I'd never really paid this much attention before, but the valve stem on my Opti 88 is misaligned - or at least, it seems like it is. Instead of the usual orientation, where the stem is aligned over the "1" in "123," on mine it is almost 180 degrees opposite the cap, pretty much oriented over the "SW" in "SWEDEN." Had I not had this since it was new, I would have thought a prior owner had mucked with it. A quick search of various Opti 88 pics on the interwebs show the stem properly oriented (at least, I assume they are 88s and not a 123 + 124 combination), but a handful are more like mine. Including the Optimus 88 instructions. So my question is...well, I don't really know what my question is. I guess it's original to the factory this way, but it doesn't line up properly with a traditional windscreen so it's only usable with the 88 setup. Did Optimus find a use for screwed-up 123s and package them as an 88? John PS - I guess I did sorta figure out what my question was after all...
I sure there was meant to be no difference but I guess if they had some that were misaligned they could easily have been put aside for 88 outfits. Not sure how you'd fix that without replacing the burner. Maybe some graphite tape on the threads or 'modify' the thread on the stem?
Here's a pic. It's always worked fine, and I reckon I don't have a reason to try to adjust the alignment, since I have other 123s with a windscreen available to me. Thinking about keeping it this way as evidence of how it came from the factory. Curious if anyone else has one like this.
As long as the valve isn't directly over the tank cap, you're good. I actually recieved one like that, couldn't fill it without making a big mess! I too have an Opti 88, It seems mine is missing the stove hold-down 'Bail'. Maybe I'll make one up...
It could be a previous user over-tightened the stem in an effort to make a leaking joint seal better? Probably what happened to Bajabums stove aswell. I have an optimus eagle like that. It doesn't suffer for it either since the windshield can acommodate the valve key in almost any direction.
If it was used, I would have come to exactly that same conclusion - that a previous owner had done something to it to change the position of the stem. But, in this case, it came from the factory this way (I am the original owner). And I swear, I didn't do it! John
Baja Some 88's dont have the bail just too raised bits that hold the tank loosely like the washers rivetted on in a Sigg Tourist. Gary
You're correct, Gary! I dug out my 88, and it has the little nubs. It has been determined (by Ross, IIRC), that mine is an early one pan, Optimus 88, so perhaps the bail is a later mod? Excuse the fuzzy pic, I couldn't find the Macro Mode...
