Simplest stove in the world, and I can't get it to work. I filled it (Coleman fuel) & let it sit 2 days, turned it upside down for a few minutes to soak the wick, pricked the hole several times. It lights up like it is pressurizing, then drops off to a candle flame & stays there. I tried doing a dunk test with my finger over the "orifice" hole but really couldn't tell if it was bubbling or not. The lead washer inside the cap looks intact & I cannot manually blow through it. Solder on the bottom joint looks good, solder around the neck... not so much. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Hi @Ziradog . If you haven't tried it yet, I recommend the freezer method. Empty the fuel tank, cap the filler cap, put the stove in the freezer for 20 minutes. Then remove the stove from the freezer, plug the coil hole with your finger and dunk it in warm water. Air bubbles will indicate where the leak is ( if there is one).
I tried that, but could not see around my hands and/or keep the hole covered at the same time. I may try temporarily plugging the hole & try again.
Use a cork (did it come with one?) to plug the orifice. Do the freezer thing with cap off, remove, install cap, then dunk in warm water and see what bubbles. That is an poor solder joint, I think I would fix that just so it wasn't so ugly, but bet it bubbles. If nothing bubbles, keep pricking that orifice. That first picture with candle flame, is that first starting?
I do have a cork, not sure how well I trust it plus it will release bubbles on its own. No, that's the flame after a couple minutes. When it is first lit it burns pretty strong.
So if you shut it off after a couple minutes of candle flame (as pictured above) , if you prick jet does it improve? I have two of these and they burn like the infamous abused ape. If the corks sealed better when transporting them I would love them, but alas, they tend to leak fumes and fuel. Dunk test still good idea, and if cork lets bubble out a bit no big deal. You are looking for bubbles where there shouldn't be bubbles.
@Majicwrench pricking more did not help. But success with the second dunk test. It is leaking through the cap threads - not the poor soldering nor through the cap itself. The lead gasket looks ok, and I don't have viton gaskets small enough (or thin enough) go cut a gasket & try to seal it that way.
Try to find a sheet of fuel-resistant gasket material at an auto parts store, or measure the inside diameter of the cap and contact Ross to see if he can cut one for you. ....Arch
Pricked some more, same result. The coils look pretty straight & round. I have seen comments in other threads about the spacing but not what it should be. Should the coils be touching, or some specific distance apart?
It should have a better look than that, I've got two and they both shoot flame straight up, without any tinkering on my part. Whenever I see poor quality work (like that solder job) I am concerned about what other poor work was done that I just haven't found yet.....
