10. Tourist stoves

When traveling for a long time in a forestless area, they usually take with them primus stoves (such as “Bumblebee” or “Tourist”) with a supply of gasoline in 5 or 10 liter canisters. Gasoline Primus stoves are most widespread among tourists and climbers. Primuses of the “Bumblebee” type have a vertical layout, and the “Tourist” type have a horizontal layout.

Primuses of the “Bumblebee” type have several modifications:

• “Bumblebee” with a tank volume of 0.65 l and a weight of 1 kg;

• “Shmel-2” weighs 1.5 kg, has a tank with a volume of 0.74 liters, slightly greater power and greater stability (larger bottom area and smaller height);

• “Shmsl-3” has two burners, tank volume is 1.5 l, weighs 3 kg;

• “Shmel-4” with a tank volume of 0.95 l ensures continuous combustion for 4.4–6 hours, operates reliably at temperatures from -30° to +40°; The weight of an unfilled Primus without a case is 1.2 kg.

The small-sized primus “Tourist” (weight 0.65 kg, tank volume 0.125 l) is most often used as a spare or auxiliary. It has a simple, reliable burner.

Primus “Bumblebee-4” (Fig. 58) consists of a tank 1, into which a pump 15, a safety valve 2, a burner 3 are screwed through the fitting gasket 14. A nipple 5 is screwed into the burner, closing the cone 4. This cone covers the burner hole in the lower position and moves when the spindle 12 is turned using the control key 13. Seal the spindle 12 is pressed with a nut 11. The burner socket contains a cap 8 and a reflector 7. A windproof casing 9 is put on the burner. The pump 15 has a rod with washers 16 and a rubber ring 11. A check valve 10 is screwed to the end of the pump.

Rice. 58. Scheme of coercion "Shmel-4.

Before lighting the primus, turn off the pump and pour gasoline into the tank through the hole for the pump, using a funnel. After this, tightly wrap the pump, having first checked the tightness of the pump cover relative to its body 15. Next, you need to close the burner hole by turning the key 13 to the right or left until it stops, and check the tightness by turning the stove over.

Then pump air with pump 15 (15-20 vigorous pumping strokes) and warm up the burner, igniting fuel (gasoline, dry alcohol) in recess 14. The casing 9 must be removed or raised. It is allowed to warm up with gasoline drained from the burner after pumping up the kerosene stove: to do this, turn the key to the left or right for a short time, making sure that the gasoline does not overflow over the edge of the recess. Warming up with gasoline should only be done outdoors. Sometimes reheating may be necessary (if there is a lack of fuel or in the cold). When lighting a primus stove, do not lean over it, keep your face away.

Light the primus after warming up by slowly turning key 13 from the extreme (left or right) position to the middle one. You need to open the burner and ignite the gasoline vapor at the reflector hole 7. The flames at the reflector hole should be pale blue, and there should be a transparent orange crown around the reflector. If the flame flares up like a torch, extinguish the primus stove by turning the key to any extreme position and repeat warming up the burner. If flames do not form, but the reflector becomes hot and a humming noise is heard, turn off the stove and light it again. If the situation repeats, you need to clean the nipple. Clean the nipple with several turns of the key in both directions. This may require not only re-ignition, but also re-inflation. If the primus ignites, you can extinguish the flame by covering the primus with a thick cloth. To regulate the flame, you must slowly turn the key 13 towards the extreme position. There is no need to reduce the flame by turning towards the middle position, as this will damage the needle. After extinguishing the kerosene stove, turn the key to the nearest extreme position, let it cool and release the pressure by unscrewing the pump.

Even a new Primus must be disassembled for preliminary testing and then tested. Check the operation of the pump: during sudden pumping, the check valve should operate (as evidenced by a click). The spindle 12 and the safety valve are not disassembled. Check the free movement of the spindle and the blocking of the burner channel with the valve, as well as the cleaning of the nipple with a needle.

A used Primus must be inspected, disassembled, the burner cleaned of carbon deposits, assembled, tested and prepared for use.

As part of a camping kit for repairing primus stoves, you need to have: pliers, tweezers, small pliers, side cutters, a screwdriver, an awl, needle files, gasoline-resistant rubber 2-3 mm thick, scissors, grease like grease, a funnel with a mesh.

If a group goes on a camping trip with one primus, then you need to have a spare burner and pump assembly. It is still advisable to have a spare Primus stove of the “Tourist” type.

One of the participants must thoroughly study the Primus stoves, monitor their technical condition, and repair them if necessary.

Gasoline consumption in winter for 9-10 people is about 1 liter per day, in summer - about 0.7 liters. To save gasoline, cauldrons are covered with an asbestos or fiberglass cover. Cauldrons or pans should have tight-fitting lids. It’s even better if they are made like autoclaves with a valve that opens at a lower steam pressure than the container allows. In this case, gasoline consumption can be significantly reduced.

It is better to have metal canisters for transporting or carrying and storing gasoline, with well-lapped, tight-fitting plugs and locks. The volume of canisters is 10, 5 and 2 liters.