Hi Folks, Now then, the hole in later model Trangia lower-screens that folk use to pass their gas hoses through is an unusual shape. Was it ever intended to utilise the extra "ears" for retaining items, or is the shape just a quirk of the model? I was going to bore a hole in mine for a gas line and thought I would check out what Trangia did themselves, this is what threw my question up. Alec.
It was made to accommodate passing through various shaped attachments for fuel cartridges, pumps etc & positioning of flexi or rigid fuel lines. For DIY as long as it fits your needs should be fine.
The gas cartridge end of the Trangia gas burner fuel line needs those irregularities to pass its two small ears through the hole. Had the hole been strictly circular it would have had to be much larger in diametre... And you don't want to much of hole area in the windscreen.
If you use an Optimus Nova with a Trangia adapter cup (or other mounting), the control rod shaft sets in the upper "ear" cut out of the opening. It wouldn't fit otherwise.
Very interesting, folks. I wonder why they didn't just make it round or oval though To me it suggested a bayonet type fitting of some description. Live and learn Alec.
There is a few different patterns of holes for alternative burners in Trangias- The current one.... At least one round and oval :-) for the Epi gas Trangia burner And here is one very much cobbled out of the air holes for a chinesium burner. The shape in the lower for the Epi gas burner is very much exactly formed to accomodate the valve and coupling. Aluminium is a very nice material to make modifications. I am pretty sure that a plethora of different patterns can be found.... Might be time for a compilation of all known Trangia lowers (if has not already been compiled and is on this site). Cheers Lars!
