Merry Christmas Stove-Folk! First post here from Basil, in Spokane, WA. I've been lurking here off and on for about 10 years, since I rebuilt my 8R. What a great source of information and comraderie! I decided I too needed a kero-burner, and found a 1930 Primus 96 on the Bay. I've replaced the seals and pump cup, but haven't touched the NRV. I fired it up for the first time yesterday. After a couple of flare-ups, probably caused by over-pumping too early after priming, it settled into a nice blue flame. What concerned me, though, is that it seemed to need pumping about every 15-20 seconds to maintain the flame. Is this normal for a 96? Keep in mind ambient temperature was 30F/-1C at the time, which may have been a factor. What would be a normal burn time for a typically pressurized tank between pumps? Thanks for the help, Basil
Hi Basil and Welcome to CCS! It sounds like you have a leak. It is not normal to pump that often. First and most simple test: Is there any kerosene in the pumptube? If Yes, you have to service the NRV. Do you manage to build a solid pressure in the stove when pumping? If not, your pumpleather needs attention. To check for leaks elsewhere, empty the stove, close the safety valve, pump it up with a finger blocking the burner hole, submerge the stove in a bucket of water. You may get some bubbles from the pump (air in the pumptube), but you have tested the NRV already, so don't wxpect a steady stream. If you get any bubbles, that is where the leak is. Usually it will be either the base of the lipstick burner or the tanklid... Happy hunting!
I've even replaced the pump cup after priming a 96 when it would not pressurize the tank. Enough thermal feedback to keep it pressurized while I quickly replaced the cup. Duane
Duane, I'm originally from Greenville, in Plumas County, California. Is that anywhere close to where you're living in the Norrthern Sierra Nevada? Basil
Those 96 stoves are great.Yours has like a leak for sure. A self rising pump is a sign the nrv leaks as of course fuel in the pump tube. Maybe try a new lead washer under the burner tube? The old one might have lost its softness.
Basil, I live a short distance from Greenville. Met another guy who was from that area maybe 10 years ago, four wheel bob, a well known guy out of the bay area. He can walk but uses a wheelchair. Snwcmpr, a member here is from the western Nevada area. Duane PS, I collect the 96,s, have some really old ones.
@hikerduane I used to be from Western Nevada, as well as a lot of places out west. I am now in Western North Carolina. (NC)
When I lived in Hawthorne, I hunted Dove, Quail, Chukar, some folks did not know there were Quail there. Lots to do in Nevada. Duane
Lots of legal stuff. Hiking, backpacking, skiing, desert fun, mining, etc. I plan to go to Great Basin soon. Looks awesome.
If you have a leak at the base of the riser tube, aka 'the lipstick' aka the vapourising tube, a quick fix is to wrap the threads in plumber's PTFE tape, though to do the job properly you should renew the lead seal
This is a follow-up about my leaky Primus 96, that would not maintain operating pressure. I tried removing the NRV with an inexpensive removal tool, and the valve just laughed at it. The slotted end of the tool ended up thoroughly mangled; the NRV still looked pristine. Since I had some other stoves queued up to fettle, I bit the bullet and bought one of the high-dollar NRV removal tools from Japan, on eBay. A work of art, and that valve popped right out! Replaced the pip and washer, refilled the stove, and it burns like seven devils. Thanks all for your help and advice. Basil
