I have a couple of two burner suitcase style Coleman stoves. One uses white gas the other is multi-fuel. While I mostly use these for car camping I occasionally take it along on trips with larger groups. Both have started leaking/dripping fuel right where the shaft of the knob enters the generator junction (Please see the yellow arrow on the attached photo). The nut is tight not loose.

Why is this leaking and what should I do to repair it?
I have an aversion to exploding stoves.

Bueller? Butthead? Anyone?

Yeh, you need to get Butthead in here, he probably needs something to do anyway...;-)

I'm betting there is a bad gasket in there somewhere. Likely you'll need to take that assembly apart and replace it.

quote AndySG: "I'm betting there is a bad gasket in there somewhere. Likely you'll need to take that assembly apart and replace it. "

Yeh, I don't know this for a fact but that probably has a "packing seal" in it. As it loses seal over time, that nut can be tightened a little and it seals again. At some point the nut is bottomed out and all that goes away. There are probably kits readily available, definitely on Ebay if all else fails.

I know they used to use leather for the seal, and you could oil it to bring it back to life if it wasn't too dried out.

My 1978 model developed a leak in the same spot. I have been able to solve it by opening the valve a bit and then tightening the nut just a hair. Only needed to do this a couple of times and I haven't needed to touch it for quite a few years, now, either. (A 1/2" combination wrench rides in the stove suitcase full-time, just for this.) If it still leaks after it is tightened down so that it won't turn any further, new packing will be needed.

I seem to remember that stoves of this vintage used a graphite packing sleeve. I suspect the sleeve has developed a crack over time.

If you don't have time to do a proper replacement, I'd recommend that you NOT disassemble it because the graphite sleeve will likely come out in pieces. You might see if you can get by with the "back 1/4 turn and tighten" method mentioned above. The long term solution is to go to an old parts supplier and get a replacement packing sleeve.

dd

THIS (or something similar) is what I think you are looking for (but you need to make sure you have the part your stove model number).

As DD pointed out it is a graphite packing and he posted the link to the correct size for many/most (I have installed one in a 413). They are delicate and old ones fall apart upon disassembly. Also found on Ebay.

butthead

I had a similar problem and posted here on it. I *****BELIEVE*** (note the disclaimer....I don't KNOW) that it was caused by the graphite packing nut wearing and the resultant powder packing unevenly. I took it apart and cleaned the powder out. I did not see any cracks in the nut.

I have used it twice since then it worked fine, but I am nervous about it. It really isn't worth it and I should just replace the packing nut.

here is that thread Stove on Fire!!!

you have 3 options.
1 trash it.
2 back the nut out and see if it is a rubber o ring or packing. try to spray it with PB penatrant blaster. it rebuilds lots of gaskets.
3 at your hardware store you can purchase this graphite string, for repairing valve leaks. wrap that around the gasket area. then tighten it down.


malfunctioning stoves become trust issues. i would probably pick up a new one.

Its called "Valve Stem Packing", part number 118D6201, direct from Coleman.com. It will be $2.99 plus shipping.
I have ordered this in the past for old stoves that develop the leak.
CB

ereplacementparts.com/ has all of the parts you will need. Just type in the model number and every part will be listed with a chart on where they are on the stove.

$4.07 plus shipping from ereplacement.