Took it fishing today. Made a cuppa roaring away nice boiled another cup for some noddles but then it dropped pressure Tank was just under half I think at the time It was very windy and cold. I did try shield it best I could. Or am I barking up the wrong tree. Maybe get a mini pump ?
Service it if you haven't- replace the filler cap and safety valve seal. Do a leak test to ensure it isn't losing pressure- remove tank and burner from case, drain fuel, tighten cap, turn control spindle off. Place in freezer. Once cold, immerse in hot water to build internal pressure in tank. Look for any bubbles from pressure leaks.
If the seals are good and the wick is good, try a mini-pump. I'm an advocate for them, but its a very divisive topic HERE HERE and HERE for examples Also, as an addition HERE for further thought...... Use wisely/sensibly Alec.
The mini-pump is just an option to get the stove started. Once going, heat from the burner should keep it pressurized enough (unless the stove is sitting on ice or something, which doesn't seem to be the case here.) Looks like you have good shielding from the wind. I think you have a leak. A mini-pump will allow you to add the pressure that's leaking out, but you really should try to correct the problem.
Thanks guys I will test it tomorrow in the yard and if it conks out will pop on the cap from my 111 which has been serviced. I need to buy the tool for striping the cap. On the 111 I took a grinder to the top so I could use a flat head. Didn’t want to make a habit of that though. This little one needs a 4 sided tool
I love these stoves, but they have terrible performance in any kind of wind or breeze without some kind of windshield. I wouldn’t pump more than 3-5 strokes with a mini pump.
Freezer test. Loosen cap before placing in freezer, when removing from freezer then tighten cap before dunking in hot water. Cap may need a little extra to compensate for the gasket being cold. Duane
@Tez I did have problems with mine on a particularly windy day when I ventured over to the Wirral for a spot of beach-casting one time. Similar set up to yours with the tall folding windshield but it was one of those days when the wind couldn't make its mind up where it was coming from. The tank didn't get as warm as I would normally expect. I have since bought a mini pump and the filler cap to go with it. Did you turn the 8R off between boiling the first cup and the second? If you did, you should remove and refit the filler cap before relighting to allow the air above the fuel in the tank to come back to atmospheric pressure. If you did not, check all of the seals as suggested above. Regards John
Within a few seconds or longer, start with the tank to check leaks out of the SRV or cap, then on to the valve. Won’t hurt getting the burner wet. At this point if loosing pressure, most likely the cap or SRV. Sometimes it takes awhile for new users to understand stoves. Using the freezer to hot water is my go to to check for leaks on these small stoves. If the leak is bad, a pump may not keep up. Duane
Lucky you to go fishing, I will be soon. Fine stove to carry in pack. Small self contained stove able enough to do some cooking. Maybe you got it fix by now? getting wet no problem and like others no need for pump. Can also see how it runs at your place protected from wind. Should run full blast till tank is dry. Can check for leaks when running with some soap bubbles. Small amount of dish soap and bit of water whipped up with fork will give you cup full of bubble to dab on cap and valve spindle area.
Good lookin stove! What they said. Freezer test is always effective in finding leaks, or the soapy water test.. I have a spray bottle of soapy water on my workbench was just pissing on something yesterday. This kind of stove ANY leak is too much. Not sure how you knew the stove was loosing pressure......the jet can become plugged which will dramatically lessen flame, just turn stove off and on a few times and the pricker should clean the jet.
@Tez If yours worked fine for the first couple of boil ups, then slowed down, it does not sound like it was a vapor leakage problem. Are you sure you were not lower on fuel than a half tank? If you plan to use the stove on cool damp windy days (wind especially), you will likely benefit from having a mini pump. That is based on my personal experience. An 8R was my only stove for 10 years when I was most active in using a stove frequently in inclement weather -- and there were a couple times when evening dinner never got made. I picked up a mini pump at REI in Seattle (way back when REI was awesome) and it made a big difference. For the bit of camping which I still do, fair-weather is preferred and the 8R would be fine without it, but I have moved on to other stoves. There is a difference in opinion as to whether the pump should be used as an aid to fill the priming cup or only used to pressurize the stove after it is running. The directions that came with my mini pump strongly advised that it only be used to add pressure to the stove after the stove was running, never was it to be used to pressurize the tank prior to starting the stove. I, of course, ignored the directions and took advantage of a tad pressure to both fill the priming cup and enhance the flame.
So I tested again tonight twice and both times ran out of pressure around 20 min mark. Tried the cap off my 111 which is working fine and tested and again it ran out steam around 20 min mark This is when it running well https://youtube.com/shorts/TkxoP214lss?si=xAbLwM5S0nBEgFsB
The directions for the one I purchased were clear: The pump was to be used only to add pressure once the stove was already running. That would have been 45+/- years ago I am guessing. A couple pumps before lighting the stove just makes more sense, so I probably threw the directions away.
The history according to Chat is suspect but entertaining (and sounds authoritative), you can get several versions depending on the prompt. Here is part of one.
Incorrect level of fuel? Wick too short? Loss of pressure, something not right. May need someone experienced with these small stoves to run it. Of course with a too short of a wick, my thinking was more like a 123 or 80, 71 etc. Duane
