Right Guys and Gals, I’ve recently purchased an Optimus 99 from a favourite auction site. I’ve had a 99 before and because of the dubious nature of some of the things you buy off said site I planned on a complete service/overhaul. The seller said the tank lid needed a new gasket but it didn’t, it was the SRV that wasn’t sealing so I ordered a few bits from different places, a new tank lid being one. Now, I ordered 8R bits because I was under the impression apart from the case obviously, the tank and burner were the same, but they’re not. The screw thread on the new jets are different, they only screw in a little way not fully so I’m back to the original. The new regulator/spindle is different so I’ve used the original. So I’m waiting for a new wick but I’ve now got two jets that won’t fit and a regulator. The new tank lid fits lovely and the stove works a treat although the wick is a bit scorched and a strange fluffy texture hence why I want to change it. I have my suspicions that in a previous life it’s been used on petrol because of the black soot it’s chucking out. Was there a change in 8R specs over the years or have I ordered the wrong bits?
Photo of your stove, especially the key? Maybe you bought a clone or ordered wrong model version parts. If there was only a leak from the SRV, a pip would have been all that was needed. Duane
Yes, I was going to replace the pip. I had soaked the lid in meths for a couple of days but the SRV wouldn’t budge so I got a new lid. I’m sure it’s not a clone, not that I’m an expert. I’ll post a pic as soon as I work out how.
As far as I'm aware the 8r and the 99 share the same burner and the jet should be interchangeable. Same for the tanklid. Heck, you can interchange the whole burner assembly between the 2 stoves. As far as I can see you do have an original 99. So, on first glance, the parts you ordered should fit...
I ordered parts that were meant for 8R, 99 and 123R. The jets don’t fit or the regulator. The jet does fit my 123R mind
It almost sounds like someone fitted a '3rd party' burner on the stove. Can you see if someone silver soldered, or 'jerry rigged' something... I can't see on the pictures... What @HunterStovie said is also possible of-course
From whom did you buy the parts? Maybe they were for a clone and the seller thought they were the same. Mike
No I stripped it all down. It all looks original. The only thing I couldn’t strip was the SRV, which was the pentagonal one. I now have a new hexagonal one.
I think I’ve spotted my mistake. I’ve ordered a generic Optimus spares kit and a jet and needle off EBay thinking because the needle looked correct the jet would be. But obviously not. I’ll order a specific jet for an 8R from Base camp and see if that fits. You live and learn!
Non-return valves from such sources also have on occasion been found to have incompatible threads for the pump tube. Sometimes too, on 8R/111-series jet prickers one too many teeth on the rack, bottoming out too readily and making it impossible to set the pricker at the right height.
The jet pricker in the kit matched the one I took out so I used it. The regulator spindle was the wrong one but I used the new packing although the little washer that has the concave surface that goes before the packing was a bit deeper than the one I took out so I used the original one. These bits that don’t fit obviously belong to a different stove. I haven’t stripped my 123R but I have my suspicions that the regulator spindle is the same as the one I’ve just bought. The kit I bought was a generic Optimus Svea kit so in future I’ll just buy the specific bits from Base Camp and not waste money trying to be clever! I’ll just replace the wick now and the stove will be a belter.
On a slightly different subject I did watch the Berniedawg video on restoring the 8R and thought I’d have a go at the SRV but it wouldn’t budge. I ended up ordering a complete cap from Base Camp as I’ve said. I was given a bit of a lecture on not fiddling with the SRV myself by the nice lady at Base Camp which made complete sense. The last thing you want is the SRV not set right. Anyway, thanks for all the replies, it was my fault in the end. Every day’s a school day.
