About time another of these stalwarts got recognition with a Stove Ref Gallery entry This example's suffered some paint loss ... and following its most recent expedition ... ... it's due a strip-down to put that right While I have the pump removed, I intend to replace one of those plastic pump cup washers with one of CCS member Sefaudi's excellent leather replacements John
i just finished doing a small repair on one of these.a give away from a friend at work who was not camping anymore i also got the plastic case that comes with it.this was some years ago and because it's to heavy for canoe tripping it sat unused. a few years ago i thought i would use it for a overnight float on a local river but when i tested it out i got a spray of gas from around the nut on the generator.something was really wrong because even a bit of pipe tape around the threads did not help so it went to a top shelf for over 10 years. a few weeks ago i was cleaning up the camping gear area and got it down for another try and had the same problem.this time i bought a new generator from Old Town and swapped it out. works like new now,i have no idea what the problem could of been as the threads on the old generator looked ok.anyway another old stove back in service.
Curious problem Dave, because the generator jamb nut has the effect of jamming the flared end of the generator onto the conical mating tip of the fuel on/off control (the one with the red control lever) and it seems pretty failsafe. Your success on swapping the generator suggests a nick or pinhole in the generator in the vicinity of that joint I guess. Here's the generator with the on-off control valve (left) and the jet pricker and fuel metering control at right (black contol lever) In his post in the Stove Ref Gallery on this model of Coleman, Idahostoveguy pointed out the theoretical weakness of this generator arrangement on the 508, with a lack of lever-controlled cleaning function (and no opportunity to draw a scouring wire manually) through most of the length of it. There's just this inaccessible core in there ... ... and a pricker that merely works on the jet and isn't attached to a scouring wire running the whole length of the generator as in some Coleman designs Having said that, poor fuel (auto gas) can kill off even those generators with a better cleaning facility and decent fuel must have been used in this stove judging by the fine condition of what I believe to be the original generator. The fuel on/off functions with a plunger raised and lowered by the red control lever ... ... operating on a schrader valve in the fuel/air pickup tube On older Coleman products with a brass fuel/air pickup there's a thin steel rod core that self-cleans the fuel pickup hole and has a fuel metering function too. On this there's a small hole with no cleaning wire and there's just the fuel/air metering control (black lever) at the other end of the generator - which works well it must be said John
I had the same problem this past summer and found cracks on the flare of the generator (where the nut tightens on to the generator). Fixed by a new generator. Ernie
After reading Ernie's post about finding a crack on the shoulder of the generator flare I thought I would have a look at the part I replaced. Yup--a very fine crack right where he said it would be. I tried for a photo but my snapshot digital will not get in close enough for a good photo. The crack is so fine that I had to run my fingernail across it to feel that it was a crack and not just a line caused by the nut. One thing I did notice was that the sharp end of the spring that runs thru the generator was touching the inside of the flare just about where the crack started. So problem fixed and was good to see it was a real problem just not a loose or miss-threaded nut.
I know this is an old tread, but I´ll give a go anyway. @presscall is it correct to asume that if the black adjustment lever leaks (I´ve tightened the nut as much as I dare) then the generator is inserviceable? I can´t get the bloody thing out and I don´t fancy the auxilary flame at the lever Mads
@Danskeren Getting hold of a 508 generator would be the simplest solution Mads if you could locate one. I’d have a go at fixing the leak anyway. The way I’d go about it would be to remove the black plastic tip from the lever (unscrews or pulls off, I’m not sure). That would make it possible to apply blowtorch heat to the nearest bend in the lever to the packing nut, getting that portion of the lever up to red heat. While heated I’d straighten the bend. Cooled off it would enable the packing nut to slide up the lever, well clear of the packing. Taking a strip of Terry (Trojandog)’s graphite sheet, cut off with scissors, I’d roll and pack it into the cavity. Bear in mind that the material cracks but it doesn’t prevent it working - simply poke the fragments into the packing cavity and when the packing nut is screwed back in and tightened up the graphite seals really well. It should be possible to put the bend back in the lever without difficulty, then replace the plastic tip on the lever. My thoughts anyway. John
@presscall Thanks for your thoughts, good idea, the stove is actually in mint condition otherwise, burns and simmers like combination of a 502 and 533 so whats not to like :-) I'll need to get in contact with the gentleman for the graphite as I haven't got any. Mads
@Danskeren Send me your address Mads in a ‘conversation’ and I’ll send you some - no charge of course. John
@presscall John it is extremely nice of you, but I can´t do that. I will be needing more for other stoves so I´ve ordered 2 sheets. Your advice and generosity is much appreciated. Thanks!! Mads
@Danskeren Of course Mads, I understand. The graphite sheet is useful material to have in stock. I used a few strands just recently to pack an Optimus regulating burner spindle. Good luck with the 508. John
@presscall So I found the graphite in the mailbox today, it already saved my first generator :-) Thanks for the tip, it was very easy buying of Trojandog! On a sidenote - and sorry for not have taken a pic of it. I followed your advice about heat and straightening the lever. There were still a slight kink on the lever so I had some troubles getting the nut back... So I accidently put some force into the project, and then suddenly I had the valve assembly apart. I wrapped some graphite around and fitted the valve assy back in and now the stove works with only one flame Being a single burner stove I recon that´s not too bad Mads
