how to change jets on gas camp stove?

**TerryO** · 6th May 2010, 10:28 PM

The problem you describe Signal1 sounds like the flame is lighting back onto the injector. That is what the roaring noise is as the lighted gas burns out from the jet through the venturi. This dosn't burn all the gas so you end up with a floppy yellow flame at the burner where secondary combustion is happening.

I'd say you would have to have some sort of regulator on it or it would not work because the pressure would be far to great. From memory at about 11 inches water pressure (which is about the noraml working pressure of LPG) the gas goes through the burner venturi at either 60 or maybe it was 90 mph, sorry can't remember!
For comparision you can blow many tens of times times harder then 11 inches water pressure and the pressure in a LPG bottle is about 600 hundred pounds from memory. Hundreds of times greater then you can blow.

Usually the presssure regulator is at the connection on the bottle with the hose all in on. Some older appliances had them fitted to the appliance especially if they had been used as a house hold stove not just a camping stove. If you are sure you don't have a regulator then make sure you get a new one and a new hose before checking anything else.

Back to lighting back on the injector, usually when this happens and it is left to burn for any decent amount of time the heat build up can ruin the gas tap which is also usually brass. You can pull the tap apart and and use black graphite paste as lubricant which will if the tap is in good nick also stop any bypassing / leaking. Make sure you watch which way the tappered barrel comes out of the tap body when you lube it so you put it back in exactly the same way.

If it has been back burning on the injector for a long period of time then the tap could be stuffed and by then usually nearly everything else is stuffed as well.

You will also need to clean the ports in the burner with a piece of wire to make sure you get all the rust, dirt, burnt food etc out of the holes. You will also need to try and clean out the burner tube on the inside to get rid of scale, rust etc. Do this before cleaning the burner holes.

If your burner has an adjustable aeration sleve at ethe venturi then when you put it back together leave it wide open so as to get maximum air in. Once you have it all back together then adjust the air ratio by sliding the sleve. You don't want it to roar or be a sharp flame either as that is to much air. A yellow flame is not enough air. Somewhere in between is best. Try for no yellow what so ever with lpg.

Do not try and drill out the injector or poke a wire through it. LPG injector have a very exact size hole and unless you have Gas Fitters thumb drills you will only wreck the injector and the burner won't work well when lit.

Always use soapy water to check for leaks around the tap body and manifold and to check if the tap is bypassing gas simply put a few soapy bubbles over the injector hole and wait 20 seconds to see it it blows big bubbles. If it dose then it is leaking which is not a good thing with an LPG appliance.

Good luck with trying to fix it. If after you have used graphite to lube the tap and it is leaking and it continues to light back then maybe it might be time for a new stove.

cheers,
Terry

**Signal1** · 6th May 2010, 11:21 PM

Thanks for going to the trouble of typing that all up. A job for me Saturday night perhaps.

Thanks again,
Peter Phillips

richard4u2 · 7th May 2010, 10:23 AM

when i was having trouble with mine way back i took it with me to the gas mob when i had a bottle filled and asked them about how to fix it they got hold of it and ran some wire looking thing through the jets , no charge and it now works like new

**Blknight.aus** · 7th May 2010, 11:14 AM

thats a wire drill.

**Bushwanderer** · 9th May 2010, 01:33 PM

Sorry TerryO, but you are incorrect about necessarily needing a regulator.

My early 2-burner Primus stove, did not use a regulator, but had appropriately sized jets to control the gas flow. I still have the stove but am now unable to get the right-sized jets.

Best Wishes,
Peter

**Slunnie** · 9th May 2010, 01:44 PM

My Jackaroo 2 burner stove is forever blocking jets. I'd just pull them out and blow them out. If that didn't clear them, then I'd usually be able to find something in the bush to clear them with, like a fine spikey point from a leaf or timber fibre etc and that would do the trick. Always kept some spares in the tool box to change them also as they blocked up every time I pulled the stove out.

My solution that fixed it was to switch to ring burners that use a regulator. No problems since.

**TerryO** · 10th May 2010, 10:23 AM

[QUOTE=Bushwanderer;1247645]Sorry TerryO, but you are incorrect about necessarily needing a regulator.

My early 2-burner Primus stove, did not use a regulator, but had appropriately sized jets to control the gas flow. I still have the stove but am now unable to get the right-sized jets.

No need to be sorry if I'm wrong then I'm wrong.

In theory jets do not ware out. Thay can become blocked for many different reasons but it cleaned using the right tools they should last forever.

I have never seen a LPG or for that matter any gas appliance that does not have a regulator either fitted to it or at the bottle / source. I can imagine how they would work with, I'm guessing, a tapered plug that squeezes into the back of an equally counter sunk jet to restrict / adjust gas flow, but trying to get several hundred pounds of pressure down to 11 inches water gauge (which is the usual working pressure of a LPG appliance) would be interesting to say the least. If I remember rightly one pound of gas pressure is equal to about 27.7 inches water gauge.

I'm guessing they would be very touchy to adjust as any gas being used under pressure tends to fluctuate and would need a regulator to keep a constant working pressure.

I would think these kinds of burners are potentially quite dangerous and having a hose running from a bottle without a regulator to dramatically drop the pressure would be extremely dangerous if a leak occurs, especially given that LPG is about 1.5 times heavier then air so tends to pool in low spots. I can't say I have ever seen a LPG hose that has a bottle connection on it that was meant for domestic useage, which doesn't mean I'm saying that they don't exist.

In a past life (20 years ago) I was a Plumber & Gasfitter, actually Gas Company trained while I have never really worked on camping / BBQ appliances apart from my own I would have considered / thought that all LPG appliances sold to the public would have had the same safety restrictions placed on them as domestic appliances. If that is not the case then sorry I was wrong and it just goes to show maybe I don't know as much as I thought I did.

cheers,
Terry

**Bushwanderer** · 10th May 2010, 10:32 AM

Hi TerryO,
When the jets blocked, it was a pain. Otherwise it worked incredibly well. I guess the taper on the control needle was very shallow, giving fine control.

I have family in Goulburn, so maybe when I'm down there next, I should bring the Primus stove, and see what you would recommend in order to get it going again.

Best Wishes,
Peter

**TerryO** · 10th May 2010, 11:01 AM

Well Peter first off I would recommend that we put at least two bloody big T-Bones on the BBQ to see if it is working properly and also do a taste test of several different amber fluids to make sure the fridge is also working correctly.

One can never be 100% sure that applainces are doing the right thing if you don't constantly check up how they are working.

Just give me some notice and I'd be happy to have a look at your stove.

cheers,
Terry

**Bushwanderer** · 13th May 2010, 12:18 PM

Hi Terry,
Sounds irresistible.

Best Wishes,
Peter

Thread: how to change jets on gas camp stove?

Thread Tools

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions