BWCA Stove tank repair Boundary Waters Gear Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Gear Forum
      Stove tank repair     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

bpneiman
distinguished member (132)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2017 05:32PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
So I thought I better test my Coleman 533 before we take off for our trip Sunday. The stove hasn't been used in a few years. Filled it up with fuel, lit it, and noticed some flames were coming from a place they shouldn't.

It must have been dropped at one time because there is a hairline crack in the tank where the valve assembly connects. Is there anything I can do to fix this. JB Weld?

Second question: If I give up on this an pickup a 2 burner Coleman propane stove, how many of those little bottles do you think we would need for 4 people and 5 days/4nights? Not every meal will require a stove.

Any info is appreciated.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
07/13/2017 06:42PM  
I would not fix it, too much to go wrong with a tank of fuel pressurized near the burner. I've fixed and cleaned many 533's and other Coleman single burners, but will not try on a fuel tank fitting that's stuck of cracked.

533's are easy to find in good condition around $35, if you want to stay with one.
Need 2 burners? Instead of a 2 burner propane suitcase, I'll recommend 2 isobutane single burners. I purchased an Aloc's single burner, have used it a dozen times and like it a lot.
Far as fuel use it's more to do with cooking style than fuel type. All petrol fuels kerosene, white gas, butane, isobutane, propane, and various mixes, have comparable btu output per oz of fuel. 8 oz of each cooks roughly the same amount.

butthead
 
bpneiman
distinguished member (132)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2017 08:35PM  
quote butthead: "
Need 2 burners? Instead of a 2 burner propane suitcase, I'll recommend 2 isobutane single burners. I purchased an Aloc's single burner, have used it a dozen times and like it a lot.

butthead"


Thanks for the recommendation. Gets a little tougher when I need something by Sunday when we leave. If my repair doesn't work, we will pick something up along the way, or I will contact our outfitter about renting something.

Found some gas tank repair epoxy. Stuff looks like brass brazing when setting. Says good to 500 psi, but that's advertising. Used emery cloth to get it down to bare metal and cleaned it up well before putting on the epoxy. The crack was only about 3/8" long. Will pressurize and give it a go tomorrow night.

Anyone know of a good store in Duluth to pick something up if needed? Would like to stay with white gas if possible.
 
Arcola
distinguished member (295)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2017 08:56PM  
I can and will weld it. My shop is in Hudson, WI.
Where are you at?
Kent
 
Grandma L
distinguished member(5628)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/13/2017 09:09PM  
ALOCS Outdoor Ultra-lightweight Split Wing Camping Stove
Found it at Walmart - on-line
 
07/13/2017 09:56PM  
The problem is that the crack may continue to grow (I am a metallurgist by profession). That tank is a safety risk that would be unacceptable to me.
 
Arcola
distinguished member (295)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2017 11:04PM  
quote Ausable: "The problem is that the crack may continue to grow (I am a metallurgist by profession). That tank is a safety risk that would be unacceptable to me."
Even if it is stop drilled and Tig welded?
 
bpneiman
distinguished member (132)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2017 11:05PM  
quote Arcola: "I can and will weld it. My shop is in Hudson, WI.
Where are you at?
Kent
"


Appreciate the offer. I'm in Nebraska.
 
07/14/2017 09:56AM  
quote Arcola: "
quote Ausable: "The problem is that the crack may continue to grow (I am a metallurgist by profession). That tank is a safety risk that would be unacceptable to me."
Even if it is stop drilled and Tig welded?
"

Your solution should work, but bpneiman intended to put epoxy over the crack.

This may sound paranoid, but if I were you, I would get a signed statement absolving me from fault if the repair fails for any reason and someone gets injured.
 
07/14/2017 10:04AM  
I'm tempted to share a story here about a friend who had a stove tank blow up killing one person and severely burning two others but I won't.

Why take a risk with a defective stove when you can go to Cabela's or many other sporting goods stores and buy a new white gas/multifuel 2 burner Coleman to replace the one you have.

On trips of 4 or more people I always take mine. It sits on a very light weight aluminum stove stand I bought off ebay. I enjoy having two burners when I need it. I like standing up to cook as opposed to squatting or groveling in the dirt with a pan precariously perched on a burner head. After 40 trips I know exactly how much gas to take alone too.

Its not that heavy and its not that hard to portage if one uses just a small measure of care.

Have a safe trip.
 
bpneiman
distinguished member (132)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/14/2017 11:01AM  
I've read very good points about the safety aspect. I was only thinking of function. I will pick up something else for the trip or rent.

Thank you.
 
bpneiman
distinguished member (132)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/14/2017 11:24AM  
Just have to decide on one or two burners now.
 
07/14/2017 04:30PM  
A quick point about the Coleman integrated tank stoves. The fuel pickup and air bleeds are in the tank, and the valves often become thread-locked over time causing difficult removal to flush the tank.

butthead
 
Arcola
distinguished member (295)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/14/2017 08:58PM  
quote Ausable: "
quote Arcola: "
quote Ausable: "The problem is that the crack may continue to grow (I am a metallurgist by profession). That tank is a safety risk that would be unacceptable to me."
Even if it is stop drilled and Tig welded?
"

Your solution should work, but bpneiman intended to put epoxy over the crack.

This may sound paranoid, but if I were you, I would get a signed statement absolving me from fault if the repair fails for any reason and someone gets injured."


Point taken. Metallurgy has always fascinated me.
 
07/14/2017 09:29PM  
Keep it simple: support the economy and buy a new stove!
 
SouthernExposure
distinguished member (455)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/15/2017 05:44PM  
Since you have a short time frame, I would rent one for this trip and contact Coleman for a replacement tank. Replacing it should be a pretty straight forward and easy repair. As has been expressed, don't try to glue a crack in a pressurized tank full of flammable liquid. The closest hospital might be a couple of days away.

SE
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Gear Sponsor:
Portage North