Radius No 1 S:or

Discussion in 'Radius No:1' started by Rodger Willows, Nov 29, 2023.

  1. Rodger Willows

    Rodger Willows Subscriber

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    This stove was "found" in Stanthorpe, QLD on my travels and it's evidence of a hard working life appealed to me.

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    The bespoke flame ring is a wonderful feature!

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    And the elongated pump tube cap indicates a good useful life...

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    I was able to replace the Optimus filler cap

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    The pump "cup" was a sandwich of leathers

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    Leg profile

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    I initially fettled this whilst in COVID isolation upon return to TAS.

    I've never encountered so much green "sludge" when cleaning/rinsing a fuel tank! After multiple nut-slurry rinse outs I was happy to attempt a firing up, which didn't inspire me. Despite my attempts to clean the inner tank the jet/nipple clogged and when I did eventually get some flame it was obviously too rich.

    I then decided to re-jet it...

    There's nothing quite like the sensation of screwing in a jet and having the head twist off leaving the remainder in the nipple seat!

    Never mind, I can just fit that other age-appropriate Radius roarer burner, but alas it has significant leak from a hole at the base of the nipple/jet seat.

    I really wanted to maintain the integrity of this stove so I had to remove the offending piece of threaded brass...

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    Success!

    There are quite a few options when it comes to "Ezy-Outs" it seems, but mine did the job for me and it had been given to me by a friend too.

    Now I have to end and post the rest in the next comment...
     
  2. Rodger Willows

    Rodger Willows Subscriber

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    Roaring away!

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    No evidence of sooting on the kettle.

    For an old workhorse with multiple re-solderings, bespoke flame ring and worn pump cap, it is very rewarding to have it returned to good working order.

    Thanks!
     
  3. Magne Fahre

    Magne Fahre Norway Subscriber

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    Nice :content: I like the way you patiently fettled it, preserving the patina and history
     
  4. Knee

    Knee Poland SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Really great job! That flame is probably the best reward for all the effort.
    Well, and the preservation of this layer of many years of patina, commendable.
    Congratulations.
     
  5. Blackdog

    Blackdog United Kingdom SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Rodger Willows My hearty congratulations for returning this stove to sound running condition while conserving all that tremendous weathering, the wear and repairs that take time and use to form.

    Well done for your patience cleaning out the tank- it can be a long and dull process- and reviving the original burner, a good reminder of what can be done.

    Really good to see a good strong flame from such a great piece of history!
     
  6. Ziradog

    Ziradog Subscriber

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    Excellent job (& pictures), but...what happened to the spider?
    Screenshot 2023-11-29 082412.jpg
     
  7. Stanisław Grajewski

    Stanisław Grajewski Poland SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Rodger Willows
    Congratulations, amazing resuscitation! How did you drill the old jet prior to applying of left-handed removal tool?
    Stanisław
     
  8. Rodger Willows

    Rodger Willows Subscriber

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    @Ziradog He was well and truly "cooked"!

    @Stanisław Grajewski The head of the jet/nipple had sheared off leaving the threaded portion buried in the base of the jet/nipple seat.

    There proved to be multiple choices in #1 thread removal tools

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    I chose a pre-loved one provided by a friend (which was the same as that on the left).
    I used another old nipple/jet to gauge how much of the tapered end to remove.
    I didn't use any drill for the old jet as it already had a hole through it.
    I had to be mindful of not wanting to pierce the burner tube below the jet/nipple seat when it engaged with the threaded remains when I was cutting it to length.
    I used my trusty Dremel to grind corresponding faces along the shaft (which was conveniently 3mm).
    In retrospect I would attempt to grind a hexagonal form for the shaft as it proved difficult to work with a square shaft within the tube/legs of the burner. My saviour was a disposable needle holder (from days past) that enabled me to grasp the spiral-threaded portion and turn it incrementally.

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    The "spoon" with the hole allowed me to keep the thread remover in vertical alignment whilst also enabling me to apply downward pressure to engage the offending portion.
     
  9. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Nice work, Rodger.

    I have the leaky burner in the silbraze queue.

    Tony
     
  10. Rodger Willows

    Rodger Willows Subscriber

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  11. Stanisław Grajewski

    Stanisław Grajewski Poland SotM Winner Subscriber

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    @Rodger Willows
    Thanks for "know how" You managed very difficult procedure.
    Stanisław