I have a no 5. Primus Stove which is solid Brass. Any info on how to operate it or restore it to full working order. I've polished the outside. But when I opened it the smell of Kerosene (?) is still strong. Even though the stove was my Grandmothers and she passed away in 1992. It's been sitting in our garage ever since till a few weeks ago.

Hello,
The stove only burns kerosene. Click on this link
http://www.spiritburner.com/howto.htm

1) You will need some denatured alcohol to preheat he burner.
2) Clean fresh kerosene.
3) Be outside the first time.

1) Fill the tank about 1/2 way
2) Close the tank cap.
3) Fill the cup under the burner with alcohol.
4) Light the alcohol.
5) Just before it goes out pump the stove 5 or six times. Have a lighter ready if the flames die out.
6) The kerosene should smoke because the hot burner is vaporising it. So if the flame doesn't catch it use the lighter.
7) To turn off the stove unscrew the screw in the filler cap and the air will be released and the flames will die down.

Good Luck,
Chuck

Follow these instructions and you will have an instant inferno. Omitted was the quite important step of opening the fuel cap screw before priming the stove. If you attempt to prime the stove with the screw closed, the heat from the burning alcohol will slightly pressurize the tank, causing liquid kerosene to flow from the burner.

So, open the screw valve before lighting the alcohol. Once the alcohol has almost burned out, close the screw, then use the pump. Then light the burner.

Hello,
After lighting a stove a million times I just forgot to include that part.
Well now you have it.

Chuck

I had this happen when I was a tyro. Ended up with a spirit cup full of flaming kero, and now my Optimus 5 has a nice matt black burner underside. Lucky it happened outside. It was quite stimulating

Dave.

Although it was not the classic kero burner, I witnessed a small lake of fire right on top of the decommissioned coffee table that I use for all the testing.

I was testing MSR's Internationale 600. It worked superbly with white gas, so it was time to try it out with kero.

I lit it, and it was working fine. I turned around to attend to another job--maybe for 30 or 40 seconds, a minute at the most. When I turned around again, black smoke was coming out of the garage door. Inside the garage was filled with smoke, and the MRS was sitting in the middle of the freshly created lake of kerosene, happily burning in orange flame.

The fact that the garage was 5 minutes from burning down did not surprise me. That this happened in 80F weather in no wind situation did.

I just tilted the table and spilled the excess onto concrete and shut off the valve and blew the fire out. Although I had the fire extinguisher at hand, it did not warrant its use. I would have used it, if I were using gasoline.

A Lesson learned without a disaster: 1) Do the testing outside, especially if it is the first try. 2) And do keep your eye on the stove at all times! 3) Have a fire extinguisher ready in a reach.

I was one luky dude!

Eh thats Great one Slight Problem is that the Seal around the Pump head seems to have worn with age and now the Pump wont work. Any ideas as to what I can use instead or can I get a new seal?

Hi,

The old age will show it in the dried out or pumverized pump leather. If you are lucky, you can salvage it by soaking it in oil. If it is damaged beyond repair, you must replace it.

There are basically two sources: one in UK, Base Camp. They are one of the sponsors of this website, and contact them.

The other is Albert, who regularly contributes to this website and is a reliable source of knowledge and history, located in Australia. Search for his e-mail address and give him a call. His price is reasonable and quality superb.

While you are at it, do try to get a heat proof seal as well. You may need it, if you take the burner off, in order to remove the internal carbon deposit. You may find the burner produces yellow, sooty flame, when everything is done right. Post again, if this happenes, and there are ways do fix such a problem.

You may want to examine the seal on the fuel cap, and make sure it is soft and good. Replace it as necessary, and find an alternative in a hardware store's plumbing section.

Also the check valve located deep within the pump tube may have a hardened button-shaped seal that lets out the air and fuel into the tube. This will be evidenced by the pump handle slowly extending by itself after pumping.

Once you get these in order, the stove should work well.