MSR Whisperlite blockages
Larry
David Collins wrote:
>
> I regularly use my MSR Whisperlite when camping and on the whole it
> works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
> once every 20 times I use it) and this normally manifests itself in a
> reduction in performance (the only time it can simmer). It seldom
> becomes so badly blocked that it does not even ignite. Fortunately it
> can be dismantled easily (even in the dark) and I usually clean it by
> using the little needle device and if it's bad flushing the jet with
> fuel.
>
> I am wondering if it is normal for this stove to become blocked so
> often. If so why does this happen? Is it just soot falling into the jet
> or some other contamination? Is it most likely to occur while priming
> the stove? Could I be using to much fuel when I do this or perhaps
> turning the fuel on too soon?
>
> Any one with any similar experiences?
>
> David
I also have the Whisperlite (International). One of it's key fetures is
it's shaker jet (I think the regular Whisperlite has this feature as
well). You should be able to simply shake the stove (listen for the
rattle) to unclog the jet. I never have a problem with blockage in my
stove. I don't think too much fuel during priming is the problem (that
just gives you a big flame that takes a while to die down). Maybe the
shaker inside the jet isn't working properly... just a guess.
Larry
Susan Bolton
David Collins <da...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu> writes:
>I am wondering if it is normal for this stove to become blocked so
>often. If so why does this happen? Is it just soot falling into the jet
>or some other contamination? Is it most likely to occur while priming
>the stove? Could I be using to much fuel when I do this or perhaps
>turning the fuel on too soon?
I used to have this trouble regularly. I have found that by blowing out
the flame after I turn off the stove reduces the frequency of the problem.
I assume that the gas vapor that continues out the jet momentarily after
blowing out the flame helps to keep the jet open.
David Collins
I regularly use my MSR Whisperlite when camping and on the whole it
works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
once every 20 times I use it) and this normally manifests itself in a
reduction in performance (the only time it can simmer). It seldom
becomes so badly blocked that it does not even ignite. Fortunately it
can be dismantled easily (even in the dark) and I usually clean it by
using the little needle device and if it's bad flushing the jet with
fuel.
I am wondering if it is normal for this stove to become blocked so
often. If so why does this happen? Is it just soot falling into the jet
or some other contamination? Is it most likely to occur while priming
the stove? Could I be using to much fuel when I do this or perhaps
turning the fuel on too soon?
Any one with any similar experiences?
David
reggie barton
I have never had a problem with blockages on my WhisperLite. Maybe it's
because I am pretty anal with it. I use the needle on it after every
use, only takes a minute to make sure everythings good. You are going to
have to let it sit 5-10min AT LEAST just to cool down anyway!
Someone said that when it was clogged they could make it simmer! That's
nice! I've often wanted to simmer, or just get something warm. As you
all well know the whisperlite excels in getting very hot very fast!
Anyone know any other "simmering" techniques?
check out: s p h a z e r s ( e d g e )
-----------------------------------------------------
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9152/sphazers_edge.html
-----------------------------------------------------
Mike P. Koscielniak
David,
The blockage is quite common. That is why
MSR came out with the MSR Whisperlite Shaker Jet model stove.
This stove cleans itself.
Mike K.
Scott Bristow
David Collins <da...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu> wrote in article
<33301F...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu>...
> I regularly use my MSR Whisperlite when camping and on the whole it
> works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
The most common reason for a whisperlite clogging is over priming.
To prime a whisperlite pump it up then turn the fuel on till you hear it .
As soon as you hear the fuel (before you see a puddle) turn it off. Now
the tricky part is to time it right so you turn the fuel back on just as
the bottom goes out so you dont have to relight. It is still better to
relight the stove rather than to turn on to early and get a signal fire
going.
When you clean it be sure and pull the metal wire from the fuel line and
clean it well. (in a pinch just reverse it) This is the piece that most
people forget to clean and causes the rest to clog a lot faster
Bob Gross
I used to have trouble with my MSR stoves getting an unknown
blockage in the fuel tube directly under the burner. I reamed it
all out and found a bunch of melted red gunk. It turned out to be
the melted remains of the red plastic millings that you often see
around the top red cap of a gallon of Coleman fuel. The millings
got into the fuel, got all the way through the pump, and stopped
below the burner. I began filtering my fuel better and the
problem went away.
---Bob Gross---
75013...@compuserve.com
Scott Roush
<snip>
> I also have the Whisperlite (International). One of it's key fetures is
> it's shaker jet (I think the regular Whisperlite has this feature as
> well). You should be able to simply shake the stove (listen for the
> rattle) to unclog the jet. I never have a problem with blockage in my
> stove. I don't think too much fuel during priming is the problem (that
> Larry
>
>
I have an International too..... I started using gasoline with it in Costa
Rica and I have had problems ever since..... Mostly bad blockage... Shaker
jet will not loosen it... I have to take it apart and clean it..... Has
anyone else had this problem with the International.... At least when
using gasoline? I realize that gas will cause these problems, but I
thought the International was made to handle this....
Scott
-----------------------------------
Scott Roush
Department of Biological Sciences
Wright State University
Dayton Ohio 45435
e-mail: s00...@discover.wright.edu
lar...@cc.umanitoba.ca
>David Collins <da...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu> writes:
>>I am wondering if it is normal for this stove to become blocked so
>>often. If so why does this happen? Is it just soot falling into the jet
>>or some other contamination? Is it most likely to occur while priming
>>the stove? Could I be using to much fuel when I do this or perhaps
>>turning the fuel on too soon?
I used to have this problem also untill I started buying fuel in
smaller quantities. Now I don't end up using fuel that is more
than a year old, and so far no problems.
John Larrigan
Frank Miles
In article <5gp9g5$r...@newshost.lanl.gov>,
Mike P. Koscielniak <mkos...@pecos.agps.lanl.gov> wrote:
>In article <33301F...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu>, David Collins <da...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu> writes:
>|> I regularly use my MSR Whisperlite when camping and on the whole it
>|> works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
>|> reduction in performance (the only time it can simmer). It seldom
>|> becomes so badly blocked that it does not even ignite. Fortunately it
>|> can be dismantled easily (even in the dark) and I usually clean it by
>|> using the little needle device and if it's bad flushing the jet with
>|> fuel.
>|>
>|> often. If so why does this happen? Is it just soot falling into the jet
>|> or some other contamination? Is it most likely to occur while priming
>|> the stove? Could I be using to much fuel when I do this or perhaps
>|> turning the fuel on too soon?
>|>
One possibility is that you have an "old" Whisperlite. The polymer in
the flexible part of the gas line from the bottle *decomposes* over time,
and clogs the orifice. Filtering the gas does not help. This is also a
safety problem. REI (where I got my stove, and owner of MSR) was great
about this -- replaced the line for free, giving me effectively a
conversion to shaker-jet for free!
Again: the old lines are a safety problem, and should be replaced!
-frank
John C. Sluder
Scott Roush wrote:
> I have an International too..... I started using gasoline with it in Costa
> Rica and I have had problems ever since..... Mostly bad blockage... Shaker
> jet will not loosen it... I have to take it apart and clean it..... Has
> anyone else had this problem with the International.... At least when
> using gasoline? I realize that gas will cause these problems, but I
> thought the International was made to handle this....
I thought the International was designed to burn only white gas and kerosene,
while the XGK(?) is supposed to burn just about anything. Am I wrong?
Curiously,
John
slide
David Collins wrote:
>
> I regularly use my MSR Whisperlite when camping and on the whole it
> works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
> once every 20 times I use it) and this normally manifests itself in a
> reduction in performance (the only time it can simmer). It seldom
Only once every 20 times? That's pretty good. Mine has gotten clogged
much more often (as bad as every 5-10 times.) Lighting this stove so
that it doesn't get all clogged up is somewhat of an art. After 2-3
back to back weekend trips, I've got it down, but then I don't get out
for a month or two and I've forgotten how I did it the last time.
On a side note, the first trip I took with this stove, I tested it out
and it worked fine, so I left the instructions and tools behind. After
the second day of a 4 day trip, it was so clogged I couldn't light it
anymore. Luckily, we way overpacked on lunch food on that trip, lots of
tuna fish that week.
Nothing like getting covered with stove soot when your next shower is a
day or two away, eh?
-slide
S R E
slide <sl...@world.std.com> writes:
>David Collins wrote:
>> I regularly use my MSR Whisperlite when camping and on the whole it
>> works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
>> once every 20 times I use it) and this normally manifests itself in a
>> reduction in performance (the only time it can simmer). It seldom
>much more often (as bad as every 5-10 times.) Lighting this stove so
>that it doesn't get all clogged up is somewhat of an art. After 2-3
>back to back weekend trips, I've got it down, but then I don't get out
>for a month or two and I've forgotten how I did it the last time.
I've been biting my tongue, but...
My 25-year-old Optimus 111B has *NEVER* clogged. Ever. No repairs in
the field, either. Less than one tune-up per decade. Once I replaced
the leather in the pump, and last summer I replaced an 85 cent graphite
packing ring around the valve. That's it for repairs! All I do is pour
fuel in it and light it.
It's slightly hotter than an XGK, way more robust, and if you replace
the steel case with an aluminum case it's not too damn heavy anymore.
(OK, it's a little heavier than the break-every-trip stoves, but
that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.) I've also cooked apple cobbler
at 11000', so you know it simmers well for long periods of time. The
cleaning needle can be cranked up from the inside of the valve without
turning off the flame or removing the pot from the stove.
It's not a concidence that you could buy the 111B at REI until about
three months after REI bought MSR. Conflict of interest.
So when you all go on and on about how to clean and/or protect an MSR,
I just laugh and sip my hot tea.
--
SRE
* * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * *
* Eckert Enterprises Steve Eckert eck...@netcom.com *
* * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * *
* ftp: 192.100.81.1 415-508-0500 fax: 415-508-0501 *
* * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * *
TRY THIS:
echo '[q]sa[ln0=aln256%Pln256/snlbx]sb3135071790101768542287578439snlbxq'|dc
Kirk Mueller
In article <5gs63a$u...@nntp5.u.washington.edu>, f...@u.washington.edu (Frank
Miles) wrote:
>
> One possibility is that you have an "old" Whisperlite. The polymer in
> the flexible part of the gas line from the bottle *decomposes* over time,
> and clogs the orifice. Filtering the gas does not help. This is also a
> safety problem. REI (where I got my stove, and owner of MSR) was great
> about this -- replaced the line for free, giving me effectively a
> conversion to shaker-jet for free!
>
> Again: the old lines are a safety problem, and should be replaced!
Since I'm an owner of an old Whisperlite, I just checked MSR's website
( http://www.blueworld.com/msr/default.html ) and could find no reference
to the recall / replacement of the gas line mentioned above.
--
Kirk Mueller kdmu...@ccgate.hac.com (Remove the NOSPAM to reply)
Hughes Aircraft Co., Sensor and Communications Systems Segment
El Segundo, CA 90245
-- All comments are strictly my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. --
Bob Gross
So, Steve, when you are sipping your hot tea, is that really
boiled on your 25-year-old Optimus 111B, or is it boiled on your
new alcohol stove?
---Bob Gross---
slide
S R E wrote:
>
> slide <sl...@world.std.com> writes:
>Only once every 20 times? That's pretty good. Mine has gotten
clogged
> >much more often (as bad as every 5-10 times.) Lighting this stove so
> >that it doesn't get all clogged up is somewhat of an art. After 2-3
> >back to back weekend trips, I've got it down, but then I don't get out
> >for a month or two and I've forgotten how I did it the last time.
>
> I've been biting my tongue, but...
>
> My 25-year-old Optimus 111B has *NEVER* clogged. Ever. No repairs in
> the field, either. Less than one tune-up per decade. Once I replaced
> the leather in the pump, and last summer I replaced an 85 cent graphite
> packing ring around the valve. That's it for repairs! All I do is pour
> fuel in it and light it.
>
You've obviously never read "Zen and the Art of Stove Maintenance."
You'll never attain Nirvana with that stove.
-slide
Blenderman
Mike P. Koscielniak <mkos...@pecos.agps.lanl.gov> wrote in article
<da...@einstein.ph.utexas.edu> writes:
> |> works well. However, it does become blocked fairly regularly (perhaps
>
> David,
> The blockage is quite common. That is why
> MSR came out with the MSR Whisperlite Shaker Jet model stove.
> This stove cleans itself.
>
> Mike K.
I had blockage problems with a Wisperlight (old pre-shaker jet model) until
I changed the way I operated the stove. When you shut the stove off a
small yellow flame will burn on top of the jet. I quickly blow this flame
out. Some liquid fuel will sputter through the jet which I let evaporate.
I believe the small flame produces carbon that clogs the jet. I used the
stove almost daily for two summers in a row without any problems. For
maintenance I wiped the exterior with a rag once every two weeks. I paid
homage to Murphy's Law by carrying the repair and maintenance kit even
though I never had to use it.
--------
Mike Blenderman blen...@open.org
S R E
slide <sl...@world.std.com> writes:
>S R E wrote:
>> My 25-year-old Optimus 111B has *NEVER* clogged. Ever. No repairs in
>> the field, either. Less than one tune-up per decade. Once I replaced
>> the leather in the pump, and last summer I replaced an 85 cent graphite
>> packing ring around the valve. That's it for repairs! All I do is pour
>> fuel in it and light it.
>
>You've obviously never read "Zen and the Art of Stove Maintenance."
>You'll never attain Nirvana with that stove.
Not true! Those with a brain bigger than a goat's know that TRUE
nirvana is hopping in the sack while others are still melting snow!
(MSR owners do get extra credit for being able to rebuild their toys
in total darkness and/or before their headlamp batteries die, but
nirvana is not found in drudgery such as poking a wire in a hole)
S R E
Last weekend I was snowcamping with some friends, and my tent
partner had his MSR. It was, as MSRs will, "acting up". So I
whipped out my little Trangia (carried as backup whenever I
have to rely on an MSR) and had my dinner before he had his.
I would not melt snow on the Trangia, but it's great for boiling
a cup or two for dinner.
(NOTE: The previous time the two of us were snow camping, we
took my Optimus and it, of course, worked flawlessly.)
M. Barton Hodges
I dismantle my Whisperlight and place it in the dishwasher after every
trip. This seems to help prevent clogging completely.
On Wed, 19 Mar 1997 22:22:12 -0500, reggie barton <rba...@webtv.net>
wrote:
Dave Wetmore
I've been using the Whisperlite (and its ancestors) ever since Larry
Penberthy brought out the original. I spend about 30 nights a year in the
woods and have NEVER had a blockage.
I buy my Coleman fuel in pint cans and filter it. Using only freshly
filtered fuel will cure most if not all Whisperlite blockage problems.
Dave Wetmore
John
MSR now sells a Shaker Jet conversion kit, that or they will upgrade your
stove to a Shaker Jet- whichever way it is, it is only about $15. Check out
their web site, this is where I
found out about it. That is, AFTER I bought a new shaker jet stove! :-)
Blenderman <blen...@open.org> wrote in article
<01bc37bf$7628d540$4368...@blenderm.open.org>...