MSR XGK yellow flame

I bought a couple of XGK's in fair condition, and started trying them out.

Stove #1 is an 1984 XGK with an X-K jet.







I tried it first with my ready bottle of 30% white gas and 70% kerosene (that's my favorite cocktail). It burns beautiful with a perfect blue flame, roaring like it should.



Then I switched to pure kerosene (I have a K jet). To my dismay I get a very yellow flame - still very hot and powerful, but definitely yellow. Question: is this a simple case of worn jet, or could there be other causes? I noticed there is no mesh filter in or under the jet.



I get the same symptoms on my 2nd XGK - 1995 shaker with the "all purpose" G - K jet. I don't want to discuss two stoves in one thread, so I will present #2 in another thread.

Note: The stove came with the usual L wire pot supports, which I hate. I replaced them with home made X wires, but that's another story.

Yonadav

 

Hello Yonadav,

Does it burn blue when you place a kettle or pot on the pot supports?

Jeff

 

No!

 

I normally experience yellow or purple-red tips on kerosene. Its the combustion factor. On coleman its always blue flames. I come to terms with the flame color depending on stove type a nd fuel used. Its not a big deal to me.

Ron

 

Ron,

What I get is clearly very incomplete combustion. The flame is 60% yellow with only 40% blue. The same kerosene burns 95% blue with little yellow tips in my Primus No. 1 (and 100% blue in a silent Primus 1S). Unfortunately I do not have other K jets to compare with in an XGK.

Yonadav

 

I think you are going to have to tweak your nipple.

 

Hey Yonadav, as mentioned it depends on the stove in use. Not all my brassies output on kero come out blue. I guess the stove requires a bit of tune up.

Ron

 

A worn jet I would say then.

How is the cleaning cable?

And the filter on the pump?

Jeff

 

Looks like the jet needs replaced. MSR still sells the maintenance kit for it or you can contact MSR for a replacement jet. Mine always burn blue on kerosene unless the jet is worn or the other problem...

What it could also be is a carbonized tube. Maybe a heat a quench would help? If the tube is carbonized, it won't get the heat it needs to vaporize kerosene no matter what jet you put in it.

One more thing. That coil wrapped around the vaporizer tube actually reduces heat. Try moving that away from the flame.


sam

 

If you haven’t fixed this by now you might try lowering the flame spreader plate

 

sheesh, i hope it's been resolved by now, the thread is 6 1/2 years old! geez

 

I agree. I''m now curious if the blue flame was restored as wel.