OK so after looking (and drooling) at the post by Presscall about his Shmel 4 I developed a need to get one...dont ask me why but I have not seen any negative posts regarding the stoves other than some of the parts "might" be hard to get. I just ordered a Shmel 4 online from a gentleman in the Ukraine who even posted a video of the thing running...nice touch. Very friendly, very good price and its already coming...pot and all. Cant wait. Its an unknown stove for me though...one of those things like Tilley Lamps and other strange things we never see here in the USA (seriously never heard of anything Tilley before I jumped on the sister pressure lamp forum...and do not go there unless you are ready to be amazed by a whole world of new wonderful lanterns and lamps to drool over and want)....ive seen them in photos but never seen one in person...dont know if they truly exist...haha Well ive scoured the posts on the forum and watched a ton of videos on youtube (most are in Russian or Ukrainian) and have tortured my wife to translate them (gotta love slavic cultures as the languages are really really close and she can understand a lot) My wife translates what they are saying but no one I can find can answer this question....maybe @presscall or someone else with one of these Shmel stoves can answer OK - So how do you close the valve (turn off the stove)? To me...it looks like the valve can turn off in both directions. The valve turned all the way clockwise or all the way counterclockwise turns it off, and in the middle is the part with the cleaning needle like an optimus 8R?
Not a stupid question! On/off and points in-between are achieved by the tapered portion of the pricker component … … mating against the rim of the bore of the burner’s fuel inlet. The friction of the control spindle in the graphite seal holds the position of the pricker component to prevent movement from disrupting fuel flow control. And yes, ‘off’ can be done by turning the control spindle fully clockwise or anti-clockwise.
Got yourself a nice stove, smart buy. Really like mine that I just added to gallery. Took mine out camping couple weeks back and forgot how nice it is. Very sturdy and can put out the BTU's. Here is what they look like. Little bigger than Coleman 502. If you have any questions feel free to ask. The Shmel 4 is on the left, Ukraine Pebus 625 on the right. Maybe your next purchase? Daryl SoCal
@Daryl hahaha...I saw that one (phoebus) in your gear and been looking for one...decided to give the Shmel a go since they have great reviews as well!
I love mine. I use it and my Brit no. 12 when car camping (most of my outdoor activity these days) and some variation on a trangia burner or crusader mug/stove combo when I have to carry my cooker.
