HEADS UP Winter Optimus on sale cheap

[Moondog55]

The replacement for the 111B is currently on sale at less than half price
My favourite most reliable true winter stove even if it is a heavy weight and a bit of a dinosaur

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221130422883 ... 1423.l2649

I hope I can find the money before they sell out
Cheers all Ted

[Aidan]

Hi Moondog55
indeed a great price.
A bit of research on the net suggests there is often swarf inside the tank.
Suggest you give it a flush before using and check the filter.
I haven't time tonight to search out the correct link for you but I'm an old time Optimus fan.
Caution at airports. My 111C was confiscated by Qantas. Despite the tank being flushed and five minutes before filled to the top with water, the lady in charge decided she could smell kero. My suggestion is if you have to travel any distance by plane, send your stove ahead via post so you don't get it confiscated like I did.
I was a little miffed I can tell you as I felt in no way could the planes safety be compromised but in hindsight I appreciate that she had to make a decision based on the safety of everyone aboard and if your not sure about something you should take action on the side of caution. Expensive exercise for me, however I've gotten quite used to cycle touring with a much lighter, though slower, trangia alcohol cooker that I'm starting to prefer due to its much lower weight and no need for parts.

[oldpiscator]

My old Optimus 99 is still going strong. Bought it second hand at a garage sale about 15 years ago for $5 - don't think it owes me anything

[Moondog55]

I'm never taking a stove on an international flight again my MSR tank and pump was taken in LA and i didn't know till I got home.
LOL we bought a replacement and when we made the insurance claim they did not send us a cheque but a replacement tank and pump LOL so Now I need to buy another MSR stove to fit

[mattmacman]

Thanks a heap Ted! I seriously cant put into words how much my dad will love this. He has had his optimus stove (the previous version of this) for something like 30+ years and watching his failed attempts to get it working I know he'll love a new one.
A serious bargain guys, regards matt.

[Moondog55]

Yes i know how he will feel, I am still trying to find enough money to buy mine.
great Christmas present

[ryantmalone]

I just bought one.

Would be great for short trips when I really don't need to carry a big bottle of Shellite.

I always remember my dad playing around with an old Optimus in his shed when I was a kid. He ran this one on Kerosene, I remember the smell, and remember that above all of the other stoves that we had used since, it was the toughest little stove. Stoked that managed to get my hands on one.

[ryantmalone]

Mine showed up today. I have a memory of these stoves being one of the best that you can get, I remember the smell of my dad running his on Kerosene back when I was a kid.

First run was not good. A litre of water failed to boil after 9 minutes, will investigate to see what the problem could be. Seems to run hot and loud like they should, so will see what I can find.

For all the unbox junkies:

[Moondog55]

Hmm I haven't bought mine yet, still saving.
What fuel were you using?
From previous use of the old model I know you get much quicker boil times with the older style SIGG dixies which are wider on the base and curve up to the lip but 9 minutes seems excessive.
What is the simmer control like on the newer stove? Simmering was one of the old models big advantages over my MSR

[ryantmalone]

Hmm I haven't bought mine yet, still saving.
What fuel were you using?
From previous use of the old model I know you get much quicker boil times with the older style SIGG dixies which are wider on the base and curve up to the lip but 9 minutes seems excessive.
What is the simmer control like on the newer stove? Simmering was one of the old models big advantages over my MSR

Using Shellite here. There is a blockage, just waiting for the stove to cool down before I pull it apart and see what can be done.

Problem with these stoves is that they were very careless with how they were manufactured, and some debris can be left in the tank, meaning that when you run it the first time, you will get small metal shards clogging the fuel filter.

Mine worked first time, but now cant even prime the thing.

When it was working though, simmer control was shockingly good. Compared to trying to simmer using my Whisperlite (which is borderline not possible), its a god send.

Either way, here's hoping I can get it working!

A note to anyone considering buying - I believe that these are the previous models that were recalled due to these manufacturing issues. I've heard many people just give them a good clean out, flush, and so on, and they work very good. This is more than likely why the price is so low. Just so everyone is aware before they fork out the cash.

[UPDATE]

Got it working. Just cleaned out the jet manually. Seems as though the first burn got it clogged up real good, was nothing but soot in there.

1 litre boil time - 8:22 min.
1 cup boil time - 2:21 min

Not the best boil times, however I think that the boil times that Optimus quote may be using their own pots with that heat transfer stuff on the bottom. These times were with the thing running as high as possible.

As for how flexible simmer is, here's a video that I recorded: http://youtu.be/DQ30fSUavQU

[Moondog55]

OK When I get mine I'll pay attention to rinsing out the fuel tank too.
I used to run my 111 and 111B on the same fuels, 50/50 Shellite/Kero I found no problems with either but I do remember that the silent burner was much better at simmering. It looks like that new fuel delivery system won't have the same problems as the earlier stoves with charring wicks

[Picaro]

Am I missing something here ? They appear to be bulky and theyre no lightweights.
Could someone please explain what makes them special.?

[Strider]

Am I missing something here ? They appear to be bulky and theyre no lightweights.
Could someone please explain what makes them special.?

1. They work no matter what. Ultra reliable.
2. They last pretty much forever.

[ryantmalone]

Am I missing something here ? They appear to be bulky and theyre no lightweights.
Could someone please explain what makes them special.?

Super reliable, work regardless of temp, and can fuel it with almost anything. Get some 2 hours of burn time out of a full tank, which is a ton more than I get out of my Whisperlite with a bottle 3 times the size of the tank.

Definitely not the lightest thing in the world, that's for sure. But it works.

Then again, I carry a 1 litre bottle of Shellite with my Whisperlite on most trips, and with this thing weighing around 1.5kg with a full tank, its not that bad really, and probably takes up less room in my pack as a result.

And lets not forget, I'm not one of those types who pick my gear based on how light it is. I pick it based on whether it does what I need it to do, and whether it is reliable.

[Aidan]

Mine showed up today. I have a memory of these stoves being one of the best that you can get, I remember the smell of my dad running his on Kerosene back when I was a kid.

First run was not good. A litre of water failed to boil after 9 minutes, will investigate to see what the problem could be. Seems to run hot and loud like they should, so will see what I can find.

From memory you'll get better burn times using kero or diesel but then you'll have the smell to put up with
especially if you have a spill. For this reason I tried using metho when I had my 111C but the waiting for boil time and high fuel usage made me go back to the kero. I found having to carry an extra bottle for priming fuel (metho) a little painful for trips as well but think that nothing beats an optimus for a base camp cooker. I'm currently using a Trangia for my cycle tours but when funds allow will grab one of these Optimus's for emergency home use and base camp duty.

[Moondog55]

Moderately heavy and moderately bulky
BUT
Ultra reliable
Very stable
Almost unbreakable
Frugal
Very good simmer
As stated in the Optimus website, this is a base-camp stove or for cooking for large groups ( 4-10 ) and it does that superbly.

[Strider]

As stated in the Optimus website, this is a base-camp stove or for cooking for large groups ( 4-10 ) and it does that superbly.

Just a note that this shouldn't be taken too literally. There have been cases of the tank overheating on these stoves when used with pots that are too large, and hence reflect a lot of heat back onto the tank. There is a pressure relief but I for one would not want to be anywhere near it when it went off...

[Moondog55]

Agreed, but like MSR and the XGK-EX; I think the biggest pot recommended is 250mm width, that is a big pot, almost 10 litres.
I don't think there would be too many issues using a pot with a 200mm base which is still a 6 litre pot, my big SIGG is only 4 litres at a base diameter of 155mm

[ryantmalone]

Mine showed up today. I have a memory of these stoves being one of the best that you can get, I remember the smell of my dad running his on Kerosene back when I was a kid.

First run was not good. A litre of water failed to boil after 9 minutes, will investigate to see what the problem could be. Seems to run hot and loud like they should, so will see what I can find.

From memory you'll get better burn times using kero or diesel but then you'll have the smell to put up with
especially if you have a spill. For this reason I tried using metho when I had my 111C but the waiting for boil time and high fuel usage made me go back to the kero. I found having to carry an extra bottle for priming fuel (metho) a little painful for trips as well but think that nothing beats an optimus for a base camp cooker. I'm currently using a Trangia for my cycle tours but when funds allow will grab one of these Optimus's for emergency home use and base camp duty.

Yeah, just grabbed a bottle of Kero, gave it a run. Boil times were cut in half, and the thing just roared.

Will definitely carry a small bottle of priming metho, priming with Kero is messy as hell, and can see it burning out the wick way too soon.

[Moondog55]

Hi Ryan, I think a short review in the equipment section is warranted.
Just for everyone elses information these retail at just on $155-USD in the USA and about Euros $110- ( plus postage of course )

[ryantmalone]

Maybe.

I'm going to give it a run this weekend coming, so will see how that goes, and go from there.

[north-north-west]

They still make those things! Blimey. First stove I ever used out bush.

[ryantmalone]

:shock:

They still make those things! Blimey. First stove I ever used out bush.

Same. I was suprised too, I remember using an older one in the 80's. It leaked though. I have a distinct memory of my dad getting poisoned when it leaked over the food.

Fun times.. fun times...

[Moondog55]

Well I missed out
So if anybody wants to sell one on or swap I am still very interested

[ryantmalone]

Well I missed out
So if anybody wants to sell one on or swap I am still very interested

Oh damn!

Just keep an eye on ebay, there are a few others on there from other sellers, selling under the cost of buying one RRP, but not quite at the same price that this one was listed as.

[Moondog55]

I will Ryan, probably my own fault too, for giving you all the "Heads Up" in the first place. Same seller has a pair of boots I want but if I had a thousand dollars to spare I'd fix the wall in the bedroom

[Moondog55]

Seeing as they all sold i should lock this thread shouldn't I?
Aye