all, @DoubleA, IMO posts of family handed-down stoves being revived are among the best posts, thank you. Granted i find description(s) on this one confusing but this is in stove forum the place to sort/discuss details to gain better understanding. With all due respect I am doubting '78 and *model G/K, FWIW if that interest you? (or maybe orig. parts were replaced?). *"XG" jet originally came with X-GK model (after G/K model). Re your "I can upload photos of the stove tonight." Photos will definitely help. Dated or undated fuel line block? short/long fuel block catch arm? both sides of burner housing, bakelite or aluminum base? etc omc out, will followup thx PS noting DoubleA's > "I believe it is the original pump, colored gray with a black plunger,..." and > "There is no surge protector" [under jet?] . I dont have detail/link to confirm for us but my recall/thought is MSR change from 2 jets G & K -to- 2 jets XG & XK was also? surge damper (cone) -to- NO surge damper? under jet. [@Scrambler does that sound right to you? sorry folks it's no longer top of mind for me]
Sorry for the errant details. I probably should have just started with a bunch of photos. The reason for the long hiatus is that I thought I had the stove fixed and working (other than the igniter), but when I was out last month it would not get hot. My working theory is that the injector is clogged, but honestly I am in the dark. Anyway, here are the photos and I appreciate any information and suggestions.
all, @DoubleA, Thanks for pics. lookin good. Myself, I AM interested in the details of your stove (like is there a date on fuel line block.. or not? (definitely should be?). BUT if YOU are more interested in getting it burning hotter, you're in the right place for that too. About CCS we've been around a long time, we can be patient. We can talk, year/model/details later, no prob. If you want to address performance first (not my strength). That's all good too. ------------------------ Not burning hot enough... Are you still using the orig. grey pump. Do you have another pump you can try?
From the look I would guess this is a mid-1980s X-GK. If the grey/black pump is original, I think that gets us to about '86. Is that right, @OMC ? So ignore quite a bit that you are looking for. There is no filter in the line. I'm not sure what you mean by "injector"? The system is very simple. Just work it through from the beginning. If you haven't already, strip the pump to loose parts and clean all the fuel and air passages. Make sure you remove and clean the gauze screen in the centre of the pump. Poke cigar cleaners or similar through every hole in the pump body, whether for air or for fuel. Rebuild the pump and continue. With only the pump and bottle (with some fuel you will waste), can you build up pressure? Will this last? Then look to see if the pump will eject fuel without the stove. If this is poor, work back through the system. Try the pump in a 3/4 full fuel bottle, no fuel pickup line in the pump (to see if the obstruction is in the line/filter). If still poor, check through the air pump and the fuel control. Then will it eject the fuel through the stove with the cleaning cable out and the jet out. Now with the jet in and cleaning cable out. And finally all together. Whenever the flow is poor you will then have found where the obstruction is. Report back here please! We will try to talk you through it all if it doesn't work out right. Just keep well away from flames during all the flow testing! Open air as well- don't start huffing the fuel.
all, @DoubleA, XGKs are the hot setup. Members are ready & able to advise you on how to improve performance on yours. Meanwhile it should have a date stamp on the block, what do you have? This should be the date format xxx x8x Credit Scrambler & oddball for better understanding of various date formats. @Scrambler , Yes lookin like an X-GK (model began mid '81 per chart Andy Sorensen posted. Alum base began in early/mid 81). Re your "If the grey/black pump is original, I think that gets us to about '86. Is that right, @OMC ?" Yes. I've found the 1st grey pump was in-use Nov 86 -to- Jul 88 (not that the pump type hard-dates an XGK stove). BUT note [me]: 86-88 "That year range could well be earlier and or later. REQUEST: dated examples that expand that grey pump year range (*earlier or later) would be welcome additions. *helps w/timeline for yellow pumps. thx omc" thx
. Thank you OMC I'm interested in learning about the stove and also getting it to burn hotter; the whole bundle Not sure if the gray pump is the original. I do not have another pump to try at the moment. DoubleA
Maybe there is a clog or restriction in the fuel pick up. Empty the bottle, pump it up, and see how it blows air out.
Yes. That means the grey pump is the correct age for the stove. And a side note then. The angled legs should sit something like 1/4 - 1/2 an inch above the generator curve. Is that true on yours? And if not, would it be true if the wires were reversed? A stove of the later date would normally have longer legs to reduce carbon monoxide. OTOH shorter legs means faster heating: just don't use a short-legged version in a closed space. Go ahead and do the strip down and rebuild. You won't need a new pump. These systems are designed to be reliable, and the grey pump is one of the ones that delivered on that promise. The maintenance is the killer, though. Strip down, clean and rebuild. You WILL find the problem and it WILL get fixed.
The intent with the XGK stoves is that they can be stripped and rebuilt in the field. The ability to do this is what changes this stove from a cool bit of kit into a lifesaving device: what it was designed to be. Doing this at home before taking it up Everest is key. Nothing is too tricky- the multitool and some patience and you'll get it done.
Yes, and if you strip down any stove in the field, do it on a ground sheet and preferably in a tent, so any parts that "escape" will (eventually) be findable. ....Arch
