is, but other than that there doesn't look like a lot to go wrong.
Hey thanks, Doc. We must have been posting about the same time! Will get in touch re: the pump. In defense of some of us new(er) folks, I must admit that tracking down information in the reference section can get a little frustrating. It is amazing what is in there, it just takes some "forensic" skills, I guess. Every time I root around in there I come up with new information!
Don, is yours anodized but looks a little like bare metal? I have the blue and silver one. I need to find what will clean up the stove without removing any of the anodization. Duane
Hi Fuelish, Great find and when you get your stove up and running please post some pictures. Doc Mark, You are right in not posting information due to the possible negligent missuse of your information. I consider myself one of those idiots you spoke of, but I'm willing to admit to it. I'm still very wet behind the ears so I have to ask a lot of questions. Fortunately there are people like yourself, Gary, George, John, and Stu who have been kind enough to set me on the right path with very good information and encouraging words. Thanks again for all of your good advise. I wish you God's Speed. Cheers, Norman
My guess is that the the surface is anodized, otherwise it would show some signs of rust. Don't know what you have tried to clean it up, but you might give it a mild citric acid bath (what I use to clean up lantern frames). To speed the process, use hot water. It's not too corrosive and that plus a light buffing with 0000 steel wool is likely to bring the old finish back. I notice that my stove appears to have a small piece of the outer shroud broken off between the spark flint access opening and the leg support opening. There is basically one continuous opening from the fuel tube/sparking knob opening through the leg support to the flint replacement opening. In looking at some of the pictures in the gallery, maybe the shroud/leg support assembly was later rotated to provide better structural support (?). What do you think? don
Morning, teckguy_58, You wrote: "Doc Mark, You are right in not posting information due to the possible negligent missuse of your information. I consider myself one of those idiots you spoke of, but I'm willing to admit to it. I'm still very wet behind the ears so I have to ask a lot of questions. Fortunately there are people like yourself, Gary, George, John, and Stu who have been kind enough to set me on the right path with very good information and encouraging words. Thanks again for all of your good advise. I wish you God's Speed. Cheers, Norman " Norman, thank you for understanding why I posted my comments on this odd phenomenon. It was only a few years ago when everyone who came to CCS, really wanted to LEARN something about their stoves. Sure, each person had a different depth of interest. But, we were all united by our common love of stoves, lanterns, and heaters, as well as backpacking, camping, climbing, and other great outdoor activities. We were truly a "family", and to some extent, still are, today. But, in the last few years, I've been troubled to see something which has been completely and totally generated by easy access to the internet: a plethora of "internet experts"! These folks have very little, and many times NO, experience whatsoever! Yet, they show up, ask a few questions, then pontificate on subjects about which they obviously know absolutely nothing!! They do not seem to be here to learn, nor to be a supporting and sharing part of the world-wide Stove Community, but rather to impress by spouting knowledge that they neither worked for through their own hard experience, nor even possess!! This is truly troubling to me, and to others here at CCS whom I trust and consider my Friends. I think this current leaning towards "instant genius status", or "instant gratification" when it comes to stoves, is not only wrong, but it is absolutely and totally dangerous!! Pressure appliances, like stoves, lanterns, and heaters, can and do malfunction, especially when not used properly. Such malfunctions can lead to horrible problems, including loss of property, injury, and even loss of life!! Yet, there is a dangerously cavalier attitude about such things that is all too prevalent in some of today's stove newbies! This makes me want to draw back, and not share such information as could be easily misused by those who will not take the time to learn how to do things properly, nor ever care if they do things in a dangerous manner!! I've seen it happen here FAR too often, in the past few years, and that troubles me more than I can tell you! Norman, it was not at you that my comments were intended, as you have shown wisdom in dealing with folks that can, and do, offer honest and experience-derived information and help to those in need of it. Gary (BernieDawg) is but one of these folks. We have many more of them here at CCS. I do not know what the answer is to this conundrum, but I hope and pray that this wave of nonchalance by stove newbies is short-lived, and ends, sooner rather than later! I fear that this is only the tip of the iceberg, however, when it comes to how folks are these days. Responsibility for being safe seems to be rapidly losing ground to the "I want it NOW" generation, and that will bring us to nothing less than grief and misery, IMHO. As for me, I'll continue to help those who wish to learn from the mistakes I've made in the past, and I will always be eager to learn from those who have made different mistakes than have I. That's what it takes to get "experience and wisdom". NOBODY ever became an experienced and knowledgeable Stovie, without first having made quite a few years of mistakes, and missteps, and learned how to properly do things through reading, experimenting, and paying heed to thowe who know of whence they speak!! I know this for a fact, as I well remember being a Stove Newbie, myself, and this was back when not quite so many folks knew much about such things!! So, plenty of mistakes were made!! 8-[ 8-[ Norman, keep on learning, keep on asking, and when you have knowledge that has come to you through your own efforts and the lessons taught by your Stove Elders, remember to share it with those that have not traveled as far down the path to wisdom and experience as have you. BUT, you must also be careful about exactly what to share, and with whom, these days, sad to say. Hopefully, things will swing back to how it used to be, when we all loved spending time here, reading, learning, asking questions, helping, sharing, and experimenting with the stoves we all loved so much, with less intrusion by those who really have NO interest in such things. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc (who remains deeply troubled by all this, but also very hopeful for the future of stoving!)
Fuelish asked, It looks like Doc Mark's getting you instructions on the pump maintenance, but here's something on stripping down a later MSR model which I think is likely to be of help XGK stripdown I suspect that with the absence of the pre-heater loop on your stove, that 'twist-to-undo' manoeuvre should be even easier on your stove than on the later XGK, once the pan-wires have been removed. John
Ahhh. Thanks for the link! I have just been through 48 hours of computer repair... was sitting at the console when the screen just went white! At my age that can be quite a scare - check for pulse, etc.! Had to shut it down, couldn't see what programs were open nor what I was doing. Three trips to the computer tech finally revealed that my 2 year old flat screen had bit the dust, so I had to find a new one and install it. Have everything back up and running now except the printer which still shows as offline but is attached properly (I think!) Anyway, I plan on pulling apart the burner to clean, will probably buy a new pump for the time being, and when I have a chance to dialogue with Doc Mark will rebuild the original one for authenticity.
OK, here is an update. Just finished cleaning it up. The more I work with this little stove, the more I respect it - Well made, minimum of parts (although I would still be reluctant to try to tear it down/repair it in a tent/at night - where did that cotter key go anyway?). Put it back together and although it isn't in showroom condition, it still looks fine. I have substituted a new pump until the old one is repaired (was surprised that the pump kit did NOT include a gasket for the fuel bottle!). As an aside - I am sure that you veteran MSR users would be amused at my efforts to line up the tank/stove/retainer properly. Must have rotated the various parts at least 6 times before coming up with the appropriate alignment. Anyway, here she is lit up... You can see that the flame is off center a bit. I will keep tinkering with it, but it may need a new jet before all is said and done. A great little stove - now for an adventure! don
Don, It looks like it just needs the jet cleaned? Do you have a jet pricker? If not, see if you can find one or get one from MSR and prick the jet. If the jet is damaged, it may require a new one. The other part of the lop-sided-ness of the flame could be the burner plate. It looks pushed down further on one side, which would make the flame go kiddywampus like that. You may need to raise the flame plate up a bit too. It just needs to be level all around to get an even flame, assuming the jet is in good condition. Other than that, the stove looks in really good condition. Good job! sam
Nicely done! Looks like you did a great job cleaning up the outer body. What did you do to achieve that? I have a similarly-colored G that could use a good scrubbing, but I've been reluctant to do anything (other than soap and water) lest I do some damage. Any tips to share?
Don, a quick aide in lining everything up, I place the catch facing the stove, stove right side up, and the opening on the pump down or the fuel adjustment up so it can be adjusted, then insert the end of the fuel line in the pump after wetting the end, push in, swing catch arm to its locked position on the pump. The MSR stoves are real simple. Duane
