stove erupting into fire ball

Discussion in 'Fettling Forum' started by donv, Oct 1, 2013.

  1. donv

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    This stove is giving me so much Trouble i'm about about to toss it. This is the same stove that Doc Mark had running nicely a few weeks ago (optimus 111t). I fired it up last night and it wasn't running very well. lots of yellow flame. I inspected the jet and needle and reset the needle tonight. I primed it up and and the thing just caught on fire. I had no choice but to douse with water. Now that it's cooled down i see that kerosene is just oozing out of the jet hole even when the nozzle is off. What the heck am i doing wrong?
     
  2. idahostoveguy

    idahostoveguy R.I.P.

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    Looks like the cleaning needle is off a click again. If it was leaking before you did any adjustments then there is something worse wrong with the gear and rack of the cleaning needle. You could try running the stove without the cleaning needle and see if it leaks or gives you trouble.

    Make sure to give it a really good prime, like fill the cup completely with denatured alcohol and let it burn all the way out and then quickly light the stove. It doesn't take long for the burner to cool down and get a fireball. Also, if you are trying to light it in a wind, the wind will keep the burner from getting a good prime. Make sure you are out of the wind.

    Silent burners are a little tricky to light too. I usually do all the above and then hold a lighter on top of the burner and light it that way, but your key is a good prime, especially in wind and cold.

    Keep posting, more people will show up and help you get that classic going. It's a nice stove, just takes a little practice and you'll be expert at it in no time.


    sam
     
  3. donv

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    i've been fooling with this stove for a while now and am just having bad luck I guess. Let me ask you a question about the cleaning needle. Should it fit tightly after setting it a few clicks? It seems to be just sitting in there loosely.
     
  4. Doc Mark

    Doc Mark SotM Winner Subscriber

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    donv,

    You have reset your needle too low incorrectly, if the fuel won't stop when you turn the spindle to off! I would suggest that you wait for a CASG, and let us play with your stove. In my opinion, having seen your stove, there is nothing wrong with it, and your problems are being caused by operator error. Being too willing to experiment, when you are new to stoves, can be a real trap, and you can, and WILL make mistakes, some of them dangerous!! So, I'd say, cool your jets, and wait for a concentrated time of learning, and we'll help you learn everything you need to know, with hands-on experience!! Sound good? All will be well. Just be patient, and mostly with yourself. Fettling skills cannot be learned overnight, and if you persist, you may cause more problems where none really existed before. Talk soon, and God Bless!

    Every Good Wish,
    Doc

    P.S. Your needle was set perfectly when I got to play with your stove, or at least close enough to work very well.
     
  5. bajabum

    bajabum R.I.P.

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    Be patient, grasshopper...
    Good things come to he who waits...

    Bwahahahaha ! :lol:
     
  6. donv

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    I hear ya doc, a bit over zealous i suppose.
    Time to start working on my guitars. they won't catch the house on fire.
     
  7. nmp

    nmp United Kingdom SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Don don't get dispirited I am relatively new to this lark having about 2 years experience and still cock things up, I had one stove go up in a ball of flame recently and nearly set fire to my garage!

    So as doc says be patient and double check everything you do using this site as your sounding board!

    Good luck Nick
     
  8. Kristian123

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    I am probably not saying anything new, but when I have stored stoves during the warmer seasons that I use for winter, and test them for the first time before winter comes again, then I use to pressure-test them outside before I fire them up inside. I usually do this by pumping about 40-50 times and run the stove normally by just firing it up and let it run for 15-20 minutes, while i also test if the cleaningneedle works.
     
  9. itchy

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    I like Sam's advice. Pull the cleaning needle out, sort out other issues then think about putting it back in.
     
  10. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Be patient. All of us make errors.
    I have a nice Tilley heater (R1-A) working fine. I took it in the house and was lightly warming up the kitchen area. My wife called to me and said "Is it supposed to be out?" It had just gone out, and was vaporizing kero gas, smelly, into the cabin. We opened doors and windows to vent the place out. It went outside, and it may not come in again until I learn more about them. I suppose pressure dropped enough to let it go out.

    So much to learn and this is a great place to learn it.

    Ken in NC
     
  11. mr optimus

    mr optimus United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Hi Donv, like Doc and Sam say the most likely cause is the cleaning needle needs setting correctly, as Sam said you could all ways run it with out the cleaning needle, to make sure the spindle shuts off correctly and all gears and spindle seat is in working order.
    What you will find running it with out the cleaning needle, is you have a better control of the flame.
    What you can do, what I did with the three I have is, to have the tank empty of fuel, with the regulator in the closed/off position pump a copious amount of air in to the tank, And then feel to if there is air coming out of the jet, and then slowly open the regulator and see how much air comes out of the jet in the different settings.
    If you are happy with the way the needle is set and the regulator shuts of the fuel, then you can then light it knowing it will be able to switch off