kenyon 550 kerosene stove and oven

[Richard Shelby]

Here's my story. If you do have a kerosene leak, be very careful:

I had "repaired" by kenyon burner by running a new line from the tank to the burner and pressurized the kerosene tank. I went to bed thinking all was well, and the next morning decided to make cofee by the usual manner of preheating the burner with alcohol as I had done a hundred times before.

Little did I know that the kerosene had leaked all night onto the stove on the inside. Preheating the burner caused the kero to vaporize and form a cloud which filled the cabin. Guess what? the resulting DETONATION (yes that's descriptive) singed my eyebrows, made the cabin top black with soot, woke my wife, and if the hatch had not been open would have separated the deck from the hull. Slappnig a wet towel for several frantic minutes put out the fire.

Check for leaks before ignition.

 

[tomgrigsby]

That was probably more of a deflagration vice a detonation. I guess I don't have to worry about you raising your eyebrows at my humor.

All kidding aside, yikes! I'll certainly remember that. It probably applies to alcohol leaks too.

 

[aboardduet]

My '81 H-37 had a Kenyon DIESEL stove. It was a beautiful piece of equipment; sure don't blame you guys for wanting to keep and use them, but again and again, I'd be cooking something on some setting other than "high", (Med, Lo-Med, Lo, Simmer.....!) and after sitting back with a relaxing tonic and with notions of our tasty dinner on the way, glance over to see a yellow flame, a black cloud of smoke staining the overhead, and of course, no heat on the burner. This happened too many times, so we traded out the diesel for a propane unit and, despite the "explosive" element, have been living with it for 25 years.

Somehow, I just agree with Coleman, who pretty much changed over to Propane years ago.

 

[Mathurin]

I tough I would share the my joy with you guys , I found a box full of repair parts for my patria burners, all of it for 20$, looks like my kenyon stove will be in working order for the next 50 years or so.

Also Jim, in the box there was a circular wick, I believe it's made to fit exactly in the burner's cup, I have not tried it yet, but I'm sure it solve the problem of fuel spilling all over the place when the conditions are rough.

If some people are interested, I have the instruction sheet on how to put the burner toogheter, I could post them. Also, in one of the papers that was in the box, they mention that newer packing are made of copper instead of asbestos, maybe someone could have some machined...