Optimus 45 Tank burst - Todays excitement.

this is over priced but thought of you when i saw it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Kerosen...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item588051a6c2

 

Hi Nagant, Thank you for thinking of me , unfortunately the link doesn't work.
However, I have already been promised a sitable replacement tank by a very good friend, here on CCS. I will post phots of this joint-venture Op.45 when the parts come together!
Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Hi, When I had my Optimus 45 tank rupture, the paraffin sprayed out of the base of the tank via the rupture. Luckily it did not ignite despite the stove running at the time.

Today, I thought I had better cut the grass in the "back yard" and I saw that the paraffin spill had killed the grass where it landed. I replace the Op.45 in the position it had been in at the time of the incident and took a few photos:



I realised a couple of things on seeing the pattern of damaged grass:

1. The paraffin had sprayed up to 6 ft from the failed tank.

2. The tank had ruptured in such a position that, luckily, the spray was away from the operator (me!)


Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

That's great info for me! I have been thinking of an easy way to get rid of the grass on the road in front of our house. Pulling it away works, but it is hard work, burning it with a blowtorch also works, but the neighbours started to watch me in their windows, probably afraid that I will burn up their houses. But spraying some kero would probably not even be noticed...

 

The smell of kero might give you away! Never thought of weed-killer?

Regards,

Wim

Oh, BTW, if you want to get rid of bats, they hate the smell of kero.... 8)

 

I have tested different type of weed killers, and some actually do work, sort of, but most of them let some types of weed grow anyway. And I dont think they are less poisonous than kero, at least not when you read what it says on the package as you should wear rubber glowes, goggles and all kind of safty equipment. I have eaten food that had kero in it (by misstake) and didn't even get sick even if it tasted bad

 

Kerophile,

You've blown my cover. I've been blaming marks like that on our lawn on next door's cats. I hope the wife doesn't see this....

I used to be able to blame the foxes until foxhunting was banned. Now the farmers just gas the dens instead I haven't seen a fox in the garden for a couple of years. Another sensational victory for the green townies!

Cheers, Graham.

 

Hi, Here is a follow-up:

Doc kindly offered to send me a "spare" Optimus 45 tank he had in his "Hobbit" hole. Later, however, he warned me that when he found the tank, he realised that a previous owner had soldered the "collapsible" legs into their sockets.....

Doc had real problems in trying to remove these legs, as he was concerned that he might melt the feet-to-tank solder joint. He was also really busy so just sent me the whole tank assembly.

Today, Doc's replacement tank arrived safely in the Far North Of Scotland. Great Packaging!

I was out in my boat fishing this morning, in a half-gale, as it happened, so I missed the Post and got notification that they were holding a package for me.

I picked up the package at 1614h and rushed home.
I removed the solder-in legs, freed-up the caps, and then swapped over the pump and burner assembly from my "ruptured tank" Op.45.

After filling with fuel the stove passed the Kerophile Tea Test by 1710h:



I can see why Doc had difficulty with the legs. The person who fitted them "squeezed" the steel feet sockets, tight against the legs, before he soldered them in. Later, rust formed in the socket and really seized up the joint. They took a fair bit of strong language, heat and force to shift them....but I now have a spare set of legs! I will also refurbish the pump assembly.

Many thanks to Doc for his contribution...

We now have an operating Op.45 again.

Best Regards,
Kerophile.



Many thanks for your kindness. It is much appreciated.

 

Hi, Kerophile,

You are very welcome for the stove tank and bits, my Friend! It's been quite a while since you so kindly sent me that very nice Corona cap for a silent burner, and it's taken all that time for me to figure out a way to repay your kindness and generosity! I am flat-out amazed that you could get those soldered in legs unsoldered! I tried, and tried, with no success at all. Also, the amount of time it took you between getting the package unpacked, to having your old 45 back up and running, is a wonder, indeed!! You are a fettling fiend, and a fine one, at that!! Great to see that Optimus tank having been put to such good use, and by a good friend. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
doc (who now wonders if this old tank will start to "purr" with a bit of a Scottish brogue!) 8)

 

Hi, I think I solved the mystery of why my original Optimus No.45 stove unexpectedly "popped".

As I said in the introduction, this stove came to me for "spares or repair" and was missing both its filler and reserve caps. The whole stove also had a uniform, unblemished, but rather "matt" appearance.

When I removed the burner after the accident I was surprised to detect grit in the burner and on the tank threads...it was a uniform gray colour and very hard; then I realised...it was grit blasting abrasive. The seller, or a previous owner had decided to clean up the stove before sale and had grit-blasted it! Because there was no filler cap in position, grit had ended up in the tank.

More significantly I think the abrasive blasting had been too enthusiastic and it is likely that the wall thickness of the tank, particularly on the base had been very signifcantly reduced.

I reckon the new jet, which I had fitted, quickly became blocked when I first used the stove, and the slightly increased pressure when I pumped more, was sufficient to fail the tank.

I shall be very wary of uniformly clean tanks with a matt finish in future!

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Hey, Kerophile,

This sounds perfectly plausible to me. You are a true stove detective, Lad! Well done, and a good warning to the rest of us, to keep our eyes open for such clues, and to refrain from enthusiastic cleaning with grit. Again, well done, George! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

so you blame farmers gassing foxes on green townies ? i would have thought if their being gassed it would be down to the farmer not the townies/anti hunt people, but then you have an axe to grind about the ban and blame it on the moral majority
tell you what Graham how about having a load of toffee nosed prat's chase you on horseback with a pack of hounds until your so exhausted you can run no further then let the hounds rip you apart, after all it's just for sport and you wouldn't mind being treated in the same manner as the fox i'm sure.

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btw i think it's a cruel barbaric way to despatch any animal and if farmers are caught gassing foxes i hope they are locked away and banned from ever farming again and the same go's for the sick f*cks that kill badgers and poison birds of prey

 

Whoof!!!

 

Hi Kerophile and Doc,

Fantastic teamwork across five thousand miles to bring a 45 back to life - excellent.

That is some impressive flame!

Cheers, Graham.

 

George,

What a fantastic flame , intense -

Do you think the fuel "shot" out 6 feet or could the long dead grass trail be from a little seepage too ?

Tom

 

Hi Tom, I reckon the fuel jet did cover 6 foot or so!
Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Bravo! Good fettling. Wonderful to see her up and running well.

 

Nice flame there George.

I love the shape on those stoves, remove the burner/legs/pump and use the tank as a discus, I think you could kill a fox at 50 metres with practise.

 

Hi Richard...always the peace-maker!
But would it be humane?

Best Regards,
George.

 

Depends entirely on the speed and accuracy of the fling (and the mass of the tank -- (mv^2)/2). It would be a lot more sporting than putting out strichnine-laced bait though, and would probably require more skill than the horses-and-dogs method.
....Arch