I was able to go for my last backpack trip of 2011 yesterday, only having to hike under an hour from my yard to a ridge where I set up camp, after packing in two quarts/liters of water. It was warmer there than at home. Same this morning when I got home. Last night, just before it got dark, I got my Enders going to simmer some Bear Creek Creamy Potato soup for 15 minutes. I figured I could just open the valve and let some gas out to prime the stove with and save myself from having to pack some alcohol to use to prime the stove with. What a mess. Gas on the bottom of the case, on the tool, around the spindle and cleaning needle shaft. Repeat this AM for breakfast and it took longer to get a blue flame. Everyone else have this issue if not priming with alcohol and an eye dropper or at least some well directed gas into the priming area of the stove? Thanks Chef BC for the knob and shaft to enable me to use the stove. Duane
That's all I ever do on these Enders and Svea 123s - I use the fuel that's in it to prime it. It primes cleaner with alcohol/meths but white gas will prime the stove as long as you get enough of it to do the prime with. White gas/Coleman Fuel will burn with a larger flame with less fuel so it seems like you are doing a great prime. Just use a little more. If all else fails, use alcohol/meths. I like not carrying around extra/different fuels, so I use the stove's fuel, unless it is kerosene, then I bring the alco/meths. 2 cents, sam
Yeah Sam, but letting it flow out of the jet makes it go all over everything and everywhere, that's just the way it is built. At home, using my eye dropper, I can place the alcohol right where it will do the most good. This thing is still like the military would use it, old paint an all so I don't want to mess the bottom paint up. Duane
Duane, You are welcome , I hope your Enders gives you many happy years of use. When priming with the benzin fuel; I would suspect that is what was common practice in the Bundeswehr. The instruction plate on the inside of the lid states: "durch Öffnen des Ventils (Reglerknopf nach links drehen) mit Benzin füllen, wenn ¾ voll." (by opening the valve (turn knob to the left), fill with gasoline, when ¾ full.") As we all know [and has been found on every Enders 9061 stove I have owned], meths, Coleman fuel soots the burner and the inside of the stove case. Convenient, yes but I hate cleaning it!
This stove isn't built like other stoves, you have all the shafts, tubes underneath which get in the way of the downward flow of the fuel. The parts get in the way, diverting fuel, not like a MSR or Svea which I have many of and have no problem priming. Duane
Usually, only one pump so the gas does not squirt all over, I let it slowly come out and flow and find its course to the cup where it prepares itself to be ignited into hot flashes as the air and fuel mix into one hot delight. Sounds familiar? I will take my coat and tippy-toe out the door. Ron
I also prefer to use meths and a small eyedropper full of meths takes up very little room. A 25ml bottle does close to a dozen primes. Original instructions on the Optimus stoves was to warm the tank with your hands then turn the knob on to get a few drops of gas to prime. At home this works very well and the 123 will light with a blue flame after about 15 seconds of gasoline prime but its easy to overdo it and have a dinner plate sizes priming flame. Also in the field the optimus guys never tried this with cold hands. Dont be tempted to try pouring a little gas on the stove You get a garbage can lid sized priming flame. (dont ask) Meths just works
As I recall the "warm by hands" method was recommended for igniting the Borde Bomb too? Here we are getting back to vapor pressure exerted inside a closed vessel once again.....a mini Chernobyl in my driveway...burned arm hair really stinks! Ron don't think you can sneak out without being seen!
I pumped it up pretty good, then opened the valve, waiting for fuel to dribble down to where it should, to prime the stove, not wanting to burn the paint off. Even then, it flared up with me working the fuel knob for at least half a minute, just too cold out there. It takes no effort in the garage at home, using meths. Takes right off. Nothing like real conditions. Duane
Duane, I have the same result when I prime my Enders with fuel from the tank via the jet. Some ends up in the priming cup, but a fair amount creeps elsewhere. As you point out, there is just too much plumbing under the burner and the fuel goes everywhichway. I am impressed that you picked a substantial stove to carry, even if it was just an hour hike.
Thanks for understanding the stove itchy. I like your word better, creep. I wanted to bring my camera, HJ bugs me about taking some photos on my outings, I had enough weight, having to pack two quarts/liters of water as it was a rare dry camp on the ridge, although I had a view towards the Pacific Crest Trail. I was packed for winters cold conditions, so my pack was heavy, plus I brought my MSR G again with the fuel bottle and pump. I did not use it, I was happy enough with the Enders. Duane
Duane, You could also just throw and eyedropper in to your case and use that to pull the gas out of the tank and put it in the tray I tape one to the inside of the lid for this purpose. No problems. Otherwise, like Ron said just pump once to let the gas dribble out.
I thought of bringing meths and the eye dropper, but thought I would see how it went by letting the fuel ooze out. Now I know. Duane
