Optimus 8r clogged up!

I'm new to this forum as I have just started to overhaul or fettle my old Optimus 8r which I have not used since the 1960s. I intend to do some solo camping on my motorbike and the 8r will be ideal. I have taken it apart and the vaporising tube, control valve, injector nipple and needle are all heavily coated internally in a hard black soot like substance. Any recommendations for de-coking these parts or do I need to replace the whole vaporising tube assembly?

Thanks, Alan

 

Hi Alan, welcome to CCS.
If you have the patience to read through this thread you will learn a lot about cleaning blocked burners. The Ultrasonic approach is probably not applicable to your situation, but the coke burning methods are:

https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/ultrasonic-cleaning-of-stove-burners.27409/


Before working on an Op.8R this post is worth studying:

https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/optimus-no-8r-first-steps-filler-cap-wick.92/

Best Regards,
Kerophile.

 

Hi Kerophile, thank you for the welcome and the advice. I did look at the item on stripping an 8r before I started mine and found it very informative.
The ultrasonic cleaner looks to be a good bit of kit and would come in handy for my old motorbike renovation as well. I'll look into buying one of those.

Regards, Alan

 

Welcome!
What kinda bike?
I'm an 8R fan too.

 

Hi Billyboy..........the bike that I am renovating at the moment is a 1985 BMW K100RT. I've had it for about 9 years but sadly neglected to care for it so it's having a full strip down and refurb.

 

Ah. Very cool.
I ride a 78 Suzuki GS1000.

 

Welcome aboard !
It must be one of the early K100, isn't it ?
8R seem to be good stoves, I think I'll try to find one, one day...

 

Yes the K100RT (full touring fairings and luggage) was first manufactured in 1983. Mine was made in 1984 but first sold and registered in 1985.

 

That's a lovely bike!

 

Thanks. I'm rather fond of it.

 

I have two friends who owned GS1000s.........real muscle bikes.
I am currently riding a 2007 BMW R1200GS and I love it. Sorry no picture.

 

We have 2 of these same threads going on with different answers.

 

That's my fault for posting twice by mistake. There was a request for an administrator to combine the two threads.

 

And you are posting in both.
May I suggest that you pick one and forget the other one???

 

With respect, if forum members can be bothered to offer advice to me then I will respond to them. As far as I'm concerned it is one thread. We are only discussing camping stoves is it such a big problem???

 

Lets talk about bikes in this thread.

 

Whatever.

 

Bikes are for the lounge not the Fettling Forum plz.

 

Better not..........I'm only a newbie and already I've upset the establishment. I think I had better go away for a while.

 

It's easily done - I'm sure I have made the mistake at some point and then regretted it the same.
Heres' the place to get your 8R sorted so i hope you make progress on the burner clean out whichever method you choose. I have never had one so I can't really comment.

I would suggest if it's a roarer leave it that way unless for some reason you need stealth mode.
I'm puzzled by the silent cap thing. I started with a silent and it was a pain for underburn and wind.
Others chatted on about their roarers - when I first laid hands on one I was amazed how much better they were outdoors.

Indoors I might still agree silents have their place. Leave them there. Maybe this is why the popularity of conversion caps?