This stove, made in February 2004 is the last of the MSR XGK series of stoves that had the “solid” steel fuel line. In my opinion, (which I will expand on later in this post) this stove was probably the best and without doubt the most adaptable of the MSR XGK series of stoves. Before I describe the stove I shall reiterate what I have written elsewhere in the Stove Reference Library: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20447 “The MSR XGK II Expedition is no more than the MSR XGK II SHAKER stove...the "Expeditionary" tag was merely marketing.” The first photo shows the stove as it came from the retailer (I omitted in error, photographing the MSR stuff sack…but a stuffsack is just a stuff sack). The stove was supplied, as can be seen from the photo, with the following items: MSR XGK II stove, Panwire assembly Pump Jet and cable tool O ring for pump X jet (for diesel fuel) Aluminium windshield Aluminium heat reflector Instruction manual in various languages (Note the title in the English language instructions are MSR XGK TM Expedition Stove and in French MSR XGK II TM Expedition Stove. A note on the “improved” MSR pump plunger Note: I have previously posted the instruction manual for the MSR XGK II Expedition Stove in the Reference Library here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20447 From October 1981 MSR put a “date stamp” on the aluminium alignment block – MSR, in these instructions I posted in the Stove Reference Library: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20233 gave a good drawing of the date coding and I reproduced it in this image within that post: https://classiccampstoves.com/fusion/gallery/1604/1325363715-MSR_XGK_II_KIT003_opt.jpg This is the alignment block with the February 2004 code on this stove: I have a MSR XGK II “Expedition” stove from the last year it was made (2004) and the penultimate year (2003): A photo of the enclosure, note the screw & bolt adjacent to the fuel line. This prevents accidental movement of the fuel line. In earlier MSR models (9, 9A, MF, G & GK) this screw was where the sparker unit was fitted. I have posted a photo of the sparker unit in the Stove Reference Gallery here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20235 The sparker unit can be seen clearly in a MSR GK stove in Sam’s post in the Stove Reference Gallery here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/ A photo of the burner unit. As you can see from this photo MSR, in those days, unlike any other stove manufacturer (as far as I know) always ran the stove prior to shipping. This can be seen by the tarnished burner bell and flame spreader. You can also observe that the priming pad is square and I have addressed this issue before in the Stove Reference Library here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/19881 In the first paragraph of this post I stated “In my opinion, this stove was probably the best and without doubt the most adaptable of the MSR XGK series of stoves.” I’ll now expand on this. In the next photograph the reader will see six jets, top to bottom they are as follows: Top left GK and top right X. The MSR XGK II Expedition was supplied with the GK jet fitted in the burner. This jet was a mulit-fuel jet, G for white gas and K for kerosene. As such it is a compromise jet, but a such performs extraordinarily well. Middle left is the SG jet and middle right the SK jet as supplied to the first MSR XGK II shaker jets from October 1994. When MSR brought out the first XGK II shaker jet stoves in October 1994 they were following their previous practice (as they did for the XGK II) of supplying fuel specific jets. Lower left is the G (white gas) and lower right K (kerosene) jet as supplied to the MSR XGK II non-shaker stove from October 1981 until it was discontinued in September 1994. O.K., before I continue here is a photo of those jets: The reason I believe that the MSR XGK II shaker (regardless whether it had the “Expeditionary” tag or not) is the fact that it will accept the MSR XGK II non-shaker jets. This ability allows the stoveuser to use fuel specific jets which are superior to the compromise GK jet. (which are still available from good mountain climbing retailers…at least in the U.K. they are). Here is a photo of a shaker jet from the MSR XGK II shaker stove alongside the jet from a XGK II non-shaker jet: The length of the jets are different but the thread is the same. I use the jets from the XGK II non-shaker. The long length of the shaker jet is to accommodate the shaker needle weight as seen in this photo: A close up of the needle: For the person that does not want to faff about then leave the shaker needle in situ and use the provided jet. For enthusiasts or for mountaineers that want a reliable stove that will not cause problems then I would suggest dump the needle and either use the shaker jet or for best performance use either a MSR XGK II non-shaker G or K jet or, if one can find them use the SG or SK jets. In my view, this last of the solid fuel line MSR stoves was the end of an era, the end of a period when function gave way to fashion. For those that camp in demanding terrain in less than optimum weather this was the stove. It was a stove that one could light outside the tent and once primed and roaring away one just grabbed the fuel bottle and, as fuel bottle connected rigidly to the stove via the solid fuel line one could and can bring the stove safely into the tent. One just can’t do that with a flexible fuel line. For sure there are the feint hearts that cringe about using a pressure stove within a tent….and of course all stove manufacturers on advice from their lawyers warn against such practice…….but they have never been there have they? I think Chip Rawlins in THE COMPLETE WALKER IV by Colin Fletcher & Chip Rawlins, KNOPF 2001 said it best and I quote: On the border of convenience and safety lies some dubious terrain. One reason a great many mountaineers and foul-weather campers choose cartridge stoves is that their relative predictability offers the potential (unanimously condemned by the makers) of cooking under tarps, in tent vestibules, and even inside tents. This, as the makers rightly observe, can be dangerous: a flare-up can torch your tent, sleeping bag, and you (clad in melt-to-the-skin synthetics) as well. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to dementia and death. But, if to cook or not to cook is the question, under the lash of wind and freezing rime, it can seem more perilous not to. So, to all corporate liability lawyers: mea maxima culpa. Forgive me, strict sirs and madams, for I have simmered under my Heptawing as an incessant four-day rain hammered down. And have boiled, no less, in the vestibule of my Galaxy Ultralight as wind-driven snow hissed along the taut angles of the fly. And I committed these sins not just with cartridge stoves. I've gone so far as to prime and start an XGK outside, and then to place it brazenly on a snow ledge beneath the vestibule of a VE-25. And, yes, I performed this act not once but many times in two decades of ski mountaineering. Yes, counselors, I did pay great attention indeed to keeping all heat and flame away from the tent fabric and no less to venting dangerous fumes. Given a weather edge, I'll set up my stove outside under trees or overhangs, or even build tiny a half-igloo in arm's reach of the tent. But alas, some cold and wind-beaten times I simply had to get inside the effing tent and into my effing sleeping bag to cook my effing dinner in order to stay alive. I'm not saying it's a brilliant thing to do. Only that it's not inevitably fatal. To this day, many very experienced polar adventurers and mountaineers use the MSR XGK with its solid fuel line in preference to the current model with the flexible fuel line. Finally the pump that came with the 2004 MSR XGK II Expedition stove: This pump was probably one of the worst pumps MSR ever made…but if you buy a second hand MSR XGK II with this pump…just dump the pump or keep and not use it. Just read many of the accounts of pump failures, including this pump in some of my posts in the Stove Reference Library, Stoves in Literature – SubForum. The current MSR Duraseal pump is the best pump MSR has ever made, it is totally reliable and very, very cheap…in fact one could regard it as a consumable. At today’s price in the U.K (January 27 2012) a MSR Duraseal pump costs a mere £34.99…..I can’t even put 25 litres of diesel in my vehicle for that. Cheers, Rob
mr. sg - thank you for taking the time in putting this together - those close-up macro pics are very well done! willie
Hi Willie, Thanks for the compliment. It is my strong belief that the Stove Reference Gallery should be exactly that – a reference point for those interested in stoves. I believe very strongly that all stoves shown in the Reference Gallery should be accompanied by good, clear photographs, showing relevant and significant parts. It is also my belief that the text accompanying photographs should be factual, interesting and dispassionate. It actually did not take very long to do. I was out on my daily 10 Km dog walk and as I had no further walks planned for the day other than a further afternoon dog walk I thought that when I got home I’d scan the instruction “manual” for the MSR XGK “Expedition” stove. I did that which can be seen here: https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20447 When that was complete, and as it was sunny I thought I’d photograph one of my MSR XGK “Expedition” stoves. Photography takes no time at all. I insist on natural light for my stove photographs and as I prefer to be out walking during the daylight hours I mostly don’t have the opportunity to photograph stoves. I have several more variations on the MSR solid fuel line type of stoves to photograph – they too will be accompanied by good photographs and factual and hopefully interesting as well as dispassionate narrative. Cheers, Rob
Hey Rob, that is the model stove I have and the pump too! I have used the pump a few times with no problem but I will keep in mind the possibility of failure which is good to know. The block is stamped MSR114 so am not sure if that would be 2004. I recently changed the felt pad on it from a 250 degree fireproof felt (black). I can not by looking at the photos of the jets if there is any percievable size difference between the G & K jets. Would you happen to know the aperture size? Ron
Ron, I would strongly advise you not to use that pump. That particular pump has (like many of its MSR forebears) a weakness where the valve enters the plastic housing. It can crack easily, I have an example, given to me by a climber where it failed during a climbing expedition to Chile.I'll photograph sometime and post it in one of the CCS forums outwith the Reference Gallery. Do buy and use a new standard (Duraseal) fuel pump. They only cost around $35 or so in the USA which is a lot cheaper than they are here in the U.K. and even here they are very, very cheap. As I said in my post just regard the pump as a consumable. Your pump might be O.K. in your back yard but there is just no way I would use that pump in winter mountaineering - or for that matter for any extended period anywhere in any activity. Cheers, Rob
Hey Rob, thanks for the advise. I do have other pumps I can use instead of the original for the XGK. Ron
