Svea 123 blowout

[Godwin]

A few years ago I picked up a Svea 123 at a flea market, filled it with fresh fuel and fired it up. It's been a good running little stove for several years and I only use it to boil water for coffee but it's great for that. Back in the late 1970s-early 80s I had a Svea that I used for camping and on one trip the fuel tank gasket blew out. That was exciting while it lasted. Don't know what happened to that stove.

Yesterday morning I fired up my flea market Svea. I usually pour a little alcohol on the stove to heat it for priming because the alcohol burns clean. Well, as the alcohol was burning off and the white gas beginning to fire I noticed that the fire was spreading and eventually engulfing the stove. Photo is of the stove as the fire was dying down.

This one will be rebuilt and put back in use.

 

[Shipwreck]

I still occasionally use my Svea that my dad and I took on backpacking trips in the early 70s. I keep expecting it to fail, but so far it keeps on chugging away.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

Never had that happen. I’ve used my 123 hundreds of times. It’s always so predictable. Step one, dump gas on it, step 2, light it on fire. Step 3, open the valve.

Please doc the post-mort redux.

 

[Godwin]

Never had that happen. I’ve used my 123 hundreds of times. It’s always so predictable. Step one, dump gas on it, step 2, light it on fire. Step 3, open the valve.

Please doc the post-mort redux.

Cap has 3 rubber seals, an o-ring and two pips. When I pulled the cap off all three were charred and brittle from the fire. The cotton wick also charred.

Not knowing exactly what I would need I bought two rebuild kits, one Optimus which I now doubt was needed. The second off a seller on ebay that includes two Viton o-rings, 4 Viton pips, and 4 cotton wicks. I've resealed the cap and it holds pressure but I've having trouble getting the cleaning needle dialed in because the stove sputters instead giving a roaring flame.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

Is it possible the valve seal packing also got charred, maybe drawing in air??? Hope you get it working!!!

 

[Godwin]

Is it possible the valve seal packing also got charred, maybe drawing in air??? Hope you get it working!!!

I replaced the valve seal packing. I swapped in a new nipple and needle cleaner. I'm going swap the old parts back in to see if that makes a difference.

These things are stupid simple so whatever the issue is has to be something minor.