Hello! I’ve just gotten myself into stoves and am the proud owner of several now, some new and some old, and one I recently picked up is this Primus 8R. I’ve only performed a rough polish on the mechanicals and cleaned the box with simple green. After a few tanks of fuel, it provides a decent blue flame. I’m new to fettling so I’d rather not dig in on this one, since they appear to be rare. Anyway, finding this site has been an amazing resource for my new hobby. Thanks everyone!
Great stoves I use one most days to brew coffee when working outside especially valuable with social distancing preventing clients giving me tea etc! Cheers and welcome @Jesse Nick
@Jesse A warm welcome here. Lock up your savings - these stoves are known to breed in the dark, when left unattended ;-) You got a nice older version there. If youre not feeling for disassemblying the Safety Return Valve inside the filler cap - you can check its moveable by using a dull ended nail (not sharp and pointy) to check that the valve can move just a little bit when pushed from inside - with a springy feeling. If its stuck - you better disassembly and fix it, as its your safety on the line here. A flameshot would be great.
Thanks everyone! A) I did make a coffee in the AM today with the 8R and B) I haven’t yet checked the SRV but I do appreciate the tip and will do this now, That is... after I finish my beer. I’m pretty happy with it. It feels like a tank. I also just became the owner of an Optimus 99 and like that very much as well. I’ll make sure to check the SRV on this one as well. Both purchased on the Evilest of Bays and seem to work great after degreasing and running several tanks of fuel through them.
Two nice stoves - like both of mines and use them reguraly - especially the 99 because of light weight and the fount doesn’t rattle in my backpack. Now you just need one of the Russian/USSR siblings - the PT-1 ;-)
I have just picked up a PT-1 actually. It hasn’t arrived yet, but I’m liking this designs more than my Colemans or even my Phoebus 625 for their simplicity. Less moving parts equates less failures and I don’t mind packing a small bottle of denatured alcohol. I’ve been to Sweden and their culture exudes this style of pragmatism (as do most of the northern european countries in my opinion).
My belief is that the Russian PT 1 Touristy burns better than the Optimus 8R. See what you think, when you get yours and try it out. Cheers Simon Foxxx
I really like my PT-1. Have a user and a never-used. The latter is up for a trade. It fits the same BD Silence cap like the Optimus 8/99. Its bigger brother - the PT-2 is also a rock stable performer with heatshield and a larger fount.
Harder, I have had an Optimus 8R since new in the 1970s ...it is not new any longer and is hard to undo to clean so it has been left... the filler cap valve does shoot a small flame when used hot... but when in a windy freezing place does not... I surmise from your comment that the valve inside the filler cap needs cleaning...
@Samnoelpearce Hi - judging on your short description - I would have a look at the SRV (I take it, that the filler cap seal is ok soft and not rock hard?) A thorough cleaning of the inside of the SRV and an inspection of the tiny spring and the pip (little bitty rubber/Cork piece) sealing the SRV sounds like a good idea. The leak can be of one or more of these three reasons: 1) the pip is not sealing (Hard) —> replace it. 2) The spring has gotten soft/broken and not leaving sufficient tension —> best is to replace the spring or carefully stretch it a millimeter or two, if you haven’t got a spare at hand. (Fettlebox should have these as well as a new pip) or 3) The fount/tank is actually overpressured (too full?) so the SRV does what its supposed to? If you’ve had that little stove for like 45-50 years - a bit of service is a small price to keep it running for another 45-50 years ;-) (I am betting on that the pip has gone hard and only seals a bit when not under pressure?)
