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rebuiding alcohol stove

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mqp
1st Mate

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USA
46 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/22/2002 : 14:43:04

Has anyone rebuild the original Princess alcohol stove? I contacted Optimus (the manufacturer) and they sell a kit containing all the inner parts, spindle graphite packing, jet needle, metal ring, packing nut, and seal packing. If you have experience in rebuilding the stove, I'd appreciate any insight on what's the best way to do it.
Thanks.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2002 : 14:55:34

<img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_sleepy.gif border=0 align=middle> . . . we've beat this one up several times over. Briefly, those who have attempted to rebuild the alcohol pressure units have, I believe, ended with unsatisfactory results. If you pay to have it rebuilt (as I did) you can easily spend as much as a new Origo non-pressurized stove. Or you can easily and inexpensively convert (as I also did) your existing unit to propane. There's a recent thread on this conversion.
Good luck.

Edited by - OJ on 11/22/2002 18:52:00

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2002 : 16:46:16

<i>"Long live the curtain burner!"</i>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2002 : 12:52:44

I converted to propane and used the small canisters. Total cost 60 dollars. When not in use I keep the canisters in the port thingy. I also had a long gas line so the canister could sit outside and be used. There is no comparison between the two stoves. With propane heat is instant and it takes 1/10 the time to cook. In addition an inverted thick clay pot inverted over the burner made a great cabin heater.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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John J.
Navigator

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USA
157 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2002 : 16:48:16

O.K. You've convinced me, a propane conversion it shall be. Now what? Where can I find one or does this require M.I.T. type procedures. Can I just yank the old one, pitch it, and slide anew propane model in?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2002 : 23:49:21

John,

The following are two examples of an alcohol-to-propane conversion of the original Princess stove.

This is how Adam Fishman did it,...

Catalina Stove Conversion - Alcohol to Propane
Submitted by Adam Fishman

Parts Lists

2 Scout Century stoves
2 Brass Hipressure M Throwaway - M X 1/4 Male Pipe
3 1/4 inch street elbows
2 Flare union 3/8 inch X 1/4 female pipe
3 Flare union 3/8 inch X 1/4 male pipe
Swivel Nut 3/8
2 Flare Nuts 3/8
3/8 copper pipe
2 brass Elbows
1 Brass 3/8 T female
6 foot hose
Pipe dope, all the joints except the flare
Assorted brass washesrs as spacers

Remove the old guts of the Alcohol Stove, keeping the Nobs and Extenders with hairpins. Go to a sheet metal shop that works with stainless steel, and grind the 1/4 inch holes to aproximately 1 ", (Enough room for just 2 Brass Hipressure M Throwaway - M X 1/4 Male Pipe but not too large so to keep the hex end from going through -have them hand while it is ground to fit well) where the old alochol burers were, to the size required for the fittings to screw in to the regulator. I added 2 washers below, to tighten regulator to the Hipressure M Throwaway Pipe

<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/P1010097.jpg" border=0>

Remove the plastic nobs off the century stove (I used a pliers to hold valve and wiggle them off), and then file the end an 1/8 inch smaller to allow the old extenders to slip on tightly, then drill the hole through for the hairpin.
<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/P1010100.jpg" border=0>

Go to a propane parts store, that does tubing, and they should have most of the other parts. Show them the picture and have them make the connectors to fit, and the copper tubing, with correct fittings, so it can be tested for no leaks.
<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/P1010098.jpg" border=0>

I added a hose that can come out below the stove (the front plate comes off) and I can put a bottle on the floor. In the future I am looking to add a tank off the back of the boat, but want to be sure that I can have a sniffer installed for safety.
<img src="http://www.netstores.com/~adam/Catalinastove/Underneath.close.jpg" border=0>

And this is how Douglass did it,...

I did the stove upgrade today. A few trips to the hardware store and Im done. Two hours tops. I used a dremel tool and a stone bit to open up the burner mount holes. Did it diferently than the previous post and it was easy.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2db38b3127cce9d89f8b538120000003410" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2db38b3127cce9d89f9fcf9f30000003410" border=0>

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
Lake Erie

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