Hi Guys, long time! I have a 111 Optimus with silent burner that is pushing fuel past the flame control shaft and when the stove is running I will often get a flame about a 1-1.5cm/1/2 inch flame right where the burner body ends and the rotating shaft that controls the flame goes into the burner body. What is causing this and is there an easy fix? Also, problem number two; There is an "O" ring instead of a leather cup at the end of the pressure pump stem. Is this normal? I think not. It does work albeit not well as I suspect the o ring to be old and perhaps dry. Should there not be a pump cup on the stem made from leather like most other stoves? Thanks Ian....
1. Try tightening the nut on the spindle, just a little bit -- too tight and your control spindle gets hard to turn. There is a small possibility that a graphite seal needs replacing, but probably not. 2. The O-ring pump is inferior to the leather pump cup. Replacing the O-ring is pretty easy but make sure the ones you buy are resistant to oil, and keep it oiled. I find the O-ring pumps need to be oiled more regularly than the leather pump cup.
Hi Ian, The rubber o-ring on the pump cyinder is indicative of a later model 111 Hiker and is as Itchy stated - inferior compared to the leather pump cup with bolt/cylinder design. They switched them over to rubber o-rings some point in the 1980's I believe. It was a cost saving measure by Optimus and, as always, quality/dependability suffered as a result. You can purchase replacement o-rings the size you need at auto-parts shops and other locations (or from on-line vendors) The flame is as itchy stated - tighten the spindle with an adjustable wrench or spanner until firm. If that doesn't solve the flame issue then you may have to swap out the graphite packing that the fuel control valve rotates around (inside burner).
Or you could replace the whole pump assembly like I did from a 111B or 111. Nothing beats the leather pump cup. The stove will seem to burn hotter too.
