Has anyone pulled apart an early Optimus 207 regulated silent burner (the one with the original pricker rack, see below): With this rack (pricker missing). Before I attempt to extract the control spindle, has anyone had experience doing this on this burner? Does it work like later regulated burners wherein the spindle first unscrews and then pull out? EDIT: I think I’m correct that it just unscrews, looking at this illustration: [From a listing of @Spiritburner in the Reference Library here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/1934-catalogue-no-1260.31160/]. Thanks in advance for any advice. Tony
Bump. No takers? I have freed up the spindle so that it opens and closes shut properly, so I may leave it at that. Tony
Well… Victory at last! I’ve been trying to extract the spindle from this burner on and off for over a month. The stuffing box (Part 388 above) came out easily, but not the spindle (Part 384). It would not unscrew even after long soaks in penetrating oil; or acetone; or after repeated heat and quench. I tried to run the burner with the old packing in it but it leaked fuel along the spindle. The reason the spindle was locked in was because the packing (some kind of graphite, I think) was solid, almost concrete-like. After much picking, drilling, heat, acetone — repeated X-times, I finally got the packing broken and loose enough for the spindle to unscrew. Spindle cleaned and straightened.. I’ve got the burner soaking in acetone for its last clean and I’ll reassemble the burner with new graphite packing tomorrow. Cheers Tony
@Tony Press You must be feeling well pleased about getting that out! I look forward to seeing the end result…
@ROBBO55 I was very careful with the tip on the spindle. Those parallel-jawed Knipex tools are indispensable for some of this delicate work. When I got the spindle out, I was surprised the tip had survived the hard life (or abuse) this burner has had. I’m pondering whether to silbraze a pricker wire into the rack, or leave it out, as it’s the only one I’ve ever seen, and silbrazing would obscure how it was manufactured originally. Also, I note Part 392 “Guide for cleaning needle” and wondering how it fits in the reassembly (do I need to make one…). Cheers Tony
Brilliant job, and an outstanding blue flame, Tony! YES!! This is a very special stove, and I've never seen the like of it! Well done, and thanks for sharing! - Doc
Tony, it's a bit hard to judge from the photos but is the the thread coarser than later control spindles, and is this very noticeable in use in terms of fine control?
@Tony Press @Blackdog The spindle thread looks like a double or even triple helix to my eyes. Effectively meaning 2 or 3 times more lateral travel per turn compared to a standard screw thread. Thus making fine adjustment more difficult. Regards John
