thanks for all the help folks. i was taking out the pump rod tonight and noticed fuel in the tube, that can't be good. i'm assuming NRV problem? Ihofeld, to answer your question the handle is black
Hey, Donv, yep, that's what it means, alright. You need to replace your NRV or risk a very nasty conflagration, which can seriously injure (or KILL!) you, and others, and also burn down your house!! Please do NOT take this lightly!! Read up on it, and get the proper tools, and it can be easily accomplished. Put your 111T on the shelf, for now, and when I am back to regular schedule, in late June, we can meet up and take care of your stove. Best to be safe, and not sorry, when it comes to flammable devices. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
A&H has the NRV and the tool. Should i buy the whole valve? Grainger has sheets of viton and nitrile rubber, would 1/16 inch work?
Hi, donv, Well, you might want to get the entire NRV setup, just in case you crush the one that's in there, now. Been there, done that, back in the early days of learning this stuff! As for tools, if you really want the best, you should order them from Stu, in the UK. I have all the standard tools that the big stove companies offered back then, and Stu's put them all to shame!! Robust, accurate, and not that expensive, either!! I rarely use the original tools anymore, mainly because Stu's stuff is so fantastic!! Give him a shout, and see if he has any ready to ship. You will really love that tool, especially if you are planning on getting more stoves. I have both his regular, and also the larger size tool, and they are both the best I've ever seen! As to Viton, 1/16" is a bit thinner than what I use, but it should work for you. Do you have a punch set? If not, you can eyeball it and cut them by hand. Or, just buy them from A&H, or from some of the eBay sellers who make them professionally. I'd send you some goodies, but now, my time is just too short and work too demanding, right now. Got to get back to it, but good luck, and let me know how you make out. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I would suggest a gasket kit from Fettle Box. See the link on the side of this web page? I know it is easy to make gaskets, but I don't want to have to buy a whole sheet, I like supporting Ross, and they are always so good, and they always fit. Ken in NC
So i changed the pump o ring, nrv and fuel cap gasket. the stove is starting up nice but after a few minutes the flame just starts to sputter. there is plenty of fuel and i pumped it about 6 times. any ideas of what could be causing this?
Hi Don, What I would do is take a step back - if nothing else you'll get more in touch with your stove and become more confident with it. Remove the inner and outer caps off the burner and the pre-heating shield if she has one. Unscrew the fuel tank from the stove case frame/heat shield so you're left with just the tank and burner (this is an Optimus 11 roarer, but the idea is the same in that just burner and tank + it's nighttime here so no time or light to take pictures of the Hiker burner/tank so this is the only handy one I have showing the tank/burner): Remove the spindle from the chain connecting it to the one of the pot supports (if it's not chained no worries). Now empty the fuel tank. Unscrew the fuel cap and empty the contents (assuming kerosene) back into a SIGG bottle or equivalent fuel container (use a small funnel with micro-filter too). Rotate the tank back/froth while she's upside down to hopefully get every drop you can out of her. Once satisfied she's empty (there will be a few drops left), place the fuel cap back on her, make sure the fuel control knob is all the way to the right and pump the stove. Pump it 10 times. Take the stove outside, point it out at the grass (hold the stove sideways), and turn the fuel control knob (with the unchained spindle) to the left and you should see what remains of the fuel shooting out of the jet. Keep pumping the stove so all the remaining drops are expelled. If you don't see fuel racing out of the jet then you have a problem with your pump (rubber o-ring and not the leather one I assume?) and creating pressure in the fuel tank (unless the burner or fuel line is blocked somehow). Assuming the fuel does jet out, and as you continue pumping the volume of fuel dwindles to nothing as the fuel is used up (you may see bubbles at the jet), your tank should be empty. Rotate the spindle all the way to the left so you can see the needle poking out of the jet. If the needle is broken off from its 'carrier' you will have to replace the needle or use a pricker to clean the jet. Close the fuel valve and pump the stove again about 10 times. Ensure pressure is being built up in the tank by unscrewing the fuel cap - you should hear air escaping. If you don't the pump is the problem. If you do hear pressure, screw the fuel cap back on, pump it again 10 times and let her sit overnight like this. Next morning check the pressure - do this by either opening the fuel cap or turning the fuel control valve to the left. In either case you should hear escaping air. If you don't you have a pressure leak somewhere. If the pressure is fine the next day, fill the tank with fuel and pump 10 times to generate pressure and let it sit again overnight. Next morning check for fuel in the pump chamber (remove the pump rod and visually check for any liquid) and open the fuel cap (you should hear a hiss as air escapes). If everything is ok, put the burner/tank back in its case with its heat shield, set the inner and outer cap back on the stove, place her pre-heating shield around the burner (assuming it has one), put the spindle back on her chain, etc. Pump the stove 10 times, fill her spirit cup 2/3rds full with methyl hydrate, light it, let her run down til the last few seconds (spirit cup should be 1/2 dry while the other half still burns for another 2-3 seconds) then turn your fuel control knob to the left. Keep your long-nosed lighter handy to ignite the vaporized fuel at the outer cap - as soon as you hear that hiss light her up. It's the process of elimination, and not knowing anything about your stove, to help diagnose I'd just start at the beginning and work up. Optimus 111 Hiker's are great stoves, I have one dedicated to alcohol and use the appropriate larger jet (#2508) + restrictor tube (#5213). The others are dedicated to coleman fuel and kerosene: using jet No. 2509 and NO restrictor tube (although an error in my 1989 'How to use' Hiker brochure claims when using Gasoline as fuel that restrictor 5163 must be fitted - that is incorrect). I'd also helpful to take pictures before/after you begin dismantling the stove so you know how to put her back together (or just for history sake). Also a good time to clean out the tin with the stove/fuel tank out of case, not to mention her other parts.
It's also very useful to have spare parts from good, working compatible stoves so you can swap them out (pump, fuel cap, etc) in an attempt to troubleshoot (and vice versa). So you'll just need to get another few 111's or 22's or...
Check for leakage out of the SRV also. (valve in the fuel cap). Dunk the pressurized guts in water, but leave the pump tube upside down to prevent intrusion by the water. Open the spindle then to see if any leaks other than out of the jet. Duane
Hey, Donv, Shaun, my offer remains. If you want me to take a look at your stove, please send it to me, and I'll give it a complete going over to see if I can find the problem. Send me a PM and I'll send my address. Not to worry, as this stove can certainly be fixed. Just a matter of sussing out the main problem, and taking care of that. Talk later, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi, @JP2, Nice to hear from you! Well, as it turned out, I met Shaun (donv) in Hollywood, where he worked, or nearby. I ended up replacing his fuel cap gasket, and think I did the SRV in the fuel cap, too. His o-ring was nasty, and didn't work a bit, so I swapped him out for an earlier Optimus pump rod, with a good leather pump bucket on it. I then tested the stove, and it worked perfectly. Since then, I've sent Shaun invitations to many of our CASG events, as he lives close enough to actually join us. But, he never seemed interested in doing that, and in fact, I have not heard from him after my last invitation, and since I fixed his stove. I don't know if he even stops by here at CCS, anymore, either. IF he's had problems with that stove since I fettled it back to life, then he must have done something to it to muck it up. It was working like brand new when I tested it, and he seemed very happy with it. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc PS - Somewhere, here on CCS, is a photo I posted of donv, with his 111T working like a champ! Don't know where to find it, though.....
