Backpacking stoves: Keep them running hot

Backpacking stoves are built to take the rigors of the trail, but they need to be maintained to keep them running right.

When it comes to canister stoves, just make sure they are clean
and there are no missing o-rings.

With canister stoves, the job is quick and easy, as there is not much that can go wrong. Other than checking to make sure the burner head is clean and that all the o-rings are in place, there is not much to do. If you find an o-ring or seal missing, contact the manufacture and get a replacement.

Actually, this goes for any stove, whether it uses gas cartridges or liquid fuel. You need to check out any location that has an o-ring or seal and if there is damage replace them.

The first step in maintaining a liquid fuel stove is to have the proper instructions in hand when you begin the process. Coleman, MSR and Primus offer instruction manuals online that can be downloaded and printed out. On the MSR and Coleman sites pick the model of stove and there are links on the page to instruction manuals. I have listed below the links to the instructions for the two stoves I use. And luckily, if parts are needed, REI has repair kits for MSR stoves in stock.

The first step is to discard any old fuel in the stove as it will "go bad" and gum up the works. When you discard the fuel make sure to do it in a safe manner, remember you are dealing with gasoline and it is highly flammable.

When it comes to liquid fuel stoves, there are quite a few on the market, but they all work basically the same. The fuel is pressurized, fed through the fuel line where it vaporizes and then it is sent to the burner. To build that

pressure, air is pumped into the tank and this is where the pump cup comes in along with most of the failures.

Most stoves come with pump cup oil, but any mineral based oil can be used. If putting a few drops of oil into the pump does not solve the issue, then disassemble the pump so you can check out the cup. If it is damaged, replace it.  All the stoves on the market offer repair kits and it pays to have one on hand.

If the cup is intact, many times cleaning and oiling it will allow you to reshape it. You may be able to flatten out the cup then reform it into the proper shape.

Next comes cleaning the fuel line and at the same time the generator. The generator on these stoves allows the fuel to “swirl” through the fuel line and when it hits the heated portion, the fuel vaporizes. Each stove is a bit different in what the generator looks like, but they all work basically the same.

On the MSR and Primus stoves it can be cleaned, while on Coleman stoves it is a separate assembly that needs to be replaced. One suggestion made by MSR is on component stoves, those with separate fuel bottles, is to detach the fuel line from the burner and then run some fuel though the line to flush out any dirt.

Just a little work will help to keep your stove burning hot.

One area that needs to be cleaned on stoves like the Whisperlite is the priming cup and on Primus stoves, it is called the priming pad. It is the area on the bot- tom where you place fuel to burn and preheat the stove. A lot of carbon can build up and it needs to be cleaned. It can be wiped away with a cloth with a bit of oil on it and a lot of paper towels.

To keep carbon build up down, use denatured alcohol for priming instead of white gas. Alcohol burns clean and can be stored in a small squirt bottle to make filling the priming area easy.

Finally, if at any time you find you have fuel leaking anywhere on the pump assembly, send it in for repair or get a repair kit. There are check valves in the pumps that allow air into the fuel tank to build pressure and at the same time keep the fuel in.

I have had a check valve fail and it is rather surprising to pump up the stove and then have a pressurized stream of fuel come back out of the pump.  

So take the time to make sure you stove is running at its peak, you will be happy you did when you sit down to cook a meal on the trail.