Has anyone tried coleman gas in a svea? The performance was? Thanks
Has anyone tried coleman gas in a svea? The performance was? Thanks
I've used it for years - works great, and it's what you should be using. I"m not sure what other fuel you would consider.
Nice to know I'm not alone. I have an MSR, but I still love and use my Svea regularly.
Don’t we all have too many stoves?
My favorites run on white gas.
Wayne
Yep, what the others have said. Coleman Fuel (White Gas / Naphtha) is what it is supposed to burn. I love the stove, works great. Most of the time these days I'm using alcohol...every now and then in winter I break out the 123.
Plaid is fast! Ticks suck, literally... It’s ok, bologna hoses off…
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Is the SVEA 123/R still being produced and distributed in the USA? [Aside from potential knockoffs at the river site? Looking for official distribution]
To the best of my knowledge the Svea 123Rs were never made in the U.S. I have one of the newer ones, and while I don't still have the box, I'm reasonably certain it was made in China. With that said, it works fine and has never given me any problems and is the one I still take regularly on overnight hikes. If you want authenticity, you can still find the original 123s, though it's getting harder (and particularly ones with the original key). I have two of these, and if kept in good shape and maintenance is performed, they work as if new. BTW I couldn't find anything on the Optimus site about where they're made. Maybe someone else knows more, and I'll be happy to stand corrected.
I had an Optimus 8-R Hunter, which I believe was made by Svea. Coleman Fuel was recommended, but I used to burn Amoco unleaded "white gas", as it was advertised way back when, and I never had any problems. I don't know what the 10% ethanol blend they sell today would do in a Svea.
Last edited by atraildreamer; 08-24-2020 at 13:21.
"To make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from." - T.S. Eliot
Thanks - I phrased my question(s) poorly. I meant to ask if they were still being produced at all, and if so, was there a distributor in the USA?
There's a popular online site that has lost my trust in recent years. I would be concerned about knockoffs being sold as genuine, etc., and thus if the Svea stove were still being made, I would want to ensure that whatever I bought was the real deal.
There are many e-tailers other than the big one that sell this stove, mostly in the range of $110 dollars or so.
Thanks. It's curious, though, why Outland USA is not listed as a dealer on Optimus' web site (at least, not by searching by city/state or zip). REI is listed, but they don't carry this stove.
Interesting it's not on the river site. IIRC it used to be, and there were (some) reviews complaining about it not being of the same quality etc etc. So I'm just cautious of the risk of knockoffs. I agree, Venchka, I could trust Optimus, but how do we know an Optimus is an Optimus? Best I can figure, by sticking to official dealers.
There are, of course, other options in the white gas stove market. There's just something about the 123R that appeals to me - simplicity of design, longevity in the market, durability of item, retro appeal, etc. But it's my understanding they're not the most efficient things around. The attraction is not entirely rational, I concede!
Here is the history of Svea. Made in Sweden for decades. When I was in scouts long ago, someone got a good deal on SVEA stoves that turned out to be Soviet knock offs
There used to be large kerosene models.
Does the 123 have to be primed and does the fuel have an odor?
I have primed in cold weather with the same fuel in the stove’s fuel tank. Years ago I had the good sense to purchase the SVEA pump and pump compatible fuel tank lid. Press pump on the lid. 5 strokes. Open fuel valve. Watch fuel flow into the priming fuel recess area on the fuel tank. Close valve to prevent spilling fuel over the tank. Light priming fuel. Let burn until the flame is almost exhausted. Open fuel valve again. Stove ignited!
The above process takes longer to tell than to do. Any flammable liquid could be carefully dispensed in the correct location to prime the stove. Alcohol even. I don’t know if it’s still available, but there used to be a Sterno type paste fuel packaged in a tube like toothpaste. Very easy to use.
White gas has been around since forever and used in countless stoves, lanterns, heaters, etc. I’ve never noticed an objectionable order. But my sniffer isn’t of Bloodhound quality.
The SVEA 123 and all of it’s siblings and knockoffs have been around since forever. They work. They are easily repaired with a few spare parts that I always carry. But I haven’t needed to use the parts.
The Primus and Optimus Multi Fuel Expedition stoves use a burner similar to the SVEA 123 and burn white gas, kerosene and diesel with the correct nozzle or standard ISO Butane canisters through the white gas orifice.
All of the above is explained better than I can at countless web sites online.
Just don’t try to use one on a nylon tent floor!!!! The entire stove gets very warm.
Wayne
The paste is still around:
https://www.amazon.com/Coghlans-8607...dp/B000QJFKIM/
Thank you Wayne for the information.