I recently discovered this site while browsing the backpacking forums. I have always had a fascination with camping stoves. I immediately started digging through my gear closet to discover my trusty old Svea 123 with Optimus 88 cooker. After spending a few hours @ CCS I had this urge to fire up my trusty old friend. Through the advice of members at this site, I decided a thorough inspection was in order. I dissassembled my stove cleaned and inspected all the internals then reassembled. Installed a new filler cap seal and filled the stove with fresh fuel. I primed the stove turned the key and presto instant ROAR! Thanks to the members at CCS I was successful in relighting a stove (not myself) that has been dormant for over 20 years. I'm still amazed how well this little Svea works. I can't believe I stopped using this stove, it really is a fantastic little stove. Ron
Ron, Welcome to the CCS University of Stovedom, and a BIG well done on getting your 123 out of retirement and bringing it back to life! Great fun .. innit ?
Interesting Optimus kept the name for the Svea123 but called the outfit the Optimus 88. Back in the days before Optimus acquired the Svea name the outfit was called the Svea 123K - as Michael Cain never said - "Not a lot of people know that"
Thanks spudz... you're right it's great fun. Since the rebuild I've already burned several tanks of fuel. Ross, Interesting bit of info... I did not know that. When I purchased the Optimus 88 it was available in two ways, cooker with out stove or cooker with stove. As I recall the kit with the stove came with the same stove Optimus used in the tin can series. Ron
I did a comparison of old vs. new (Optimus vs. MSR) Old set-up: 21.5 oz Svea 123 (stove body only) 11.5 oz Optimus 88 (minus small pot) 10 oz New set-up: 19 oz MSR Simmerlite (w/11oz bottle) 12.5 oz MSR Titanium pot (1.5L pot) 6.5 oz I was surprised the weight difference is only 2.5 oz 20+ years later the Optimus 88 is still a contender. It looks like I will start using my old set-up once again! I personally think the Svea is far more reliable than the Simmerlite. I've had to many issues with MSR plastic pumps. I don't recall many issues with the Svea. My conclusion: New is not always better than old and a well designed product will stand the test of time. Ron
Good Morning, Ron, Welcome to CCS! As a very long-time user of both MSR stoves, and SVEA stoves, I have to agree with you, 100%!! I probably have more of each of those stoves than most folks do, and I've had plenty of experiences with both of them. Like you, I've "had issues" with MSR plastic pumps, including a meltdown of one of them, when a small O-ring failed!! I posted photos of that pump, along with others, here on CCS, back when the accident happened. The latest incarnation of the MSR plastic pump seems to be a good improvement, but only time will tell. In the meantime, my SVEA stoves have just continued to work, with very little maintenance required! Which has been more reliable over the years? Why, the SVEA 123 stoves, hands down!!! No contest, really! I do admit to a soft spot in my heart for a few MSR stoves, those being the X-GK, in all it's versions, the Firefly, which was discontinued to make room for the Whisperlite series (almost worthless, in my opinion), and maybe the Dragonfly. I had some pump problems with a brand spanking new Dragonfly and though I now have the new, upgraded, and supposedly stronger pump for it, I'm am somewhat loathe to give it a complete endorsement. With care, those above-mentioned MSR stoves are good performers. But, as you've so well proved, beat your SVEA 123, toss it into a closet, and don't mess with it for 20 years. With very little effort on your part, that stove will roar into life, and offer another 20 years of service, and then another, and then another, ad infinitum!! NO MSR stove is really going to do that, without much care, parts replacement, and many crossed fingers! Take care, have fun with your worthy little SVEA, and God Bless!! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi Doc, Thanks for the welcome. I believe it was one of your posts that helped me get my stove roaring again! As to MSR stoves I tend to agree with you, I am also fond of the 2 that I have. My first MSR stove was the X-GK and it has proven to be a performer. I can pull that stove out at any time and it will fire up first try everytime. The draw back to the X-GK, it is not very packable and there is always concern of the plastic pump. I still like the stove and it will melt snow like no other. The Simmerlite has proven to be a worthy stove as well. The simmering capabilities are not bad as long as the operator is familiar with MSR stoves. The things I like about the Simmerlite: It is light and compact, it's vey powerful and boils water fast, and most of all it's very quite (whisperlite may have been more appropiate). I don't remember why I stopped using the Optimus 88 set-up. Especially when compared to modern day liquid fuel stoves, there is no major advantage. I'm glad I decided to keep the Svea, now I wonder what I did with the X-GK? Ron
As you say, there's a lot less to go wrong with the Svea kit as opposed to the newer models... in this book: Long distance hiking The author points out that of all the white gas models the svea 123 had the best track record... Impressive considering it was the oldest design.
