Hi folks, After couple of hurricanes in my area this year, I was looking into a stove that I can use during power lost and that's a trigger to get myself into the classic stove ring. As a result I bought the optimus 111C from A&H just couple weeks ago. I seems to work well on my first trial but stupid me that I put a big griddle (20 " x 10") on the top of it on the 2nd run and managed to cook to complete in about 40min. At the end, I noticed that the pump push rod didn't have any resistance when I push it down anymore!! Here is what I've found after removing the push rod. The pump leather is melted down to much smaller size because of the heat. My guess is that it's because the gas tank is completely covered by the griddle with a minimum clearance so it causes the tank/push rod to get overheated. Does anyone have the same experience with the 111C? I've found a reviewer in epinions.com said that the extra heat from new corbra burner makes the gas tank quite hot too but I didn't think that it can be this hot. I used kerosene (KLEAN STRIP) and that time and the weather outside is about 80F. Appriciate any comment. Som@Miami
I am no expert but i think the stove is for camping not a kitchen stove i believe its to big we all learn by our mistake but not to bad that we cant fix it.Just don't cook a turkey on it p. s. soak the leather in veg. oil now some will say some other kind of oil but they all work
Flyer; if you read some of the earlier posts about this subject (site search overheating 111) you will find this to be a common problem, whenever too large a pan or pot is used. While this stove will supply you with enough heat to cook your dinner it is not a proper one to use such a large griddle. Or even a large pan for frying up eggs and bacon and such. Best to get yourself one of the brass three-leggers for such pans. Or you may contact Handi Albert (on this site) and he may have one of his, Handi Stovettes, avaiable for sale. I did and it served us well over this thanksgiving as an additional stove topper. 8) 8) 8) lance
Hey, Flying Pig, What's been said is dead on the money. You must not use a huge pot on any stove that has a gas tank that will be covered by the pot. If your pump leather is still soft and pliable, you can use gun oil, or any good oil, and rub it into the leather, really good. Then, I would set the pump rod onto it's brass end knob and gently work the leather cup outwards, to stretch the leather wider. Then, I would fill the leather cup with oil, and let it set there for a day, or so. After that, I'd work the leather just a little more, and then reinstall the pump rod into your 111C. That should give you good pressure, once again, and get your stove back into working order. Just be careful about using large pots on your 111C in the future. Best to do as has been suggested, and get a big, brass kero burner, like a Primus 54, or an Optimus 48, or any other similar stove, for the huge pots. They work very well with large pots, pans, and griddles! Welcome to the Spiritburner Forum, by the way! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
The 111 is not designed for big pans to sit over the tank; the tank will overheat. As Doc said, soak the pump leather in oil, I let mine sit in olive oil, seems to work well. The 111 in my opinion, is just about the best stove around (second only to a Trangia alcohol cooker, but that's another story ), look after them and they perform really well. As has been said, you may be better off with a three leg stove for using with big pans, some have fixed legs, others are collapsible (but the same stove), something like a Primus No.5 sell cheap on eBay, but are a great stove.
I will likely be flayed alive and rolled in salt for this heresy, but I think you will be much better served by using a propane fuelled two burner suitcase type stove such as one made by Coleman, Wenzel, or Century-Primus. These use the very commmonly available 16.4 oz. steel propane bottles, or with an inexpensive regulator/ hose assembly can be run from any of several 5 gallon or larger refillable propane bottles used mainly to fuel propane barbecues. I like these for general use because the fuel is in unspillable containers. These stoves are also as easy to use as a gas kitchen range. Heretical ol' Gerry
DRINKING AGAIN!!!! Being "Flayed alive and rolled in salt", Sir, is too good for the likes 'o you!!! Once you've slept it off, and come back to yourself, I know you'll somehow endure the shame you so richly deserve!!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
Gerry's probably right if huricaine preparedness is your only goal. Propane stoves are easy, reliable, and absolutely no fun. Dwight
Ok all you stoveies out ther dont knock it i bet most of you had one at one time. Beside you can do full meals on it in short time.Not only that the lady of the house can light one up i got 4 or 5 of them .
At one point , propane might be consider an antique fuel not to mention the countless burners/ stoves out there, BUT!, I think these stovies feel that nothing is more funner than fettling an old paraffin back to life! or maybe petrol, but propane...... I'd hardly believe it! I have an outdoor propane BBQ for the Family meals and the wife's only allowed to touche that, anything else requires supervision.....
DRINKING AGAIN!!!! Again? Hardly. Drinking still. Dwight has it exactly. The various propane burners are ever so much more practical and easy to use but are absolutely no fun. In an emergency situation, fun goes by the board immediately and practicallity rears it's ugly head. Once a sufficient supply of safe water, and shelter are assured, fun becomes a possibility. In the meantime, a propane stove with two or three full canisters of fuel, a propane lantern with it's fuel canister will allow for the ability to see in the dark, and boil water for cleanliness, hot beverages and food. As Flying Pig learned, the 111 is poorly suited to daily use as a cookstove. It is ideally suited to boiling water half a gallon at a time and as a reliable auxiliary heat source during emergencies. There's no regulation against have more than one stove, is there? I have emergency "long term" food stored in a hardened storage unit in my basement. It's near an outside wall so it can be gotten at from the outside in case of dire need and the house has become uninhabitable. I also have a grab and go container with almost every necessity covered for up to a week. Then there's the VW Westfalia camper, again stocked with enough gear and supplies for the two of us and Ozzy for about two weeks. If there's time, or the emergency has passed, our 5th wheel trailer has enough water, supplies, and fuel for the furnace, stove, refrigerator and gen-set for a month. In each of these places is a single burner propane stove, a propane lantern with the small sock type euro mantel that requires a fraction of the fuel a Coleman or Tilley lantern would. There are also several UCO type candle lanterns with spare candles, and some kero burner stoves and several quart fuel bottles of kero. I have four good first aid kits with manuals, and enough medical gear to do some good. One in each camp vehicle, one in the grab and go and one in the hardened locker. Like the Boy Scouts say. "Be Prepared" So you see, I like to have real emergencies covered, and enough back-up to enable me to help others not so well prepared. Realistically. I am not likely to be subject to weather related emergencies, but volcanoes and earthquake are very likely to be in my future. Gerry
Can't argue with the plan Gerrrrrrry. My suggestion of a kero burner was more on the side of someone not having to rough it but more for the emjoyment of testing out regular gear for possible use and solo survival. With a family to consider i'd surely go for a gas powerd combo. And a propane unit is far more economical than a petrol powered units of the same ilk. lance
Can't argue with the plan Gerrrrrrry. My suggestion of a kero burner was more on the side of someone not having to rough it but more for the enjoyment of testing out regular gear for possible use and solo survival. With a family to consider i'd surely go for a gas powerd combo. And a propane unit is far more economical than a petrol powered units of the same ilk. lance
Can't argue with the plan Gerrrrrrry. My suggestion of a kero burner was more on the side of someone not having to rough it but more for the enjoyment of testing out regular gear for possible use and solo survival. With a family to consider i'd surely go for a gas powerd combo. And a propane unit is far more economical than a petrol powered units of the same ilk. lance
Thank you for your warm welcome and all the useful suggestions. I didn't expect to get this much replies and also didn't intend to stire any flame here too. You're exactly right about that the 111 might not well serve for that purpose. I also have a propane grill and butane-canister type stove which I stocked 4-5 cans for each before lady Wilma arrives. But after the hurricane, all the stores around here run out of both ype of fuel and no one know when they'll get more. I needed to boiled water for the baby everyday and after the 3rd day I started worry about the propane/butane supply I have. Luckily we've got power back not before long but it took 2-3 weeks in some place. (I live in a condo that I can't have those big propane tanks.) After the incidence, I was looking for the multifuel stove for another backup since it should be much easier to get the fuel in that situation. I thought about the Coleman burner too at one point until I've found the Svea and 111 on the internet. Well, boy just need to get a new toy so I've got the 111 instead. Sorry to fail your expectation that I may put this 111 on ebay for you guys. I'll keep it as a ticket to get into this hobby instead. It will be a nice little stove to make a pot of coffee when we go our for BBQ too!! Cheers....Som
Morning, Flying Pig, Hey, don't be so quick to give up on the 111C as your survival stove!! It will work very well for you in that situation! I would suggest that you get a new fuel cap, and that you go to Home Depot and buy a 5 gallon gan of K-1, water-clear kerosene. You can also lay in a small supply of Meths, say one gallon, as a priming fuel, which is the cleanest way to go. But, if you don't want to mess with that, you can prime the 111C with kerosene, though it will be quite a bit more smoky and messy. Put your 5 gallon can of kerosene and your Meths, in a cool place of storage in your condo. An unheated closet would work, or a garage, if you have one. With 5 gallons of kerosene, you will be ready for LOTS of cooking on your 111C!! Then, the only other thing you will need to get are some pots and pans that fit on your Optimus stove, without hanging over the fuel tank too much. Try to find some taller pots, instead of wider ones. Once you get used to your 111C, you will love it the way we all love our regular 111T, 111B, and 111 stoves!! I am sure of it!! Take heart, and take care, you have a fine survival stove. You just need to get to know it a little better, that's all. God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Mark
FP, Doc is right, don't dismiss the 111, its a powerful and versatile stove, 10,000BTU heat output means lots of cooking. Stick to pans of around 8" diameter, and your fine. A fry pan is OK, so long as your with the pan, taking it off heat from time to time, or lowering the stoves output. Lookout for a tall 'Pasta pan' they are around 8" diameter, but are tall, hold lots of stew in one of those 5 gallons of kero would give you around 100+ hours cooking time on high heat, triple that when you are simmering food. Compare that cost with a propane stove.
