Optimus 8R Stove Repair/Rebuilding - Part 1: Disassembly 

Bravo! 👏 I'm really glad my video could help you keep your family stove alive for future generations of fun. BD

SAME story...Always wanted it to be the case with my son... You are blessed

You can do it!

Thanks! BD

Thanks! Glad I could help you keep your old (but completely usable) stove alive. Great story, too. Thanks for sharing! BD

Glad you like the videos. But, DON'T use a 7/16" on the 11mm tank pipe nut. NO they aren't the same size, not even close - 7/16" is bigger than 11mm and will fit sloppy. You WILL round over the soft brass hex fittings if you try it. Use the right tool for the job or have someone else do it for you. They don't make these stoves or replacement parts anymore. 👍😎 BD

@@BernieDawgCinema I totally agree. Have been a diesel mechanic for 35 years, i would use a flare nut spanner (wrench) or crows foot. Just got into these old stoves, i think i maybe addicted! Love their simplicity but also clever design. Have watched many of your vids. Share the knowledge !!

@@BernieDawgCinema And that would be an eleven millimetre wrench too!

Yup. Flare nut wrench in 11mm is the way to go. Take it easy, go slow, and good luck to you on the new stove hobby. Please remember that these stoves are of soft/brittle brass and the torque on these is *way* lower than on a diesel truck engine. 😳👍 BD

@もりもり007 You're welcome! Will you publish your "reference"? Perhaps consider kindly providing a link to your work here in this thread. BD

@Алексей Кулешов ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-j9XjV9ePvOY.html Что-то здесь не так. 😳 BD

@wanttogo Thanks! Yes. Optimus 99 and 8R parts on the tank and burner are the same and compatible. Just in different case styles. It's why I don't have a Optimus 99 video - same stove, same procedure. (Not sure if I actually ever mentioned it. Oops.) Good call! 👍 BD

@@BernieDawgCinema thanks. You jave a great channel!

@wanttogo Thank you very much. 😊 BD

@Anne Fung In the video description box below the video I give you an email address where you can write and get additional advice and assistance. Here are some thoughts I have. First, as I say in the video, unless there is a reason to do so, you don’t need to do this disassembly. Consider first, why are you trying to take it apart? Does the stove not work? Have you replaced the rubber gaskets first?

I'm assuming you have an 8R and not an 8. The joint is a tapered pipe joint, so it will tighten and seal without the use of sealants, thread lockers or glue, and such methods are unnecessary to achieve a fluid-tight joint. You *could* try warming the area of the joint but you *must be careful* if you are using flame that you do not ignite residual fuel vapors. The best bet is to use a brake line wrench (aka flare nut wrench) of the proper size and make sure you are turning the feed pipe nut the correct direction. Lefty-loosey, righty-tighty, or, counter-clockwise to loosen, clockwise to tighten. Drop me a note at berniedawgstove@comcast.net if you have more questions or need more guidance. Happy to help. Good luck. 👍 BD.

Possibly, but not in my experience. Though it's hard to say what some other person might have done to the stove before you. Lots of people work on these and create their own "solutions" which may be handed down to you. The joint is a tapered pipe joint, so it will tighten and seal without the use of sealants, thread lockers or glue, and such methods are unnecessary to achieve a fluid-tight joint. You could try warming the area of the joint but you must be careful if you are using flame that you do not ignite residual fuel vapors. Best bet is to use a brake line wrench (aka flare nut wrench) of the proper size and make sure you are turning the feed pipe nut the correct direction. Lefty-loosey, righty-tighty, or, counter-clockwise to loosen, clockwise to tighten. Drop me a note at berniedawgstove@comcast.net if you have more questions. Happy to help. Good luck. 👍 BD.

Sí. Tienes razón. El Primus 8R y el Optimus 8R son la misma estufa. Algunas estufas fueron etiquetadas como Primus y algunas Optimus después de que Optimus compró la compañía Primus en 1962. BD

@Robert Glidewell Sure. Any/all of those. Also Simple Green, hot soapy water, solvents or hot soapy water in ultrasonic cleaners, brass-bristled brushes, soaking in water for a long time, etc. Whatever you find that works without discoloring or damaging the brass. Steel brushes, sandpaper, scrubbie pads, ScotchBrite, etc are no good. Drop me an email on the very long list of questions in your other post. RU-vid comments are not like social discussion forums - sorry. bd@berniedawg.com 👍😎 BD

@Mikael Jonsson Thanks for your question. The Optimus 8 (no R) exists in at least three different variants. One of the variants has the fuel feed pipe permanently affixed to the tank - it is not removable, and that’s okay because there is no wick in that one - so no need to replace the wick. The two other styles have completely different disassembly methods. Drop me an email with some photos of your stove and I can describe (with pictures) how to disassemble the variety of Optimus 8 (no R) that you have. Doing them all here in this little text box is really beyond the scope of RU-vid comments. bd@berniedawg.com 👍 BD

@Andy Rosser Thanks to you, too, and you're welcome. For best fit, try Base-Camp, www.base-camp.co.uk/Optimus.html, part #2189. You can also find combined kits of Optimus-brand repair part kits direct from Optimus and for Svea/Optimus small stoves on Amazon. Just search on "Optimus stove repair" and they should turn up. For other stove parts, I maintain a list of stove part suppliers at my webpage: www.berniedawg.com/stove-part-supplier-links/ BD

@@BernieDawgCinema thank you so much. Wonderful resources. I'll be watching the video as I put it all back together!

@Andy Rosser You're welcome. Glad I could help. Give a shout to the email if you need more advice or directions. bd@berniedawg.com Happy camping! BD

@johnzappa h These types of stoves use "white gas" or "white gasoline", aka naphtha or Coleman fuel. I don't know your country because you don't say. I don't know what "gas oil" is. These stoves DO NOT run on alcohol or any mixture of alcohol. These stoves DO NOT run on kerosene or any mixture of kerosene.To find the proper fuel for these stoves where you live, consult this chart of international fuel names to find the country and language you use: bushwalkingnsw.org.au/clubsites/FAQ/FAQ_FuelNames.htm Column three (3) is the type of fuel you want. BD

@Eduardo Moron Part #2174 found here. www.base-camp.co.uk/Optimus.html BD

@Garrett Henning Thanks for asking. This is a pretty nice video series I've done that shows you how to do the work yourself. I have additional videos that show how to rebuild the fuel cap yourself, too. Maybe take a look at those videos and consider if it would be something you could handle (I'd bet yes). If you still want *me* to do it, send me an email with some photos of your stove to my business address here: bd@berniedawg.com . That way I can see the condition of your stove and what is needed and give you a better idea on cost. Isn't going to be cheap, but, then, you could always do it yourself from the videos if you decide the cost is too high for you. BD

@damian tuttle Maybe best to just watch this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gQjnmj-rIi8.html Or, you can read all the following blah-blah that I wrote before enough caffeine reminded me I'd already done a video on the subject of 111 case restoration/painting. Doh! All Optimus stoves were painted without primer and simply used automotive-style paints. Sorry. No one anywhere knows the "correct color code" for you stove. Folks at Optimus were secretive in the day and the folks there now have simply discarded all that history out of lack of interest (okay, boomer-ism). If you want an exact match, you could take a color correct stove to a body shop and have them mix/match it for you - it'll cost you a bundle to do that and may be hard to find a shop that'll do small quantities for a stove. If you want the most common of the Optimus blue colors, then see what you think of the best off-the-shelf match I use. Dupli-Color Medium Maui Blue BGM0423 is very close (imo). If you are in the UK or EU, you may have other colors of automotive paint available to you to select from. Haunt the paint aisles of your local automotive supply shop. Make some selections and try them out. No need for any special "heat resistant" paints. Optimus didn't use them and auto paint is both heat resistant and fuel proof if allowed a full 30-day air cure. That said... if you set your stove on fire (fuel leaks, operation mistakes), even "heat resistant" paints will bubble and scorch. Good luck! BD

@@BernieDawgCinema brilliant Sir , what a wonderful helpful reply , thanks so much I'll certainly watch the video . Kind regards Damian

Try watching this video on the Svea 123/123R first (the spindles work the same way) and see if that helps you resolve things: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qBAdn5Oda2s.html If not, drop me an email with some photos or a link to a video and we can get you squared away. BD

These were made from about 1960-ish through at least 1990. Optimus used no date codes, so who knows? BD

Ouch!

@@BernieDawgCinema yeah.. maybe it is a bit too risky to try twisting it back?

Update: gently twisted it back without any cracks! *PUH* Next, i am getting that brake line tool and some heat!

@The Litterbug Yes. BD

@PaulBearden-be1pe First off… did you watch the reassembly video, too, or just the disassembly video you are making your comment on? Here’s the part of that reassembly video where I show how to set a cleaning needle: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3ytcym3qhcA.htmlsi=H_L1188cH0HCDeXU&t=503 I also have a whole playlist of videos on the 8R type stoves here: ru-vid.com/group/PL9Tg7BYD6fUJ4L9S6PipKE0-GOAlUVShb The best way to test your stove is to remove the cleaning needle and fire the stove without the needle in place. If it doesn’t shut off with the cleaning needle out of the stove, then you likely have a marred spindle seat. It’s another issue. If your stove now shuts off (without the needle), then you need to practice your needle setting more. Most people don’t get needle setting right the first time and it takes some practice until you get it figured out. If the spindle shuts off without the needle, but doesn’t shut off with the needle, then you are setting the needle too deep. The deeper you set the needle, the more likely it will keep the spindle from closing all the way. So… if you try 3 clicks and the needle is keeping the spindle from closing all the way, then try 2 clicks. (That’s rare and unusual and is more likely due to your newbieness.) Keep at it and expect to try more than once. Need more help? Free hotline here: bd@berniedawg.com BD

@Darren Banks Trained professional here. Don't try it at home. Check with the NHS for some meds for that anxiety. 👍😎 BD

@percy b Viton is the only good choice for fuel-safe gaskets on Optimus fuel caps. BD

@@BernieDawgCinema what is Viton? Excuse me, I'm using Google translate, I'm from Peru, and I have the same cooker, and I wish it would work, thanks

@percy b Viton is a fuel-resistant synthetic rubber product. Put “viton” in your Google search box to learn more. Watch both this video, the reassembly video, and the video on rebuilding fuel caps at my channel to learn about the fuel cap gasket and the SRV pip in the fuel cap and how to replace them. Check my webpage of stove part suppliers to find ready made Viton fuel cap washers and pips and a whole lot of other stove part stuff, too. Links for most of that are just below the video in the video description - click on the little arrowhead to get those to show up on a phone or tablet. BD

@@BernieDawgCinema Gracias

I think you mean you have an *Optimus* 99 backpacking stove. Check the description box under this video for several links to suppliers of Optimus or Optimus-compatible parts and to even more links of stove part supplies. 😎👍 BD

I still don't see any links. Your Video was really helpful. Thank you.

Huh! You must be viewing from a phone? Checking with my phone... I slide off the end of the video title all the way to the right past the word "Disassembly". There is a little "caret" symbol or "v" shape. Click on that and the description for the video with tons of info folds down where you can see it. Now you'll know how you can see description stuff on other peoples videos, too! Woo-HOO! Technology! Or...just try the links at my blog page: www.berniedawg.com/stove-part-supplier-links/ or search "Optimus 8R" or "optimus 99" at eBay to find suppliers of parts for these long-out-of-production stoves. Or, contact me directly via my email (it's in the description, too) at: berniedawgstove@comcast.net if things still don't work out for you and I'll give you all those links in an email. Easy-peasy! BD

@@BernieDawgCinema thank you from all us computer illiterate viewers! Thanks again.

Im just trying to find a wick and graphite sean for my Olympus99.

@MehmetKARAKOSE-ni9zi This should be easy to figure out. Use an adjustable wrench like one of these: www.amazon.com/Crescent-AC28CVS-Chrome-Adjustable-Cushion/dp/B00HDT8JJ0/?th=1 or a 5mm fixed open-end wrench. Or, order a replacement spindle key/tool from Base-Camp, part #2064. www.base-camp.co.uk/Optimus.html If that's too hard for you, or too hard for you to figure out, you might wish to reconsider working on your stove by yourself. Seek out a friend or a neighbor who works on mechanical things. Good luck! BD

@@BernieDawgCinema THANKS A LOIT

@MehmetKARAKOSE-ni9zi You're welcome! And, remember... it's okay to ask nearby friends and family for help with tools and mechanical stuff. It can help to build relationships. 👍BD

@mingiasi Absolutely *not*. 99% ethanol alcohol has so much less energy per liter than white gas (aka naphtha - the fuel for which the stove is designed) that an alcohol/air mix will be far too lean to ignite in this stove. Plus, because 99% ethanol alcohol burns so wet and at a lower temperature, even with elaborate air restriction methods to richen the mixture, the flame won't drive enough heat through the burner bell to keep the alcohol vaporizing. What's wrong with using the correct fuel for the stove? BD

@Big Pink Shower Cap And, they get more expensive with each day that passes. It's the nature of anything that isn't made anymore but still works cool. Do one night less in a motel and you would easily pay for such a stove with the savings. Or, don't. And never get one. Be less happy. Your call. Think about it. 🤔🤷‍♂️😎 BD

افعلها كما في هذا الفيديو. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Z_zRgcmSWh0.html لكن لا داعي للضخ. BD

I'm fine. Very busy with stove projects and spring chores. How about you? :-) BD

@user-ff6ju6hg4u Naw, Kenny. You’re wrong. The little stamped metal wrench included in the kit is for use in the field to tighten up the spindle packing nut or to remove the jet in case of clogging. It’s a pretty crappy little tool but works in a pinch when in the wilderness and there are no better tools to be had. Smart and experienced stove owners use real quality tools when rebuilding these vintage stoves. 👍😎 BD