Hi folks, Here's a breakdown on the pumps utilized in the Primus Himalaya series. Primus has used only two fuel lines during production of the Himalaya series expedition stoves. A thick fuel line used in early production, and a thin fuel line still in production today. These fuel lines were connected to various stoves and pumps, using assorted connections. Though some would say differently, I consider the following stoves to be part of the Primus Himalaya family of expedition stoves. I'll do full breakdowns on each generation in future posts. Primus Varifuel Primus Multifuel Primus Omnifuel Primus Multifuel EX Trangia Multifuel X2 Primus Omnilite Ti The Himalaya series has used three different pump bodies, using five configurations. Here are the five fuel pumps used in the series. The first pump was used only for the original Varifuel. These stoves had the thick fuel line and were liquid fuels only. The brass fuel line connector screws into the right side of the pump. A knob on the left side of the pump controls the fuel flow. When not screwed into the pump, a red plastic cap protects the fuel line's o-ring. The fuel pick-up tube is plastic, and the pump-end is black plastic. The second pump was used on the first or second generation Multifuel (more on that later) and the first generation Omnifuel. It was used with the thick fuel line. It uses the same pump body as the Varifuel pump, but the control knob used on the left side of the Varifuel pump has been blocked off with a brass nut. The fuel line connector now connects to a Lindal valve fitting, as seen on the fuel line in the picture. With the Lindal valve fitting, the stoves could now use gas as well as liquid fuels. It will also connect and can be used with stoves that utilize the later Lindal valve fitting used on the thin fuel lines. The fuel pick-up tube is plastic, and the pump-end is black plastic. The next pump is the black sheep of the group. It is a pump from the first generation Optimus Nova that's been retrofitted to fit the Primus Multifuel with a Lindal valve connector. You can see this pump discussed more here. I believe that it was licensed from Optimus and used in a short production run of the Primus Multifuel, but I am not sure whether it was the very first of the Multifuel range, or some sort of second generation that they quickly gave up on. This pump did have design problems, and Optimus changed it for the second generation of the Nova. I'm not sure, but I think there may have even been a recall issued. Something to do with the pump end. Perhaps there was just a gap in production of the Primus square pumps while starting Multifuel production and they made it up with this pump. I have no idea. If you have one, hang on to it, because they don't pop up too often. The Ergopump was the next pump body introduced, and is still in use today. It's also been used for the Gravity, Express Lander, and Spider Lander or whatever it's called, but I don't find those stoves particularly interesting, and haven't researched them further. I don't have catalogs to check, but I believe it was introduced to the Omnifuel first, and then to the Multifuel and Varifuel stoves shortly thereafter. Here's the Ergopump configured for the second generation Varifuel. These used a thin fuel line and are for liquid fuels only. The fuel line connects to the right side of the pump. To connect the fuel line, you depress the metal tab, insert the fuel line, and a spring provides tension that holds the fuel line connection captive. You have to keep the O-ring lubricated to avoid damage, and no protective cap was provided to protect this O-ring, as in the first generation Varifuel. Fuel delivery to the stove is managed by a knob on the left side of the pump. The fuel pick-up tube has been changed to brass, but the black plastic pump-end from the square pumps is still utilized. Here's the Ergopump configured for use with a Lindal valve fuel line. These were sold with stoves that use the thin fuel line, however, they can also be used retroactively on older Lindal valve stoves that used the thick fuel line. These were used in the third generation Primus Multifuel, the second and third generation Omnifuels, the first and second generation Multifuel EX's, the Trangia Multifuel X2, and the Omnilite Ti. The control knob from the Varifuel Ergopump has been blocked off with a metal plate. A Lindal valve fitting now sits where the fuel line fitting was inserted into the Varifuel Ergopump. It uses a brass pick-up tube and now utilizes a red pump-end. Well, that's all folks! I know it was boring, but it's for reference. Hope it helps!
Boring indeed: just as exciting as a fart in a hurricane. But informative nonetheless; it seems I have a first-model pump that attaches to some dented aluminum Sigg bottles. The burner looks like a Vary- / Multi-fuel (with the loop orbiting the burner bell) while the Primus sticker on the blue bag just proclaims ACTIONsports. Though not a convincing user as yet, it is a keeper, to round off my modest Primus collection. Thank you for the research, regards, Mike
I recently purchased 3 of those original varifuel pumps for Ultimate Naltio project. However they do not have the adjustment knob. Is this relevant? Also I have no fuel hose. Dudes who make the natio stuff make also primus adapters for the 111-series burner, but any idea what connectors would fit? regular varifuel fuel line? Any idea where to get them?
Could you please post a picture of your pumps? I would guess if there is no knob, then you didnt buy a varifuel pump. I would guess you simply bought 3 pumps without a connector piece.
Apropo, Pinky, did you know that there are two versions of the second generation Varifuel pump? There is the one which you pictured, but there is also another one which is a bit different. Here is a link to a picture of both pumps: http://www.outdoorseiten.net/fotos/data/500/medium/PrimusErgopump01.JPG Look closely at the metal tab, its different. Also in the upper left corner there is a metall bar(?). This way the connection to the fuelline is different.
Sorry for the fuss. I remembered this totally wrong and it had the knob. It's the original varifuel thing .
Hey, Pinky, Thanks, VERY much, for this great compendium of Primus Pump Particulars!! (Sorry... couldn't help myself! ) Thanks to your great tutorial, I've figured out which Primus pump I just got from a friend down in San Diego! I'll call Primus to see if they still offer the part I need to get this pump up and running. By the way, it's the pump which came with the Multifuel, and upon further investigation, it's exactly the same as the one with my own Multifuel, bought new from Sports Chalet! So, corroborating evidence has proved your research! Thanks, again, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hey Pinky! You seem to know a lot about these pumps so I figure I'll ask you... Do you know offhand if they all use the same size leather? I'm interested in purchasing a few spares, but Sefa doesn't know quite which one it is. He has 13mm ones listed for the nova... Do you think they're similar enough?
Hey 111T! Yes, the Nova pumps and the Primus pumps (both Himalaya and Ergopump) use the same size leather. I have replaced an old Optimus leather with a new one from a Primus service pack and it fit perfectly. Although the pump lids from Optimus and Primus have different threads, the tubes are similar if not the same diameter. Oddly enough, I have a pump plunger from a KAP Arctic (only the plunger and nothing else), and it fits into both Primus and Optimus tubes as well, and will actually screw onto the Primus ones! It fits especially well onto an Ergopump and looks and functions even better than the stock plunger. I'll try to post a picture of it this weekend. Anyway, yep! If Sefa has some Nova leathers, they should fit a Primus pump fine!
I'll jump into this long dead topic in hope that you might be able to help. I have a varifuel with an argo pump, my problem is that I can not find a part number or specs for a particular o ring. The o ring in question is the one that seals the nob side of the tap at the top of the pump. If you know the part number I would be most grateful.
Welcome to CCS. Do you mean the ERGO pump? A photo of what you mean would help, when descriptions can be mis-leading. I believe there are several versions of that pump. You can go to an auto parts store and find a "Fuel Safe" (Viton or Nitrile) o-ring of the same size. You may find a Ergo Pump maintenance kit available for purchase, after a search. Amazon has this .... Link Ken in NC This may be best moved to the "Stove Forum".
Folks, I have an omnifuel stove, and over the past 7-8 years I've had several incidents with several Egropumps (last type described above) that started spraying fuel through a crack developing at the seam between the aluminum pump cylinder and the crappy plastic housing. Bewarned, they are not safe at all, it is not a question of "if" they will fail, but "when". I've been lucky not to have been burnt alive since I occasionally use it on coleman fuel in the tent (not anymore), but since I really like the stove itself (especially with BD silent cap) and have a box full of accessories for it, I decided to find a new (old) pump instead of just throwing it away. So I went online, bought an older omnifuel model with the pump designated as type two above, with metal housing and Lindal valve fitting. Problem is; the fitting does not have a spindle like the Ergopump! I cannot get the fuel line to point in desired direction unless I do not fasten it tightly, forcing it half a turn past tight would probably damage the threads... Any tips? Is there any Lindal fitting with spindle I could use for this pump? If I can't get a decent setup with this pump, I guess my final try will be a Nova pump with a custom thread adapter. Kjetil
I don't understand, because I have the same pump for my Himalaya Multifuel, and that fitting is swiveling.
Aha. I've got a bad fitting on the stove I bought! I got kind of surprised since it looked like a swiveling fitting. I'll contact bluewater or someone with a spare fitting that swivels then. Thanks!
Old post revival Hi everyone, Thanks for the thread. I'm the proud(ish) owner of a first generation Omnifuel. It worked pretty well for years (apart from the spindle O-rings which kept perishing) The pump looks like the second one in your picture. It's still working fine on gas, but for liquid fuel it has developed a leak from the Lindal valve assembly, which I've removed (see photo - it was stiff as hell to undo). It seems to be a sealed unit which defies being stripped down further. I'm pretty sure it's leaking from the fuel-bottle side of the valve. From around the black circle that is partly contained by the rounded aluminium Do you think this can be replaced as one unit? If so, then where and what is it called? The base camp catalogue doesn't seem to stock anything by that description. I'd far sooner re-use this pump, as I've heard mixed reports on the ergopumps Many thanks in advance Sandy .
In the meanwhile I got a second generation aluminium pump, it weighs 133 g (instead of those 102 g the new ErgoPump has). However, unfortunately the brass fuel filter that will be dived into the fuel within the bottle has fallen of the pump fuel pipe. Which glue should I use to fix that?
