I recently bought a brand new Brunton Vapor AF. Got it at a decent price from Moontrail. First and foremost, here's a flame shot: The stove looks well made, folds into a compact package, allegedly will burn any fuel (so far only tested with kerosene), and is easy to set up and use. There is a lot of similarity with the XGK-EX and the Primus Omnifuel (although I do not have either). The burner design is somewhat unique. It only has one jet for all fuels. The outer burner cup can be twisted left or right, changing the air intake openings of the inner bell. Twist left for liquid fuels, twist right (smaller openings) for Gas. The flame spreader is held in place by a spring, making it very easy to remove, but also to get lost. The three swivel pot rests fold out to form a wide and stable base, and are held together by a hinge above the burner. This makes the contraption very sturdy and stable, but restricts access to the jet. I am afraid it will also prohibit the use of a silent cap, unless a very slim one is made. The fuel hose is flexible, and attaches to the pump with a standard gas canister thread (presumably compatible with Primus and other pumps). There are two valves - main valve near the pump, and simmer control on the burner. The pump is plastic , similar to the MSR grey pump. However, it has a "flip tank to turn off" system like the Primus pumps. I tried the stove a couple of times with kerosene. I primed with alcohol (there is a priming pad), but the burner was still not hot enough when the alcohol burned out. Priming sort of continued with some liquid fuel squirting out and generating soot, but soon things stabilized and I got a beautiful, strong blue flame (with only some hints of yellow). There is more yellow in the flame when you turn it down to simmer. I love the "flip tank to turn off" system. This is one big advantage over the XGK. I hate the spilling of fuel from the fuel line of an XGK when I disconnect it, especially when I use the foul smelling kerosene. All in all, I feel this is an excellent stove, although I still have to give it more use. I don't use my stoves in extreme conditions (low temp, high altitude), so I cannot compare it with the aces in these environments. Yonadav
Contratulations Yonadav, those are also fine stoves. Yup, mine works a treat with all types of fuel and the only thing to adjust is sliding from gas to liquid on the feedtube although I did not notice much difference. Ron
Yonadav, I use the flip stop technique on my MSR stoves frequently. Is there a reason you can't use the flip stop on your XGK? HJ
Thanks for the tip, HJ. The MSR pump has a tab that locks the metal block from rotating. In order to flip the tank, you have to unlock the retaining clip and pull the fuel line some 3 mm out of the pump. I am concerned that the tank pressure may cause the fuel line to shoot out of the pump. Is this a false concern? Yonadav
Yonadav, If you have an MSR, give it a try. You should find you can flip the bottle without any of those gymnastics.
Hi Yonadav. I think you have a xgk with the solid fuel line. That being the case you can't rotate the fuel line, but you can rotate the entire stove, if you can be bothered holding it.
Of course I have an XGK with the solid fuel line. They all have it. Only the XGK-EX has a flexible line. Will the XGK burn upside down?
Hi, Jim is referring to rotating the rubber fuel line where it meats the block. It works well however it pays to be careful with msr fuel lines as they are not sold separately. Not a problem if you live in the US, as MSR will fix it cheaply but over here in the cheap seats you are looking at DIY repair or replacing the entire burner unit in the (unlikely?) event of a fuel line failure. Doc Mark pointed out to me sometime ago an old set of instructions for the xgk, or gk (solid fuel line). They said to simmer, turn off the stove so the flame goes out, flip the entire thing, turn on the stove to release pressure out the jet. Turn it back over and re-light it. I tried it and found it a bit smelly (on kero). Does this work this the stove lit? I am 99% sure I tried it and it did work. I do not have a xgk now so can't try again. I can't see why it would not work.
Picked this up last Nov. Running a Primus pump and adapter for liquid fuel (burning Coleman in photo). KM
How do you clean Brunton Vapor AF? Is it field serviceable? Is it simple enough to clean? What is the downside of this stove? Do you experience clogging after burning kerosene? Have you tried to run diesel with it?
With a needle or pin. Yes. Yes Used old leaf blower, gas with oil in it. It clogged, but would always run after needling. Coleman fuel makes it trouble free. After 15-17? years the o-rings have gone bad. I’ve emailed primus about getting a replacement set. Haven’t heard back…. oringsandmore has a lot of o-rings. Does anyone have the specs for the o-rings?
@Elijah Eckman you would be better to message Optimus or possibly Kovea. (Not Primus) However I got spares for my Brunton Bantam years ago direct from Brunton is the USA.
Here’s some photos that can upload now. Kathryn/Optimus was fast to get back. CS @KATADYN. Not an Optimus stove they made after purchase in 2007. kovea responded: KOVEATD @KOVEA. Not their baby.
Primus Got back to me after I reached out to their Sweden counterparts…. The .us said they have never seen one and are waiting for Swedish info. Which is funny, bought it at REI…)
Found this. The p numbers are metric o-ring sizes. Ended up getting a MSR Whisperlite Universal, so now need to get some spares for that. Can’t find any specs for the ergo pump, so looking at taking apart and calipering it…. Been making an o-ring doc so I can order all in one shot. Vapor-AF Parts 2 O-rings for valve spindle (P-3) 3 O-rings for swivel (P-3) 1 O-ring (P-8) 1 Fuel bottle P-24 The following three are for the plastic pump, which got replaced with a ergo pump (can’t find the specs for that either…) 1 O-ring for plunger (P-11.2) 1 Check valve O-ring (SM-3) 2 O-rings (P-8) JIS SIZE P3 METRIC O-RING BUNA-N (NBR) 70 DURO BLACK CS: 1.90 MM (0.075 IN) ID: 2.80 MM (0.110 IN) 1.9mm X 7.8mm (NBR) Buna-N 70 Duro Metric O-Ring (JIS P8) CCS Thread-MSR liquid fuel stove o-ring sizes So I have a whisperlite stove with no problems other then a leaky control valve. I only wanted to replace that one oring but couldn't find any information online on the size of the orings, so I bought a msr annual stove maintenance kit, measured them, and figured that you guys might appreciate this info. Description Use Size (AS568A#) Red (small) Control Valve (B Pump) -007 Black (small) Control Valve (A Pump) -008 Red (large) Fuel tube (All pumps except DragonFly) -010 Green Fuel tube (DragonFly only) Metric? M1.78x6.75 Black (large) Fuel bottle -213 Materials recommended are Buna-N or Viton since they’re resistant to most petroleum oils and fuels.
Ergo pump, based on partial tear down, not going to pound the sleeve out of plastic… Fuel non return valve S3 Fuel line connection swivel S6
Primus got back to me, and said it’s not a stove they have ever made. Although it’s their ergo pump. O-rings ordered….
Finished the 11 o-ring rebuild today. Here’s the results. Brunton, (made by Soto before they were Soto) Vapor-AF List Buna-N 70 Duro (Tried 90, it wasn’t elastic enough and broke, also attempted 75 nitrile, it broke also) 2 O-rings for valve spindle (P-3) 3 O-rings for swivel (P-3) 2 O-rings for tank valve (P-3) 1 O-ring (P-8) 1 Fuel bottle P-24 The following three are for the original plastic pump, (which got replaced with an ergo pump.) 1 O-ring for plunger (P-11.2) 1 Check valve O-ring (SM-3) 2 O-rings (P-8) Primus, Ergo pump, based on partial tear down, not going to pound the sleeve out of plastic… Fuel non return valve S3 Fuel line connection swivel S6
