Optimus 99 Burner Question

Hi,

To go straight to my question please scroll down to the red text

Just received Optimus 99, buyer beware alright! While it is a 99 case something didn't look right - pan supports just kept flopping below height of burner which was sitting too high to get the regulator key connected (after I had rotated the burner to be vertical). On closer inspection I think someone has just dropped an 8R guts into a 99 case that had been stripped due to:

1. Burner had 8R spirit cup i.e. screwed directly onto burner unit without need for nut and doesn't have thread for screw to go through case into base of burner = burner sitting too high.

2. The tank has indents fro a mounting bracket i.e. as per an 8R tank; the same tanks may have been used on 99 to keep commonality of parts but this one has marks to show that it has been in the mounting bracket of an 8R (This 99 case doesn't have mounting bracket for tank).

3. On closer inspection (using photos in the stove reference library) it is clear that the brackets that stop the pot supports from flopping below the burner are missing (holes are there where they were attached and wear marks).

I can probably "lash something up" to sort the pan legs but I need to get the burner to the correct height and bolt it to the case. So my question is:

Will the nut, bolt and spirit cup designed for a 99 fit onto the bottom of an 8R burner? i.e. is the bottom of a 99 burner (with spirit cup removed) the same as an 8R?

If so I will try to buy the correct bits (but Base Camp out of stock of nut and bolt and don't list the spirit cup for 99).

Ah well, if nothing else I can strip for spare parts and it came with mini pump and some spare bits.

Thanks in advance

R Sqaured

 

I am no help here, but a few good photos can make a big difference in the clarification of your question.

Ken in NC

 

Nope.

99s often had the same tank as the 8R (perhaps all did) but it sounds like you have an 8R burner in an aluminum case.

Any chance of a picture or two -- someone may have an idea for a work around.

 

Look at this:Link

 

Thanks abman, I need to take a closer look at a 99 tonight.

 

Without photos I can't add much except to say the pot supports were produced in two different designs, the latter type had a small bracket made with a threaded insert which held the pot supports for heating. Is the aluminum case stamped "Optimus 99"?

 

Hi Chef,
I will try to upload some photos.

Yes the case is stamped 99.

 

2 different spirit cups The 99 both the early and later models are designed to be fixed by the one nut on the bottom. The 8r is designed to slide in and out. Different part numbers as well

 

Thanks for all the replies guys, I will try to upload some photos.

Yes the case is stamped 99.

And thanks for the link Abman, I had found out the burner was the same as 8r but know that there were several adaptations over the years so wanted to make sure they were comparable. The photos and post on the link answered the question that the "nut" effectively adapts the the burner from 8r to 99 to get the hight right.

 

Thanks Knights84. Yep it has an 8r spirit cup it is finding a 99 cup that is the issue. Know A&H sell them in states but not finding them in UK. http://www.cl

 

Yeah sadly you need to return it or use it as a parts stove or use it to make a whole stove. Do you have the 99 pot supports?

Those are hard to find too.

 

Lucky there are a lot of incomplete 99's up on eBay as time goes by

 

Photo of floppy pot supports. From my research I think my case needs the threaded bracket that ChefBC refers to. My case doesn't have the fixed heat shield but uses the standard curved 8r shield or any lugs sticking out to stop the supports from being useless.


I guess the next question is: Has anyone managed to fabricate these brackets?

Cheers

 

You're missing the built in windscreen too. Which is part of the brackets. part number 2463 IIRC It would be easier to make a 8R than a 99 with that part missing. Sorry

 

Thanks Knight 84. Couldn't find the exploded parts diagram so above great help. Hadn't realised the bracket for the pan supports was part of the windshield. Looks like I will just have to accept I have some spare 8R bits in a 99 box!

Cheers

 

Yeah you have the makings of two great stoves. Sorry don't want to see you chasing unicorns. Do you have the lid of the 99?

 

Yep got the case lid. I am going to pursue making the 99 serviceable, the biggest sticking point is finding the adaptor nut for the bottom of the burner, having problems sourcing that but if I can't get one from Base Camp (out of stock) will ask on here. The rest I should be able to do myself, either by cutting and bending sheet aluminium to make the heat shield (using vice and block of wood) or drilling the case and using stainless bolts and nuts to make lugs as per the later 99s.

Richie

 

If you can get the primer cup issue solved, I vote for your nuts and bolts solution along with the curved heat shield. The sheet aluminum angular wind shield and bracket combo, in my experience, does not do as good a job stablizing the pot supports. Plus, it makes disassembly and reassembly of the stove for cleaning 10x more fiddely.

Keep us informed on your progress.

 

Itchy, thanks for the advice. Nuts and bolts solution with curved 8R heat shield will certainly be the easier fix, as long as I get the wholes drilled in right place

 

You could also form some supports out of a bit of sheet metal and use the existing hole on each side.

It doesn't have to be part of the 8R shield you already have, just two V-shaped scraps to hold the supports up like the one shown in the parts diagram above, except it would be one piece on one side and another piece on the other side.


sam