Tempermental cooker - Pressurised Paraffin

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Seal_surfer

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Any one know how to flush out debris from the fuel tank of my Optimus twin burner hob? It is similar to some Taylors models, so there must be some knowledge of these scary beasts out there!

I have been having persistent problems with one burner. So far I have replaced jet, pricked it clean repeatedly, dismantled, cleaned and flushed burner control and emptied and refilled tank several times.

All works fine for a while, then up shoots the yellow flames, which sometimes recover if I shutdown/relight or prick clean.
It seems likely that there is still debris coming from tank, but there is no drain, and the filling pipe projects inside some way and prevents complete draining. I have tried using an "oil change" pump to suck out, but it is a bit feeble - can't see whether I'm succeeding.

Anything else I could try?
OK, getting an Origo excepted. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I had the same thing happen with my Optimist as you i tried everything,evetualy i just put it overboard.A small splash. I bought an alcohol cooker so far its worked faultlessly and well if a bit slow but you get used to that?

Otherwise better buy a good gas cooker.Parafin is saddly rubbish you wont clear the jets once they start burning yellow its the end.Mine lost one ring in the end i thought that just one burner was too little

Overboard with it!mine gave a splash almost 3 foot high what will yours give???Depends on its age!
 
I'm not overly familiar with the Optimus, but does the tank have a pressure gauge? The usual reasons for yellow flame would be a lack of pre heat, or a loss of pressure. I'd check that the pump leather is giving you good service and pumping efficiently, and that any safety valve on the tank isn't leaking air. Also try asking the forums on the ClassicCampStoves website - on of the guys on there restored the Primus that was used for Gypsy Moth IV..
Another possibility could be, that if you narrow the problem down to dirt in the tank, and you can get it empty, using some sort of liquid petrol tank sealant. I should think that would be a last resort though!
 
Thanks for suggestions. Yes there is a pressure guage, which is kept pumped up correctly.Definitely preheating OK. I have seen just learnt that they tend to carbon up if left on low burn for long periods (that's how we use it!), so need to be burnt off, and a regular light tap on the burner casting is supposed to help dislodge this. Pricking every time its used seems to be good practice. I have tried all this today several times, and it does seem improved - so far, so good.

Once its lit and settled, it runs forever on negligible fuel, so I'll persevere a little more.

The pre-calor gas generation managed with these "Primus" style burners for decades, so they can't be that bad, although there wasn't much alternative I suppose.
 
If the burner is badly carboned up, there is a rather drastic but effective method that can be used to clean it. Remove the burner, then remove the jet, spindle and all the washers. Then take the lot outside... NEVER TRY THIS INDOORS! Heat the burner body to cherry red with a gas torch or similar, and then at arms length drop it into a bucket of water. The thermal shock of the quenching will break off any carbon, as the metal shrinks really quickly as it's dunked. This has worked for me several times in the past... but it is very dramatic! I have also had more moderate results with leaving the burner in a container of caustic soda overnight. If all else fails then parts for the OPtimus 55/155 burner are available from Base Camp at quite reasonable cost.
I live aboard, and use a Taylors which I rebuilt from a cheap wreck, and am very happy with it. I can cook for around a month on a gallon of paraffin, which is about half the cost of the Calor gas the old installation used.. Couple that with the fact that the whole thing is simple, better to look at, and won't fill your bilges with potentially explosive vapour if there's a leak, and I reckon you're onto a winner! Keep persevering!
 
I don't know the Optimus but I had a Taylor's for many years, using Optimus burners. I had similar problems and, after messing about for ages in a similar way to you, I dismantled the whole stove. I was surprised to find that each burner has two jets - the obvious one and another where the fuel pipe enters the burner assembly. I can see absolutely no use for this, except possibly to act as a sort of filter for debris. After cleaning it a couple of times I removed it completely and never had another problem with the stove.
 
Excellent advice. I have found mention of additional balancing jets on some burners, and this must be what you found Vyv. The way it is behaving does seem to indicate that there is partial blockage before the main burner jet. I will look at connecting pipework from burner to tank and see if I can find this other jet.

It burns so sweetly usually, so its so frustrating when its compromised by an unidentified speck somewhere.

I like the suggestions for cleaning, and assume that the spindle seals need removal before heating to avoid damage. Thw whole cooker was refurbished with new burners professionally a few years back, so I will keep persevering.

Many thanks for all the really good advice.
 
Your really WANT a parrafin cooker!!!??As i said ive had two Optimists one stainless the other white enamel,on both one burner worked perfectly the other not!
The burners are not as simple as thought i seem to remember there are quite a few small parts makeing them up and if one bits sticking or gets dirt/dust even i wouldent be suprised its back to yellow flame and soot

Im sure my pricker worked but never helped the bad burner much,therefor must have been another problem.I can understand useing and maintaining a Taliors as they look really tradintional have a solid feel and cost a fortune!But an Optimist?

It dosent have a grill nor oven parrafin is a bit messey and even today there are many "qualities" In Malta i used a my Optamist buying good parraffin from a "parafin man" its was very inexpensive and clean.

Back in Italy/France the Parrafin become VERY expensive! Today hear in France you "can" find it but costs 2.30 euros a liter white spirit costs from 5 euross for 6 liters to 5.99 for 5 liters though i was never sure burning that was good for the health??I was told white spirt had lead and other things???That parafin dosent?

Parafin is cheeper to run than camping gas but not when you buy a "cube"or other domestic gas bottle.A pressure burner for liquid fule tends to be less reliable though i have a small petrol and even smaller alcohol burner that get there pressure by pre heat.

Unless your really determined to cook with parrafin and suffer the sooty pan/kettel bottems which no doubt is why Tailors are mad as they are to prevent that.I would say go for an alcohol cooker chep to run (1.20 euro liter) alcohol can be found everywhere and the cooker is very simple and alcohols not messy when spilt.

If you MUST have parafin buy a tailors. By the way both my optamists had pressure indicators

What ever remember with any cooker its the results that are to be looked forward to less than the functioning!
 
Bit late joining in on this thread, but I have found the burners on our Taylors gum up after a couple of seasons & no ammount of pricking will clear them. I strip them & soak the parts in household ammonia - cleans them up like new!
 
Don't throw it overboard!! Paraffin is much safer than gas which goes BOOM!! (See the last few editions of PBO for various incidents). Speak to the expert:- The Base Camp, The Lamp Loft, Littlehampton. Phone-01903 723853. e-mail:-spares@base-camp.co.uk. Web Site www.base-camp.co.uk. This last gives some exploded views.

Malcolm
 
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