Hi folks...it's been ages since I've even been on this site...life got busy. I finally retired a couple of years back and now I'm ready to play! I have an Optimus Himalayan stove and had it for many years but when I bought it, it only came with the fuel line for the Butane fuel cannisters. I'd like to be able to run this on white gas and was wondering if anyone here has any ideas where I might find that setup. I have the bottle w/pump for another stove. My reason for doing this is mostly to give myself more options...these gas canisters are not everywhere but most other liquid fuels can be found just about anywhere, plus economically, it's just better for me. I only need one bottle of fuel rather than several of the Butane cannisters...I hate carrying unnecessary dead weight, empty cannisters. Please let me know your thoughts and thanks! Tim
@timmus Optimus never made a Himalaya, Primus did. If you have the fuel line for butane canisters you have a Multi-fuel and only need the Ergo pump to run white gas/coleman fuel as long as the O-rings are in good order, and you have the proper fuel bottle. The reason I say that is some bottles are set up for a flat O-ring and others are set up for a round O-ring. Coleman bottles are not compatible here. What pump and bottle from another stove do you have?
LOL...my bad! You're right, it's a Primus...I also have an Optimus (that's why I got the two mixed up). The Optimus uses the Coleman fuel. I have an MSR fuel bottle with a pump in it that fits the Optimus with a QD but not sure how I can marry that to the Primus. The "guts" on the pump looks identical to ones I've seen in pictures for the Primus but was never able to see what the end looks like that actually connects to the pump from the Primus. Clear as mud? It's been a long day...I can revisit this in the morning if you need more clarification and pics as well if I can post this here.
Depends on which stove you have, Primus made stoves for Gas only,liquid fuel and multifuel, (ie liquid fuels and gas). Some gas models can be upgraded by adding a Primus bottle, Ergo pump and appropriate jets. Check which stove you have or if all the labels are gone let me have a picture of the stove and i can identify it. I probably have all you need in stock at Base Camp to do the change if your stove is suitable.
Thanks for the reply! Here's what I have. Please feel free to ask any more questions. This stove has the fiberglass donut at the base for liquid fuel to soak into to start but it looks well used. I'll probably end up replacing it if I can convert this to Coleman fuel easily and relatively inexpensively. The bottle has a QD on it that matches the liquid fuel stove I own...the Optimus...Nova, I think. Thanks for your help!
Thanks! Actually, I already have a pump and several fuel bottles but...the pump has a QD for my Optimus stove and of course it won't work on the Primus. I'm wondering if anyone makes an adaptor that would interface between the QD on the pump to a screw on for the Primus. I have looked a bit but nothing that I can find. Usually my Google-foo is pretty good but either there is no such thing or I am putting in the incorrect search parameters. Tim
I'd bite the bullet and find another pump. Also, an adapter would be just another part that could leak, otherwise fail, or in my case, get misplaced.
Thanks! I did exactly that...I found a pump and bottle on ebay and at $39, I snapped it up...most of the ones I've seen were in the $80 range. It even says PRIMUS on the bottle...score Just before I posted this, I just got a message saying that the seller just put it in the mail to me....now, I'm trying to guess how long it will take the USPS to put it on a burro and get it to me.
Well, the one I ordered a week or two back didn't have the correct fitting on the pump assembly (not really sure what it went to) but he was willing to take it back. Later that day, I saw another bottle/pump assembly pop up on eBay for about the same price and verified with the seller that this was the one I needed He said used it on his own Himalayan M/F stove. I should be getting it tomorrow.
Got the one in today that is supposed to fit and it does! I can now run the stove with multi-fuels! Those Primus liquid fuel bottle adaptors are unicorns... I put some white gas in the bottle, hooked it up to the stove, gave it a few pumps, opened and closed the valve to let a little fuel get into the bowl and after a minute or two waiting for the flame to burn down, cracked the valve open again and the Himalayan roared to life...Boiled some water and made a cup of coffee...yum!
