Svea 123 Update

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Jul 26, 2010
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129
So here she is, the camp stove of my dad's 20's and 30' he used in the bush, out on trips, and working in the Chilcotin area of BC. It has been sitting in storage for at least 25 year, and now I am trying to bring it back to life. I think it needs a few replacement parts, but I am going to get it all cleaned up, set a spark to it and see what happens. :)

Here are some photos:

As I found it:
DSC_0016.JPG


Pulled Apart:
DSC_0020.JPG


Completely disassembled, with some preliminary dremel action:
DSC_0031.JPG


Not a whole lot of progress so far, busy with work and the house and all, but it`s something to do! More pictures to follow as progress develops.

Cheers,
 
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I would just bet that if you put a bit of fuel in her, fill the heating tray and light a match and she will purr back to life.

Doc
 
Just did a search on these, as I had not heard of them... They run on GASOLINE? that is crazy. I will have to look into this a little further, Nice stove westcoaster!
 
Bit of an anachronism there, but popular in its day, like the good old Optimus. Heavy, limited fuel capacity, but reliable. I like my MSR WhisperLite these days.
 
Just did a search on these, as I had not heard of them... They run on GASOLINE? that is crazy. I will have to look into this a little further, Nice stove westcoaster!

Coleman camp stoves will burn unleaded just fine. I have never used coleman fuel in it.
 
I have one in my pack now. Heavy compared to some of the newer stoves, maybe - but no heavy/bulky fuel cannisters, easy to tell how much fuel is remaining (try that with a propane wonder), fuel can be had nearly anywhere, and the darn thing just won't die.

I may be biased - I collect and restore liquid fuel camp stoves and lanterns...

shelves.jpg
 
I didn't know you could burn auto gasoline in a svea 123. Is this correct? I've always burned coleman in mine.
 
Unleaded petrol/gasoline

Been using a similar model for 35 years.
Get a pressure pump for it and you can use it in -40 weather
A liter of fuel lasts a week to 10 days in the winter
You have total control on the heat output from very low to hot
 
oo you need a handle they can still be had,pm me if you do not know............
Ya, I am also missing the flame spreader, I am planning of fabricating them both from some metal scraps.


Where is the wick? The handle for the cup can be easily made.
The wick is in a cup that had the old fuel in it. Unfortuntally all the old fuel has now evaporated:(

Do you guys think Gell Type Fondue fuel would work?
 
I would just bet that if you put a bit of fuel in her, fill the heating tray and light a match and she will purr back to life.

Doc
I have an elderly SVEA 123 myself. When I read your suggestion, I went to the shed, brought the stove and a can of Coleman fuel out, and did just as you said.

Sure enough, it functioned perfectly. :D

I know it leaks around the fuel filler cap, and the handle has long been missing. Still, it is functional, and can be used.
BOBCooking.jpg
 
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Have the 123 since the 1960’s and works.
In your photo I did not see the nozzle cleaning pick; you need one to clean any carbon build up.
Get some Brasso to clean and polish the exterior use Q Tips and an old tooth brush to hit the threads and interior of the wind shield.
When done put a small amount of Coleman fuel and slosh around a bit and let sit for awhile before firing up, If any fuel was left in it may have gunked up this should help loosening it up.
When using the Key take the shield off and the key goes inside the shield then out through one of the Square openings, replace the shield and lineup the Key with the gas valve, once it running remove the key as It will get Hot.
Do not leave fuel in it for an extended period of time this to mean years :}
 
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Yay, Svea! When I thru-hiked the AT, my stove bit the dust. I was on a shoestring budget, but I found a 123 in a hiker box and used it for several weeks until I bought a Whisperlight. That chug-chug-chug sound still brings back fond memories.

What a great stove. The brass has class.
 
I have one in my pack now. Heavy compared to some of the newer stoves, maybe - but no heavy/bulky fuel cannisters, easy to tell how much fuel is remaining (try that with a propane wonder), fuel can be had nearly anywhere, and the darn thing just won't die.

I may be biased - I collect and restore liquid fuel camp stoves and lanterns...

shelves.jpg

That is a collection of stoves and lanterns.
 
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