I think the jet is dirty, maybe a bit of something blocking it. I would take the jet out and carefully (so it doesn't squirt back into your face) clean it with carb cleaner.
I'm gonna need a better pricker. I'm using a piece if wire that believe it or not may be too thin. This would reduce flow in my opinion.
@Detroithiker What was the condition of the old wick? Pieces could have come loose and are now plugging the jet. If you have the small pump you could remove the jet, give it a few pumps and see if fuel comes out. Mike
No, I tried that about 2 hrs ago and it did not work at all, I think the fuel tank is dirty and that dirt is clogging up the jet, but I can't even imagine fuel coming out from just the heat of my hands, if you folks say it works then I will try once the fuel tank dries out from the cleaning, got a fan pushing air through it now.
Though I don't usually prime my 123 with the handwarming method, I have done so several times and it works fine. It will indeed start to flow from hand heat-- so volatile is the naptha.
Have to be patient using your hands to warm up the tank and fuel. You can get crud numerous times in the jet, sounds like you are going to clean the tank. If you take the wick out again, see if you can pass a strand or two of electrical wire thru the vaporizer. My 123R needed a little attention. Duane
The hole into which the wick fits is not the hole you need to clean out. At the top of that tube is a small hole that leads up into the spindle/cleaning needle chamber. I suspect that is obstructed.
That's the area that I was referring to and why you would need small wire strands. May be carbon in there or part of the old wick. Dont see how junk would be a issue in the fount, the wick would filter them out. My friend Keith already mentioned he pressure checked the fount, either the vaporizer or nipple is getting clogged. Running a wire thru the innards may loosen crud, but it still may need to be flushed out. My gifted 123R showed those symtoms. Duane
first Kero stove i fettled was an Optimus 45, had a flame like what you have there with your 8R. the nipple was nearly plugged up completely on the 45 with soot. pricked with the wire pricker and she was off to the races. first 8R i had needed a new fuel cap gasket, same flame as your 8R. could be lots of things like a leak around the spindle or cap gasket but seems like it has to be the nipple. sometimes it is something obvious we just miss seeing... buzz
i do know this, once you achieve the blue flame you seek with your 8R, there will be a smile on our face. this is my ratty 'ol (old) embossed 8r from Alaska. previous owner must've used it like a rented mule. as you can see still running after all these yrs. all it needed when i received it was a new cap gasket. o.k. i was lucky. but i learned nothing except how cool these little stoves are and how much i ❤️️ it. you inspired me to get it off the shelf for a hot cup.
I may vent my irritation here and I may ask a lot of questions but I am enjoying the journey. Learning the stoves that I dont get to see much in the US is really cool. I had some growing pains with my 123 and know I understand that one pretty good.
I think it's possible this has a bad jet or it really need its needle replaced, I'm told they run fine with out it but this one just needs something I have not figured out yet.
Have you cleaned the jet? I heat mine with a torch to burn off the coke. Have you run a wire from the fount tube through to the outlet? Something is plugging the flow.
I hope (know you will) ger er going. I much prefer the 8 R to any standard 123 or R, and I like the convenience of the built in cleaning needle. Now, you throw the 123 into the Sigg set and the 8R starts to lose a bit of charm. I still think it is a great little stove.
