Hi fellas, just to keep you all in touch with this saga, new kit arrived for stove yesterday. As you said Doc I changed all the workings and hey presto one super litte stove is working very impressively. Before I fitted the new needle and spindle it was very apparent that the meshing of the two was nice and tight. The old pair of parts the teeth of one would not properly mesh together. Howsoever the little beast performs as it should and with the aid of a midi pump gives a very satisfying lions roar for such a little stove. I feel this is a bit sad that all not well with a brand new stove and as it has cost almost ?19 to have the repair kit sent out. I shall try on Monday to recoup all or some of this from my supplier/Optimus tho I have only a faint hope. Upside at least I shall have a few spares fro both my 8R and 123R Svea which is arriving next week. Thanks again folks, will be around and about as after many years have now dicovered that I have been a stove gatherer in denial. Great site, great people keep it up fellas. All the best to you and yours, Thomas
Hmm, what I (only) have is a midi pump, so it's high time to score one of this mini's as well ... Sorry Doc, no photo access right now, but i what I meant is just that the inner (pressure relief) tube was screwed in so far that it was flush with the outer (pump) tube, probably in an attempt to close down a leaking relief valve. This was of course easily corrected by fitting a new (nitrile) ring, so now the inner tube is back again at its normal position, that is the upper (unthreaded part) protruding from the pump tube. Jur PS did you get my PM?
Could recut the teeth in the Cleaning jet or maybe they put the wrong on in at the factory. If you have no joy with the seller they should be serviceable for another stove Like you say with a bit of work with a small file a keen eye and patience. But I suppose you'll have to wait to cross that bridge when it comes. Ask 'em to check against another set or did you with the new ones? Anyway just a thought. Good luck . The folks around here have about 50x at least more experiance and knowledge than I on stoves at this point in time I'm only just beginning to undersatnd the basics.
Hi fella, long ways from here! Thanks for the advice. Only checked the old to old and new to new. I suspect that the cleaning jet was the culprit, for when I fitted the new jet it sat snuggly in the recess. The old jet seemed to have a lot of room to move around. If no joy in returning, will try filing with keyhole files or dremmel cutter. My sight is pretty loused, so work of that nature is always a last resort. Just had another brew in the shed and alls well so will stow for a while. Have new project on way here tomorrow ex e-bay. Really beginning to enjoy this. Keeps me in shed out of Herself's sight. Boy do I miss my little boat ! All the best , good health and good luck to you and yours Thomas
Good Morning, Thomas, Outstanding news, Lad!!! Way to go! =D> =D> I'm very glad your little fellow is back to his robust self. It's too bad you had to go to all the trouble, not to mention the expense, of having to work on a brand new stove. If you can get some satisfaction from the Seller, it might be good to try, that's for sure. But, be prepared for the door to be shut, as many dealers now days seem to just want sales, and do not offer anything even close to service!! I miss the old days, when "service after the sale" was the normal way things were done! But, the most important thing is that your little stove is happy and healthy!! Again, great job in getting it all sorted out!! Have fun with it, take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Good morning Doc, thanks again. Have Optimus 00 in post to collect tomorrow so new project under way. Trying to convince a very close relation these stoves make wonderful display items. Not sure that I'm winning as now we are retired I believe we are to go 'minimilist' which seems to me that my 'parafinalia' accumulated over the years are in grave danger. Trying hard to start collection even if there are a number hidden in loft out the way of prying eyes! Best regards to you and yours, Sunday dinner smells nice but missing that outdoor stove aroma awwwwww! All the best Thomas Byeeeeee
Hi, Thomas, You are very welcome! I think most of us get a huge charge out of working on our own stoves, helping someone else work on theirs, or in having someone help us on our own!! All fun, no matter which way you approach it! If you've not had an Optimus 00 before, be prepared for love at first lighting!! Grand little stoves, and one of my favorites!! Congrats on scoring one for yourself. As to your Bride's opinion of stoves, maybe it would help if you actually cook something on one of yours, for the two of you to enjoy. Then, she could see how a few, otherwise quite lovely stoves, could be both adornment AND practical addition to your new minimalistic lifestyle. Hey, give it a shot. Just might work! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Hi Doc, after 35 yrs of hiking, camping,caravaning. I do believe the 'Bride' has seen it all, from prawn crackers to hodge podge (all food at end of camp cooked in one pot. Children loved and thankfully lived to become grown up pillars.) Daughter carries on this tradition with her guides much to their parents amusement. Now if I could just convince Herself to move her Piggin collection from the display cabinet my litte friends will have a lovely home. I wish. Must go chow call, regards Thomas
Hello, Jur, Thanks for the update on your pump/cap situation. I'm still not "completely" clear on it, but at my advanced age, I'm sometimes more than a little "thick". Some would say I've been that way all my life, but they are lying bastar........, er, I mean, they are mistaken!! For your midi-pump, have ever needed to lube it, or has it gotten sticky at all? If so, you might try powdered graphite as a lube. That stuff works wonders on the Optimus pumps!!! If you can't find one of the little mini-pumps over there, let me know, and I'll keep an eye peeled for one for you. I see them, once in a while, over here, at swap meets, and such. My apologies for not getting back to you about your great PM! Sweet Bride is working out of State, but will once again be home, tomorrow night. I told her about your ideas, and she likes them a lot, as do I. But, we wanted to discuss things between us, then contact our other friends to see how your ideas would work for them, too. I'll send you a note about it. But, I was hoping to discuss all this with Sweet Bride, before I got back to you. However, I should have let you know that your PM did get here OK, and for that I apologize! Sorry, old age, and all!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
The mini pump works fine in the 8r's, 123's etc, but the midi is better in the 199 burning kero. The mini just gets too hot to handle when the stove is lit, the curve of the midi means you cam add pressure when the stove is lit without loosing your fingertips
Hi Doc, (as I emailed already don't worry, all's fine over here!) My Midi-pump is doing OK and yes, easily overhauled by screwing it apart and greasing the moving part with graphite or such. However I do (badly) want a mini-pump as well, officially to complete my Optimus 199 set up (OK Rick, I'll take my chances with them fingers!), unofficially because it's just another indispensable item to hoard. So if you Doc (or anyone else reading this!) knows of a mini he can do without himself, please count me in. Jur
Good Morning, Jur, Well, today is your lucky day, Mate!! I just went down into the Hobbit Hole, and checked my parts bin. I found one very lonely little Optimus mini-pump, which would love to have a new home!! It is an old one, but still has it's somewhat faded decal, and works a treat. I believe I added some powdered graphite to it, several years ago, and haven't had need for it, since then. I can find a good used one, should I end up needing another, much easier than can you, I would think. So, if you want this little guy, he's all yours. Just PM me with your complete name and mailing address, and I'll bag him up and get him on his way to you. Hope you enjoy him, and remember what Brother Rik told you about burned fingers!! Rik's right about that!!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Hi All, The conclusion on the mini/midi topic seems to be that the mini is straight and the midi curved. I am now going to add some confusion to the topic I have some Optimus 10 rangers, in fact three They came with midi, or was it mini, pumps This photo shows two of the pumps. The pumps are identical, except for the labels. One is mini, the other midi. Honestly, I have not changed the labels Pleace anybody, help ! [-o
Anyone have a source for the MIDI pump caps? I have two good pumps but the lids went bad with the springs. I replaced the gaskets but that did not help. Thanks, Andrew Large
Base Camp: Part No. 2912; Tank lid for midipump, complete; ? 9.95 Only place I've seen them separately. A&H is probably worth a try.
Hey Arne, I love that, what a quandry. Any possibility that the upper pump in your photo is the older of the two, and had a 'Mini Pump' label attached to it, by mistake ? Any one know the chronology of the Mini / Midi pumps ? Was the Mini produced before the Midi ? Were they produced in parallel ? The important thing, though, is that they do their intended job. Do your pumps still pump ? Keep on Pumpin' ! Spudz
well instead of starting a new thread i'll revive this one. i just came back from a long weekend of camping, all i had to cook on was my trusty lil 8r and my propane bbq (and then the campfire as it turns out) the lil stove works quite wonderfully, i have been impressed how well it will cook eggs and bacon, heat up a lil water, fry my onions and everything small like that. it is however, a little underpowered for boiling a full kettle, (it will do it, just takes time), what would be the best other white gas/ "meths" stove that would work a little better. optimus xxx?
Agreed, any of the 111 range of stoves. But if you love the 8r, your would really love a 199 This is a multifuel 111 http://cgi.ebay.com/Optimus-Backpac...3QQihZ018QQcategoryZ87136QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
i guess i'm too new the the classic stoves to know what models are what, i'll have to do some more reading. i really love that picture of the 199 the burner on it seems to be huge! what is the physical size compared to the 8r? what about tank size/ fuel consumption? will it boil a kettle decently quick?
