How to clean and maintain an Optimus 111 stove

[FishyFolk]

Made a vid on how to take care of your Optimus 111 type stove. Basically I strip it down, clean and lubricate as needed and put it back together again...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh7cZVHfh-A

[Fraxinus]

The more I see of these stoves the more I like them....got to go on my wish list. Nice informative how to vid, thanks Rune.T^
Glad it loaded up on the tube okay, I think I tried to watch it when it had only been up for 8 minutes and got sound only. Hence my comment (RobGB100)
That will teach me to try and watch stuff as soon as I get a notification:D

Rob

[FishyFolk]

Yeah they are simple, uncomplicated little stoves. And if you treat them right they will always puff to life for you :-)
Mind you they are heavy. So my two are destined for car camping, and winter days when i use the pulk. Just can't resist to play with my toys now and then.
But will soon be back to proper fires or meths :-)

[rik_uk3]

Nice video, sold most of my 111's and 111T's now, have four or five left. Your 111T is the multifuel burner and will burn alcohol if you fit the correct 'restrictor' tube.

I have a standard paraffin 111 out in the garden, been there for years in all weather and still lights first time.

Somewhere I have the original instructions I can scan and email anyone.

Standard 111 paraffin version

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[rik_uk3]

These stoves will heat a tent easily, put a standard cheap tea strainer over the burner and it becomes a radiant heat dome, piece of foil or foil plate on lid makes a good reflector

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[FishyFolk]

These stoves will heat a tent easily, put a standard cheap tea strainer over the burner and it becomes a radiant heat dome, piece of foil or foil plate on lid makes a good reflector

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Yours are good looking!
Mine look rather ratty as they forst saw service with the army where they whwere probably knocked around some...but well maintained functionally. Then owned by civillians who
used them until lack of maintenance made them leak and misbehave, then put away in an attic.

The Norwegian army uses these tpo heat up their tents as the ony heat source. They put out around 2500W of heat. But never use one in a tent without someone awake to look after it.
If it flame out, it will continue to shoot out fuel wich will evaporate as a toxic gas...and if the pressure goes from the tank it may flame up and shoot out a half meter high flame. In Norway reffered to as a Home Guard camp fire :-)

In the army the requirement when used in a tent is one man always awake in the tent, out of his sleeping bag, boots on, knife to cut open the tent at the ready and ready to act if it starts to misbehave. Besides that it needs to be pumped up at intervals to perofrm at it's best heat wise, and in minus 20C and bellow, you want maximum performance out of that thing anyway...

Personally I am not sure I woyuld use it in a modern tent. But a classical canvas tent it will be okay.

[rik_uk3]

In UK temps a heater should only be used until your ready for bed, turn it off and get in your sleeping bag:) I've got two ex army left I think, very easy stoves to maintain. I still have 8's and a 99 smaller stoves but still very good quality as are all Optimus stoves of old.

Here is a 111T burner mounted in a Trangia clone. The pump and fuel line are from an Optimus Nova

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[FishyFolk]

In UK temps a heater should only be used until your ready for bed, turn it off and get in your sleeping bag:) I've got two ex army left I think, very easy stoves to maintain. I still have 8's and a 99 smaller stoves but still very good quality as are all Optimus stoves of old.

Here is a 111T burner mounted in a Trangia clone. The pump and fuel line are from an Optimus Nova

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Thats a good idea :-)

As I have two f these 111T stoves I may do that with one some day :-)

[Midge_Fodder]

Always fancied trying a 111 but can't ever seem to find one.

[rik_uk3]

They are on ebay pretty much all the time, prices vary a lot anything from £35 to £120+ for a 'new old stock' type. Don't worry about buying one that looks filthy dirty, they clean up easily and are so simple to fettle back to good health. Spares are readily available too so don't worry about that.

The Australian Antarctic bases still use them when out on field trips. The British teams use more traditional looking brass stoves, the Optimus model 45 when away from base.

[Midge_Fodder]

Grand, never been bothered with grime at all. As long as I can get the seals for it. The plumber in me always wants to change the seals. Cheers for that Shug

[FishyFolk]

They are on ebay pretty much all the time, prices vary a lot anything from £35 to £120+ for a 'new old stock' type. Don't worry about buying one that looks filthy dirty, they clean up easily and are so simple to fettle back to good health. Spares are readily available too so don't worry about that.

The Australian Antarctic bases still use them when out on field trips. The British teams use more traditional looking brass stoves, the Optimus model 45 when away from base.

The Norwegian army got rid of them and sold them all off...then when the new type of stove they brought in failed to be infantry proof, they wen't back to the old 111 :-)

[FishyFolk]

Grand, never been bothered with grime at all. As long as I can get the seals for it. The plumber in me always wants to change the seals. Cheers for that Shug

When these get to sooty they don't burn clean, and get less effectice. So I good clean now and then is good for them. I love to fiddle with things like this. I take appart all my fishing reels several times a year to, just for fun, he he

[Midge_Fodder]

Me too tbh, I am terrible for gear maintainace obsessions.