I picked up a 502 (1975) and a 425F (1980) today. The 425F looks to have only been lit once or twice at most, and the slave burner has never been lit. There was a Coleman item with the 502 but I can't quite figure out what it's for - any ideas?
Great finds I take it your talking about the heater. The black drum like object. Seen here. Link to Coleman No:502 Sportster Instructions Cheers, Jeff
Excellent post, thanks for that! So it looks like you put the drum over the stove and let it burn in order to provide heating?
I am a bit concerned about those heating drums. Their typical use would be in some sort of enclosed space, and I'm worried about emission of carbon monoxide. This is more likely due to the heat drum restricting oxygen flow to the flame. Any ideas? yonadav
I don't think that the drum restricts air flow much more than a cooking pot, it may even provide a bit of a chimney effect. However, using the heater for extended time in a small space would indeed be a bad idea if air exchange was limited. While the intended use is probably in hunting blinds or drafty ice-fishing shacks, I imagine misuse cannot be discounted.
Hi Centuryhouse looking at the pics i agree 425F has hardly any use if not none at all it is in mint condition and so is the 502 my favourite coleman single burner and quite possibly the best they made two true American classics you have well done there
Nice finds. I've been nosing around the 502's lately this weekend. Just what I need, another stove. And the Exponent bper stove. Duane
I'm broke now, but happy I got them What makes the 502 a favorite of yours? I don't know much about their pros/cons yet.
Hi Centuryhouse to be honest all coleman stoves were ahead of there times what i realy like about the 502 one is its looks it is a combination of the old and new style it is more interesting to operate than the sporter stove of today yet it is easy to operate it is a very rugged sturdy stove built to last has a better simmer control than the sporster of today over all it is just a superb beautifull classic i just love the model
Hi Centuryhouse, You've got a great combination there. All three look remarkably preserved! Wow! Great score. sam
Finally got to light the 502 today. It burned really well - first a foot high yellow flame, then settled to a blue, but then some GREEN flame showed up and remained the rest of the time. When I got it, the tank was bone dry, supposedly it hadn't been lit in decades. The inside of the tank looks reddish colored - I didn't know if it was 'varnish' that I keep hearing about or what but I let the tank soak in alcohol overnight then dumped it and let it dry a few days with the cap off. I'm wondering if that caused the green flame.
I had a Optimus 45 I worked on a week ago and the first time I fired it up it had green flames also, but turned more yellow and blue after running a few minutes. Duane
The green flames are indicative of a stove that hasn't fired in many, many years. A good clean out or burn off will get rid of those. I rather enjoy them myself at this link: Green to Blue Flames sam
Sam, you got some pretty pictures of that Primus 71! Very nice. I liked the look of it too, kind of an aurora borealis look to it
Centuryhouse that is one wonderfull combination of stoves. You couldn't have done better if you'd spent 3000.00 dollars on them. They will give you many many years of service with little to nothing spent in repair or refurbish money. Do ensure the seals on the fill caps are soft and have not taken a "set". If they have then they need to be replaced but other than that you have some really good peices of equipment there lad. Give yourself a back slap. lance
