My partners family is from Ukraine, and after visiting them just recently she brought be back this as a present. I've done a little bit of digging on them but don't know exactly what to search for. Was wondering if anyone else here has one and has a set of startup instructions? I've gotten it to light, but never hot enough to start the burner. So I'm not sure if its losing pressure somewhere, or if I'm not pumping it enough, or what. It came with all the original paperwork, however, it is all in Russian (obviously she could translate but things might get missed etc). Other than this stove my only similar experience is with the Optimus Hiker line (of which I have one). Thanks for any help!
It’s a Shmel 3 stove. I have the single burner version, a Shmel 2. You may care to read my review of it HERE. The stoves run too poorly (yellow flames and difficult priming) on kerosene but white gasoline assures reliable priming and combustion. I suspect the ‘dual fuel’ they’re credited as capable of burning is - as with some contemprary Coleman stoves - pump gasoline and white gas, not kerosene and gas.
thanks! would you mind reposting the link for the first one? It seems to link back to the homepage. I'm trying it with white gas at first
I have no problem with that stove But it is not winter stove. Only autofuel or whitegas Allways You must remember 1 no leaks losts of pressure 2 minimum half tanks fuel 3 longer preheating 4 tank must be not cold
whats the best way to preheat it the burners? and how many pumps or so to get it pressurized correctly?
usual method to preheat it with meth tank volume is 1.8l and it need to do about 100 strokes of pump i was doing this stoves at the facility
by the way. few days ago one of my friends asks me to restore that stove and i have denied. and what is the cause? there was a time between 1991-1994 when body of burners and pump cylinder was made of steel if wasn't brass at the facility. check yours. also bells can be not soldered to burner, just pressed. check it too.
My shmel-2 preheats easily on one serving of meths, but indeed good pressure is essential. Pumping takes care. In other threads others have already suggested ways to improve the pumprod. Once well pressurised it goes very well. My bumblebee served well last summerholiday. greetings, Tonio
Thanks for all the help guys! Got both burners going this afternoon! Also went through the documentation that came with it and I believe it's from 1980.
does anyone have a source for the handles on these stoves? with two burners a second handle would be nice to have
@n736ra Let me show you one of the best russian stoves report I ever read: Мифы и сказания о примусах "Шмель". — 123ru.net automatic translator will offer you an understandable english version.
