My first Radius stove

Discussion in 'Stove Forum' started by IRM, Jul 26, 2024.

  1. IRM

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    This arrived a couple of days ago:

    upload_2024-7-26_8-7-17.jpeg

    Looking at the reference gallery it’s a Radius 10, but the gallery suggests the burner should be regulated. This one is not, so the burner is probably not original. The inner cap is stamped Valor, I don’t think the outer is original either, but the tank and the stand are in good condition.

    The filler cap took some work. The pip holder in its NRV was stuck in place but came out after a night in penetrating oil. There was no spring. I cleaned it up and fitted a new spring and pip. I left the NRV in the pump tube be.

    After a successful dunk test it fired up, but was leaking from below the spirit cup. The burner fitting isn’t like my other kerosene stoves - there is no visible washer between the burner and its mount, it appears to go inside the mount where I found the remnants of something old and fibrous.

    I made up and fitted a new washer:

    upload_2024-7-26_8-16-36.jpeg

    but when reassembled the spirit cup isn’t held in place and is free to rotate.

    Am I missing something? Is my new washer just too thick?


    -R
     
  2. Tom Pedersen

    Tom Pedersen Denmark SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Hello @IRM
    You need 2 fiber washers as shown in the pictures below,
    The washers you made and used should not be there.
    Hope this will help you get your nice Radius going.
    Tom.
     

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  3. IRM

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    Tak Tom, so it’s the same as a regular stove. I tried a ready made washer under the spirit cup but it didn’t quite fit and still leaked. I’ll make up a pair and see how it goes.


    -R
     
  4. Tony Press

    Tony Press Netherlands Subscriber

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    @IRM

    … unless it has the same setup for the regulated burner that Australian Aladdins do (made under licence from Radius) where the spirit cup is free (not locked in place by the burner) and the burner is sealed at the bottom of the receiving thread by (usually) an aluminium washer. See for example here:

    Aladdin Single Burner Range


    Tony
     
  5. Sellig33

    Sellig33 France SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Nice little stove, good find !
     
  6. mr optimus

    mr optimus United Kingdom Subscriber

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    @IRM Great score there on your first Radius stove, Radius are superbly made stoves through out, and as i have mentioned many times on here one of my favourites if not they favourite.
    I have a a Radius 10 with a plaited tank and enamelled frame, a different style filler cap with built in safety valve, but mine all so was missing a outer burner cap and valve control knob, but many thanks to @Nicola Francesco Elia gifted to me a original outer cap and valve control knob Radius 10 range stove | Classic Camp Stoves once again congratulations on a great score you will love this stove
     
  7. Tom Pedersen

    Tom Pedersen Denmark SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Tony Press @IRM
    None of my 10 Radius stoves of this type that I have have a loose spirit cup.
    Tom
     
  8. Blackdog

    Blackdog United Kingdom SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @IRM My much-used and enjoyed Radius 10 is as @Tony Press describes- single aluminium washer and freely rotating spirit cup. The original aluminium washer was slightly corroded so I made a new one a few years ago.

    Welcome to Club Radius!
     
  9. Tom Pedersen

    Tom Pedersen Denmark SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Very interesting.
    Does it make sense that the spirit cup should be able to be rotated.
    Tom
     
  10. IRM

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    Thank you all for your comments.

    @mr optimus I too like the build quality of the stove. It isn’t missing its control rod - the burner simply isn’t a regulated burner:

    upload_2024-7-26_14-30-27.jpeg

    @Tony Press - those Aladdin photos do look similar to what I have.

    @Blackdog do you recall the thickness of the aluminium washer you made?

    The stove runs fine with the fibre washer, it’s just that the loose spirit cup unnerved me a bit.

    As I mentioned above, there appeared to be the remains of a previous fibre washer where I placed mine. The missing spring in the filler cap NRV looks like it might have been replaced with something like cloth to fix the pip in place, so perhaps some ‘best efforts’ fettling has been carried out in the past.


    -R
     
  11. Blackdog

    Blackdog United Kingdom SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @IRM the washer was made from 1mm aluminium sheet- I didn't look to see if anything could be bought ready made.

    A washer made of the usual heat resistant material should be similarly reliable- that's what has been (incorrectly) in my Optimus range of similar design for over a decade!
     
  12. Tony Press

    Tony Press Netherlands Subscriber

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    @IRM

    I can measure an original aluminium washer for you once it gets light down here.

    Tony
     
  13. IRM

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    Thanks @Tony Press but there’s no need. I’ll keep the washer I’ve cut for the time being.


    -R
     
  14. Tony Press

    Tony Press Netherlands Subscriber

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    :thumbup:.

    By the way, the first time I came across the “free spinning” spirit dish was on an Australian Aladdin double burner stove and I fiddled for hours. When I found another burner working properly with the spinning spirit dish I realised what the correct setup was, and went back to redo the original double burner.

    Cheers

    Tony