Perhaps I should get out more but I am being bothered by a dilemma. I have one Optimus 111T that has a beautiful burner, never underburns, lights very sweetly, great-action pump with leather washer etc, but it's in a grotty case that I have tried to smarten up but failed. I have another 111T with a burner that's a real pig, always underburning, horrible ring pump washer, dull black burner, don't like it at all BUT its in a pristine case. Now, should I : a) respect the 30-40 years that these respective stoves have been together with all their component parts and like them the way they are (to buy this argument you have to believe old stoves have a unique personality that belongs to them alone) or b) Take all the best bits from both stoves and make one "new" stove that I can be really proud of (and one real duffer) I have adopted b) but now feel bad ! What would you do ? (You have to be really really into old stoves to appreciate this dilemma)
Fix one good'n and sell the other ot a lad here that can use a good fixer=upper. yup i have someone in mind. lance
Why? These stoves are not rocket science to get running, the guy has two stoves and lets keep it that way 8)
Yeah but rik he does'nt like the one at all with the pristine case.Why not switch the case and whatever else he needs to make an awsome 111T and keep both stoves. Down the road when his resourses and finances permit he can restore the second one. That's what i would do. Take care
They are his property. He can do as he wishes with them. All we can do is give an opinion as he asks. If they were mine,I would use the good case with the good burner making one good stove. Then I would most likely give the other to someone wanting or needing one or sell it, whatever. That's just me. If he wishes to lay both on an anvil and flatten them utterly, it's no more my concern than if he gave both away, sold them, buried them or threw 'em overboard in mid-Atlantic. Gerry
Hey, Optimist, I have to side with those that suggest making one grand stove out of the bits. But, I also think that Richard it right: repair the other one, too, so you can have a pair of them!! The grungy one can be your "user" stove, and the other one will be your pristine "show and tell" version! Two is definitely better than one!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I always have a soft spot for an ugly stove that just does the business. I'd stick with them as they are & one day get around to fixing up the pretty one.
I voted to mix the parts, but it depends on the situation. If one of the stoves has a "history", either used on an expedition, or maybe just "grandpa's stove", then I would leave it together and make the fewest changes I could, just to get it working. Like spiritburner, I also like beater-looking stoves that work well. What's wrong with the works of the other stove? If it's not a manufacturing defect, you should be able to get it going well. ....Arch
Thanks for all the opinions. I've decided to do the decent thing and a) try fix the mechanicals on the poor burner stove and b) make a serious attempt to smarten up the case on the great burner stove. On the grotty case problem, I think I will try stripping off all old paint, spraying on a couple of coats of manifold paint, then a couple of coats of Ford Cosmos Blue. I think this combination will provide good adhesion and heat resistance. On the poor burner problem, I have a mangled cleaning needle and a horrible o ring pump. Both of these are totally fixable and I have ordered a new needle and a leather cup pump assembly. The harder thing to fix with this one will be the regular underburning. It's probably something to do with the geometry of the burner cap and the loose component inside whose name escapes me. Any advice on tackling this problem much appreciated. If I ultimately can't succeed then i will go down the one new stove route.
...or you could ditch the underburner in favor of a roarer (I'm sure there is a spare one here some place ) and nasty O ring pump for a leather cup one and have a basic (and best) 111 8) Repaint the good runner, a scungy case is easy fixed, but does it really have to be blue? There are a bunch of them already.....
Speaking of leather pump cups,i finally upgraded my 111T with one that i just picked up from ebay. WOW what a difference...this thing's a weapon now. Highly recommend it Take care
A quick update for everyone. The poorly-burning 111T has had a birthday with new pricker, new leather-cup pump and a general fiddle with the burner cap alignment. I've also switched it to Coleman fuel, and now it's burning beautifully with no underburning. Strangely, the alignment of the two parts of the burner cap seem to make a big difference to whether it underburns or not. The 111T with the poor case has had a case re-paint which seems to be working out well, although I don't think any paint can resist the heat under a 111T spirit cup. It's still purring away beautifully on kero, so now I'm happy - especially so as I just snagged myself my first Optimus 22 !
Hey Optimist Congradulations on getting both 111T's in good working order.These amazing stoves are'nt made anymore so i think it's important to restore what's left of them. And double congradulations on that 22 Take care
