I have an Optimus Nova that I've been trying out a silent burner cap with. It works really good for a few minutes, but then the flames start to disappear from the small holes and then there is just a flame above the burner. Is this under burn? What is the cause/remedy? I wait till the preheat flame is completely out before starting. It's strange because it appears to work normally but does this after it's been running a few minutes.
The stove is pretty new and runs fine with the roarer cap, and I've used the tool to clean the jet, so I don't think that's a problem. I pumped about 25 times, and added more pressure afterwards, did not seem to have any effect.
What does the cap instructions say? I found them here. http://www.bluewaterstove.com/Bluewater_Stove_Restoration/F-Series_Cap_Instructions.html
Hi snwcmpr, I've read the instructions. It indicates the most common cause is not waiting for the flames to die out before lighting. I wait till the flames preheat flame is totally out before lighting, and light the stove from above the burner. It also says that rarely a dirty cap can cause it, due to dirt or particles inside igniting. My cap looks pretty clean, I've blown it out with a compressor, and it looks pretty clean inside. The cap actually has not been used that much.
Spiderwebs and mud dauber nests are notoriously not cleaned with air. So maybe a more thorough cleaning is called for. Hydrogen peroxide is known to break down dauber nests. Spider webs are best removed with an object like wire or a pipe cleaner. EDIT: I see he explains how to clean it in the instructions. Have you looked through the holes with a flashlight? I don't have a Dawg-A-Nova. I don't have a Nova.
I'll try that tonight when I get home. I have not tried using solvent as per the cleaning instructions. Could be something as simple as manufacturing residue/particles inside the cap.
@dgold send an e-mail to bluewater_stove@comcast.net and ask Gary Adams for his advise. He's the guy who originally designed and manufactured your cap. It might save you a lot of trial and error. No one knows more. Ben
@dgold I agree with Ben. You need to contact Gary because he is the one who knows the most about his silent caps. These 3D printed silent caps sometimes aren't cleaned as they should be so there is a possibility of debris inside the cap. If you contact Gary which by the way you really should made sure you send the pictures of what is happening because visual aids really do help in diagnosing the problem. bluewater_stove@comcast.net Cheers, Norman
@dgold Try looking at the stove/cap in the dark. What you are experiencing is a special inside burn that can happen when these printed caps glows/are too red. This inside burn is silent, not roaring/pulsing as a traditional underburn. Depending on the stove you might get back to normal operation with a bit more pressure/opening the valve more. As you say it takes a few minutes, that is the time the cap builds heat to the point where the fuel vapor will partly burn inside the cap due to the glowing metal in the cap. This is not an ordinary burn, more a partial combustion leaving a lot of vapor to burn – often as a halo – over the cap. The smell might be unpleasant due to the partial combustion. This is rather fun to play with but most unpractical in terms of actually using the stove. All the best for Christmas, plenty of ribbe and lutefisk and Hear Hear to longer days, e … yes and pinnekjøtt.
I wonder if this would happen with a pot or pan on it? I do a lot of bench testing, a little different than real use. I had my Primus Omnifuel out Monday night, loud, but with a pot on the burner, pretty quiet then. Duane
@hikerduane A pot on top makes it more difficult to maintain the halo/outside burn. The inside burn may or may not be self sustaining (a bit confusing, but “burning” inside and outside the cap). It might need help for maintaining the right heat level. So a pot on top will not remedy any of this. The only remedy I have found is more pressure forcing the vapor through the cap faster. The cap will still glow. The cap will behave this way regardless of paraffin fuel quality or Coleman type fuel quality. Different caps from same maker or caps from different makers may behave like this and about the same, as long as we are talking printed caps. The stove will operate as intended in flame plate mode, or with a 4200 on it. I have played with this on a Primus No 96 and a No 71. All the best for Christmas, e
Just a followup, I've been in contact with Gary Adams at bluewaterstove to figure out what is going on. There is a possibility that there is an issue with either the stove I'm using the cap with or my method of using the cap. Gary has even offered to pay shipping both ways for both the cap and my stove and to service my stove for free to see if that helps the problem. Gary has really gone beyond what I would expect to help resolve the issue. He clearly cares about his customers. I would highly recommend his caps to anyone.
@dgold Hi, This is great news, so when are you going to be sending your stove with cap to Gary? It's a guarantee he will be able to solve the problem and get your stove up and running. I was just checking out your first couple of pictures and the stove doesn't seem to have the output mine has, so it is a possibility here is a partial obstruction or it wasn't pumped up enough. I have a Nova Nomad stove the burner is basically a Nova the same as yours. This is what your Nova stove should look like on high. Simmer. Mid range. Here's my Nova stove with Coleman Fuel. From simmer to high yours should have a similar output. Here it is on Kerosene. The Optimus Nova stove has a very high output for heat. Please send your stove to Gary and he will get it fixed and running properly. I'd lay odds on it he has offered you a full refund, because that is what he does. He stands behind his products. Cheers, Norman
