I have a Princess Optimus pressure alcohol stove where one burner works fine, the other makes a popping or backfire sound. Does anyone have a solution to fix this, short of throwing it overboard? Thanks...Tim
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Your fuel/air mixture is probably off .....
Close down on the 'air' adjustment so that enough vapor 'pushes' the fire 'outside' the burner head. Without seeing it my guess is that the burner is operating too lean and fire is entering back into the inside of the burner and some combustion is taking place 'inside' the burner. Adjust the air/fuel ratio (by the air control) so that the flame pattern is not touching the burner but is being pushed just a teeny bit of space beyond 'just touching the burner'. There are some problems that can cause this such as a partly plugged filter (sintered speherical bronze) in the base of the burner. Such filters are usually replaced and not cleaned -sometimes requiring a new burner head as they are 'built-in' to the burner head and not replaceable. Try reducing the amount of air (fuel/air mixture) that the burner gets first.
Close down on the 'air' adjustment so that enough vapor 'pushes' the fire 'outside' the burner head. Without seeing it my guess is that the burner is operating too lean and fire is entering back into the inside of the burner and some combustion is taking place 'inside' the burner. Adjust the air/fuel ratio (by the air control) so that the flame pattern is not touching the burner but is being pushed just a teeny bit of space beyond 'just touching the burner'. There are some problems that can cause this such as a partly plugged filter (sintered speherical bronze) in the base of the burner. Such filters are usually replaced and not cleaned -sometimes requiring a new burner head as they are 'built-in' to the burner head and not replaceable. Try reducing the amount of air (fuel/air mixture) that the burner gets first.
Alcohol stove popping - NA service center
Tim, Check out A & H Packstoves, they are the only authorized NA service center an mention the Princess stove on their web page. They also sell refurb kits and parts. I have the same stove with the same problem and I think it is just old and in need of service. Richard
Tim, Check out A & H Packstoves, they are the only authorized NA service center an mention the Princess stove on their web page. They also sell refurb kits and parts. I have the same stove with the same problem and I think it is just old and in need of service. Richard
analize it
Did the stove work OK, then start popping? Did it start with one burner, then spread to the others? Is it pumped up correctly? Sounds like it might have an air leak in the line, This might cause air to enter the line and in turn, decrease the pressure at the exit oriface, which would cause the fire to backdraft into the lines causing a pop. (Boy if this isn't BS I don't know what is, but its a shot.) Clean out your lines. I am not sure if you can use teflon on these lines or not. I too have an alcohol stove and took it completely apart and reassembled it (without teflon) and it works fine. Lastly, surf for camper stoves and see if there is an answer in their area. Camper stoves all use to be alcohol.
Did the stove work OK, then start popping? Did it start with one burner, then spread to the others? Is it pumped up correctly? Sounds like it might have an air leak in the line, This might cause air to enter the line and in turn, decrease the pressure at the exit oriface, which would cause the fire to backdraft into the lines causing a pop. (Boy if this isn't BS I don't know what is, but its a shot.) Clean out your lines. I am not sure if you can use teflon on these lines or not. I too have an alcohol stove and took it completely apart and reassembled it (without teflon) and it works fine. Lastly, surf for camper stoves and see if there is an answer in their area. Camper stoves all use to be alcohol.
Petromax
There are many 'generations' of such equipment originally invented by the German army in the early 1900s. Commercial names: Petromax, Aida, Hipolito, Geniol, and BriteLyt-Petromax. These are lanterns, etc. that will fire-up with just about anything that burns: kero, diesel, gasoline, naptha, refined parafin oil, etc. Most of these have a 'pre-burner' needed to heat the 'carburator' and once the carburator is HOT any liquid (or mixture) that can burn will. They can 'get away' from you and produce large flames if you're not VERY careful. www.britelyt.com.
There are many 'generations' of such equipment originally invented by the German army in the early 1900s. Commercial names: Petromax, Aida, Hipolito, Geniol, and BriteLyt-Petromax. These are lanterns, etc. that will fire-up with just about anything that burns: kero, diesel, gasoline, naptha, refined parafin oil, etc. Most of these have a 'pre-burner' needed to heat the 'carburator' and once the carburator is HOT any liquid (or mixture) that can burn will. They can 'get away' from you and produce large flames if you're not VERY careful. www.britelyt.com.
Why not try this single burner - gimballed
Why not add this single burner, which is what a lot of single handed ocean racers use to heat up soups and stews and water for drinks. Use your other stove for supper when at anchor and let this one supplement it.
Why not add this single burner, which is what a lot of single handed ocean racers use to heat up soups and stews and water for drinks. Use your other stove for supper when at anchor and let this one supplement it.
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