MSR XGK II 1981-1994

Discussion in 'Stove Forum' started by erice, Apr 24, 2024.

  1. erice New Zealand

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    here is a non-shaker XGK II stamped MSR081, august 1991?
    1991a.jpg

    came with; a big bag i hadn't seen before, XG and XK jets, older style MSR tool, pricker, small plastic spirit bottle, for priming, grey pump, with sintered brass pick-up filter, alloy wind screen and base

    no priming pad at base
    IMG_20240424_151217.jpg

    pot supports were about 10mm too long, so have been trimmed to bring pot down to just above generator loop, for faster boil times
    IMG_20240424_161422.jpg IMG_20240424_161725.jpg
     
  2. Scrambler

    Scrambler Australia Subscriber

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    Firstly, nice stove. There are a few non-standard features (the priming pad will have aged and fallen off). The naming of pre-shaker X-GKs is debatable- this is could also be called an X-GK (vs X-GK II) depending on the perspective.

    The height of the pot stands was a deliberate move by MSR. This was because the lower height (as you have done, and as the early stoves had) causes much more carbon monoxide. Do not use yours in a tent or other closed space.

     
  3. OMC

    OMC United States Subscriber

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    @erice
    thank you for posting.
    if this stays in "stove forum", *those interested in MSR might want to confirm / delve into details for this Aug 91 example.
    IIRC Sep 91 changes were ongoing, on paper at least.
    *i'm interested but don't have the hobby time i've had in the past.

    i'm +1 w/your MSR081 = Aug 91

    MSR provided accurate model name for an Aug 91 example, no?
    Did I adopt the name "XGK II" in error?
    eg
    The OP title year range could be narrowed considerably?

    burner / jet thread 3/8 - 24
    i need reminder what jet(s) did an Aug 91 example come with originally? <-- i don't expect definitive answer to this but it comes to mind and i toss it out here.
    thx all, carry-on

    PS i respect & appreciate input from scrambler & others.
    more examples emerge and our understanding becomes clearer.
    cc @oddball
    if oddball might chime-in, his take on model names w/year ranges would also be of particular interest.
    thx again
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2024
  4. Scrambler

    Scrambler Australia Subscriber

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    @OMC, yes, this is an X-GK II, due to the date. But an isolated stove without pump has afaik only one hard change from a late GK: an X-GK II does not have wire wrapped on the generator loop. The X-GK II Shaker Jet is a hard change. From the pre-shaker X-GK II back to the GK is much more of a sliding change and IMHO the actual title doesn't mean so much. The dating thread of mine, now "dated" itself, has a link to a 1981 G/K, still with box. That 1981 stove could easily be called an X-GK on features (I can't make out the jet sizing, which afaik is the hard change associated with the G/K to X-GK names). Equally the existence of an X-GK between the G/K and the X-GK II has been (at times) doubted by some.

    The jets did not change between the start of X-GK branding and the shaker jet in 1994.

    A solution to the MSR date stamp puzzle?

    Given the clear dating of this stove, could the Mod who rightly carved this thread off the parent please change the title date to "1991" rather than the full potential range?

    Footnote-

    The grey pump would have been issued with this stove, and the pot stands were taller. No sparker issued. All these elements can be altered easily to pre-1989 spec, or altered on pre-1989 stoves to the later spec.
     
  5. erice New Zealand

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    thanks for comments all, certainly the post name can be changed

    while googling found a webpage from 2011? of what looks to be an identical transitional? xkg stove
    like mine it has; no sparker, no generator spring, long pot legs, spirit bottle, foil screen and base, grey pump
    [​IMG]

    also, older MSR tool, pricker, sintered brass pick-up filter, additional XK jet,
    [​IMG]

    even the long black bag
    [​IMG]

    interestingly this tag was apparently also in the manual that came with this stove, no manual with mine
    [​IMG]

    Adventures In Stoving: Stove of the Week: MSR XGK II (Pre-Shaker Jet)
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2024
  6. erice New Zealand

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    some new to me history of the msr logo

    Larry's logo 1973? - 1982
    [​IMG]

    REI's redesign from 1982-1992
    [​IMG]

    from 1992-1999?
    [​IMG]

    REI's change in 2000 before selling to Cascade
    [​IMG]

    2001 cascade flip the black + white
    [​IMG]
     
  7. erice New Zealand

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  8. erice New Zealand

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    here's an interesting ebay "MSR XGKII Vintage Camp Stove 1981-1984" date stamp, 033 181.......march 31st 1981???
    [​IMG]

    on a bakelite base, sparker, wire-wound generator, square pad, 4 long support arm stove, without flame plate
    MSR XGKII Vintage Camp Stove 1981-1984 - | eBay
     
  9. Scrambler

    Scrambler Australia Subscriber

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    Welcome to the tricky world of MSR expedition stoves.

    That last is a G/K, date as you suggest 31 March 1981.

    The differences between that and yours are significant but incremental. The Bakelite base was changed to aluminium later in 1981. The fuel jets in this are larger on top than yours. The sparker is easily removed and was also available as an aftermarket item. Service kits had a blanking nut-and-bolt- my stove has one fitted. The pot supports are actually the same height that you have cut yours down to.

    MSR actually made changes bit-by-bit and then at various points made marketing decisions to update the name. As you can see from the earlier posts yours is an XGK II but the XGK instructions were good enough. It isn't transitional- it was a stable design and available for a few years. The earlier designs are much less stable- compare the March 1981 G/K in the advertisement with the June 1981 G/K linked in the dating thread.

    If you did get buy the G/K then the XGK service parts (and a modern pump) would get it going again.
     
  10. OMC

    OMC United States Subscriber

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    ^^^ it's all very interesting, thx all.
    ----------------
    SUB TOPIC, model name:
    I'll begin a deep dive into sub-topic most stovies are not concerned with.
    re my "Did I adopt the name "XGK II" in error"
    in-context , YES, my use of "XGK II" is in error.

    As I now understand this, MSR's accurate term for the model when it was 1st offered was as Scrambler has shared:
    X-GK II
    ==========

    Yes, as per above,
    MSR's initial term was X-GK II (now, i see this TY) and
    MSR's later term is XGK II .

    Dates (mo/yr) for exact term(s)
    *that MSR used with this model (examples as-new)
    is not easy to nail down.
    Answers found:
    NOS complete w/orig box & papers.
    Catalogs.
    (newsletters? ...?).

    [ We're talkin pre-shaker and terms with stoves when new eg on box, on instructions (vs maintenance kits etc.) ]

    I have less hobby time, I hesitate to even offer the widest year range (we do know) because i don't want to get that wrong.
    If/when,
    the year range that MSR ended use of X-GK II -or-
    the year range that MSR began use of XGK II
    are better defined (with stoves),
    ^^^ this will be a helpful detail to include in dating/timeline discussion.
    We strive to be accurate at CCS, the online stovie resource.
    Thx again all. carry on
    tag @Scrambler
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2024
  11. Burt United States

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    Where could you find jets for the pre1981 models?
     
  12. Ugly Truck Nut United States

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    Bought my XGK after Infantry school in '84.

    stove.jpg

    Inherited my second from my best friend.

    second_stove.jpg

    Made the mistake of sending my fuel pump to MSR to get rebuilt and they kept it and sent me a new one that I had to pay a reduced price for. I would have rather just kept it and bought a new one to use.
     
  13. IRM

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    This came my way yesterday, perhaps the dating information included might be of interest.

    upload_2024-5-18_8-19-15.jpeg

    upload_2024-5-18_8-19-30.jpeg


    -R
     
  14. Ugly Truck Nut United States

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    I should mention a bonus. I did send my stove in for a refresh and they included a cross pot stand. So, 2 wires that cross each other to replace the four moveable pot stands to provide a more stable base.
     
  15. OMC

    OMC United States Subscriber

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    Welcome @Ugly Truck Nut,

    There may be something (new to us?) to learn with orig/complete *1984 example (not assuming ).
    *after Nov 81 -to- pre-1985
    not diving into it myself : ( [hobby time limited].
    thank you
     
  16. Ugly Truck Nut United States

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    I tried to get some pictures of my date codes. My first stove is 061 184 and my second one is 011 783
     
  17. OMC

    OMC United States Subscriber

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    thank you

    011 783 Jan 17 1983
    061 184 Jun 11 1984

    again not diving into it myself not anytime soon anyway but both may shed some light on XGK details

    for example:
    re 011 783 Jan 17 1983
    you would have more trouble with pic of the jet but you might be able to see if there is an XG or XK stamped into top of jet? (might still have a loose 2nd jet?)
     
  18. mojo Japan

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    Hello, my G/K is stamped 01 19 82. I have also checked 06 18 82. The jet also does not have an X stamp, so it is a G or K, so it is not an XGK. The box is also G/K.

    Therefore, I believe that the X-GK dates from mid-1982 or later.
     

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  19. Ugly Truck Nut United States

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    I did look at the jet that is my stove and it is a X/G.
     
  20. OMC

    OMC United States Subscriber

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    your 061 184 Jun 11 1984, is the one you've owned since new, it has X|G on the jet, got it thanks.
    (not that it matters, again, no biggy but it is the other one i asked about lol)