I've inherited my father's stove. What can you tell me about it?

@Henry Loveless
Hej .
I run all my paraffin stoves on this stuff .

Cheers

 

Hmm, less than 2% of aromatics. These ingredients sound like a bottle of gin.

Thanks for your help. I hope I can take the stove to Norway someday, beautiful country.

 

New question. I notice that when I pump the empty fuel container, there is little resistance, despite all the other openings being closed.

If I put my lips on the pump opening and blow, the container seems air tight.

Does the pump's leather seal need replacing (probably, but is this essential) ? Is there supposed to be resistance to the pumping?

Thanks.

 

Ok . When you use the pump with eveything tightened, does the tank pressurise ? Is there a hiss of air when you loosen the air released screw ?
Have you checked the non- return valve (NRV) at the bottom of the pump tube ? Does it move if you push it gently with a length of wire ?

 

Hi yes there should be some resistance. Have you put some oil on the pump leather or soaked it in oil? If it is flexible it may need to be flared out to make a good seal. On pumping you can test if it’s working by opening the air release screw which should hiss if it’s working. You will be losing pressure through the jet on the burner which you can’t close. As suggested above do a dunk test for leaks. I would be surprised if your filler cap seal does not leak but you have been advised to get a seal kit and replace all your seals. Hope this helps.
Kind regards, Firestarter
Edit crossed with AAC

 

Okay. So I splayed out the leather a bit and that felt much better, definite resistance. So I've roughed up the leather and put it to soak in some oil.

As for the (nrv), it's hard to tell. I pushed some wire through the hole at the end of the pump tube, but I don't sense much movement. (Photo below)

 

Behind the hole in the NRV is a little plug (pip) which has a spring behind it . You should fell the spring push back against the wire . Put some sort of mineral oil into the pump tube and gently push the wire in and out . Very gently .
A water test is absolutely recommended . Dont worry about getting water into the tank etc , you can dry everything with a hairdryer

 

Hi looking at your photo your filler opening appears to be distorted and pushed into the tank and possibly some thread damage? I had an Optimus 00 with a similar problem and was able to lever and pull it back into position. Filler caps/openings are sometimes damaged by over tightening because it leaks when it really needs a new seal. If when you pump there is resistance but the air goes somewhere ie like pumping up a bike tyre the NRV is opening . If the pump will not pump it is jammed shut, if the pump rises back it is leaking badly or jammed open. Hope this helps.
Regards Firestarter.

 

That worked a treat. The NRV now opens and closes and there's a lovely hiss when I unscrew the air release screw.

I tried a water test and it looked great. A thin stream of bubbles from the burner and nowhere else.

I think tomorrow I'll take it to the forest for a test.

BTW, is this smaller canister intended for the meths?

 

Yes.

 

Yes that is a lovely original spirit bottle.Fettle-box do a replacement seal for the cap.

 

@Henry Loveless
Great . Good luck with the test firing

 

Test firing update.

Well that went swimmingly. The burner warmed up nicely with the meths and with just a couple of pumps the paraffin came out and burned steadily and evenly.

In all the excitement I forgot to put one of the burner rings on, but apart from that, no problems. In the first firing, there were a few stray flames lower down in the burner (see pic.) but in the second firing, just the clean flame at the top.

Pictures below. Any thoughts?

Thanks everyone for your help, it was really lovely to get the stove going. Now I want to get it cleaned up and shiny. I fear I may have opened something of a Pandora's box though. I've already started to look for other stoves online.






Nice flame in the next one. Forgot to put the burner ring on and it looks a bit wonky but I think that's the 'wind protector' surrounding the burner.



Here you can see some of the flames lower down. Not sure if this is indicative of a problem.



Lovely



Burning with the top burner ring in place

 

You have your wind shield upside down . It should hang on the collar round the burner where the flame ring sits . The flames near the bottom look like fuel spillage but check the burner is snugly tightened and check the lead washer at the threaded join between the tank and the burner . Otherwise looking good

 

Ah yes, you're right. Thanks for your help.

 

Hi, glad it went well and yes they are addictive. I find online to be expensive and prefer finding them in junk shops, and house clearance auctions etc. Also you may find yourself drawn to pressure lamps and even the odd blowlamp.
Regards Firestarter.

 

Congratulations Henry,