Just received in the post today. An Optimus 8 with aluminium case from France. It needs some work and I am still to fire it up. The clip for the key has gone and also the clip to secure the lid. It looks to be in workable condition. The key is from an old clock by the looks of it And one of the tank bracket welds (?) rivets (?) has come away. The burner is missing its plate but I have one on order and also a silent damper. Wick is present and looks clean. Tank seems in good condition as well. Pot supports aren't the best and it is a bit skew whiff due to the tank bracket so will need some work. A few questions from all you experienced guys. Is the tank bracket a spot weld or an aluminium rivet. Would I be best drilling it out and putting in a new rivet or leaving be? The clip on the lid for the key etc. Is it steel or aluminium. Has anyone fabricated a new one? Same with the fastener on the front? Is it an 8 or some frankenstove? What do you all think? Cleaning? Best method? There is rust on the steel parts etc. I do not want it painted. So there you have it. I like it. It will go into the collection and hopefully will be able to fettle it a bit.
The brackets appear to have been riveted on, which is why there are holes through the aluminium. This applies to the tank bracket (still holding part of the rivet on the case flap), as well as the case lid centre which would have a bracket behind it to hold the tool. You could drift the remnant out, taking care to protect the surrounding metal from distortion. If it is aluminium it would be soft enough to drill out, - starting small and central and working out. There is some good info on the 8's and their aluminium boxes in the stove reference gallery - pictures speak a thousand words! At the foot of the sticky in the SRG is a chronology of filler caps, which suggests that yours (the cap at least) is an early model, albeit not the earliest, and this is supported by the entry by Night Owl, in respect of the position and orientation of the OPTIMUS pressing on the case lid. Fairly sure the tool fastener and opening clips would be spring steel to give it shape memory. Definitely appears to be a No.8. What makes you wonder otherwise?
Hi, Not an Op.8 but see comments on replacing a broken catch: Optimus 111T rebuild. best Regards, Kerophile
Thanks Dean. I thought it was an 8 but just wanted to be sure. I wasn't sure due to where the burner pipe was attached to the tank, not to the side but in the middle. I have only had a Svea and a rider in the past. My other old stoves are all alcohol stoves. I might try fabricating the clips. I will drill out the rivet and replace. Thanks Kerophile. Will check that out as well. My right hand is a bit wonky so will take it slow but sure when working on it.
Also had to put the Pre-Heater cup on the correct way round. The seller had reassembled it the wrong way round
Been doing a bit on it. New burner plate and replaced one of the pot stands. The tank support has been riveted back on and a key has been sourced. I have also got some sprung steel for new clips I decided to give it a trial run. Jet was pricked. Seems to be holding pressure but the only flame is a small candle flame at the jet. I had been hoping I wouldn't need to remove the burner assembly from the tank but it seems I will need to do so. There also seems to be no packing in the stuffing box so have ordered foil for that Which size jet is it as I would probably want to replace that as well? Does the jet for an 8R fit? Will keep working on it anyway.
