Lighting an Optimus 8R petrol gasoline camping stove

How to light an Optimus 8r petrol/gasoline stove (also sold under the Primus brand) according to the instructions.
An interesting stove that takes a bit less than 100ml of petrol in its tank.

[@dandyer8351]

Runs well, looks like it puts out some heat for such a small stove i love it and want one.

[@BensWorkshop]

Certainly does, though being petrol, it isn't my favourite stove... The No 96 Primus which is also dead cute is. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@kenlgraham]

I just used a 6" straw to take gas out of the tank, finger on straw and place in holder beneath. Also the guard between gas tank is movable so one can allow more heat initially and pivet the guard in .

[@BensWorkshop]

You can do that but it does involve carrying an extra straw you can't then drink out of. The method I use is the one in the instructions. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@robertswyers4420]

You have the original box WOW!! lost mine over the years. The stoves work wonderfully! cheers mate.

[@BensWorkshop]

Not only do I have the box, but the instructions too! I did have a running argument in the comments with someone insisting I was starting it wrong.... Until I pointed out that I was following the instructions that came with it! It is a nice stove though I prefer the paraffin ones as I am less frightened of them. ;) Thank you for watching, please like and share, and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@robertswyers4420]

Thats the way to prime the bowl is using the warmth of your hands to increase the pressure.Thats how Ive used mine.great video brings back memories

[@BensWorkshop]

Many thanks!

[@ifixmycarmyself2502]

Thank you for the video. very informative. I have a primus 806 plumbers torch but are not sure if it is a gasoline or lamp oil, nafta, torch. do you know?

[@BensWorkshop]

Has it got a pump? If so, it is likely to be a paraffin/kerosene lamp. They can't work without a pump. You can see some paraffing blowlamps on my channel as well as paraffin stoves including Primus ones. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subsctibe!

[@ifixmycarmyself2502]

@@BensWorkshop Thank you and i will subscribe!

[@BensWorkshop]

Many thanks! You can also ask Afonso Kerosene who posts lots of videos on this sort of thing. He may even have one on his channel.

[@zsenatrontheelder]

Fantastic and powerful stove,incredibly compact , will start up with not too much gasoline in the bottom cup, is stable and will run for a long time as gasoline is highly combustible, familiarise yourself with it outside not in the woodshed !

[@BensWorkshop]

I did familiarise myself with it outside. Many thanks for watching. Please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@turboconqueringmegaeagle9006]

Benedict, you've got me looking for camping stoves now. Something really nice about the mix of brass and useful danger. This one is a peach, much more practical than the humongous Primus.

[@BensWorkshop]

Ah. You have not yet seen the Hurlock... Coming soon... There is a joy to using a small canister of hot petrol to run a stove, what could possibly go wrong :)

[@turboconqueringmegaeagle9006]

Can't wait! I might dig out my old blow lamps and play with them to try and satisfy my cravings.

[@BensWorkshop]

I'll check the footage later and if good should be up at the weekend. Blowlamps? I got you covered.... Here are two "small"ones to look at.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2SuhH6qq8pgqNU I have a bigger one (that I've been given) to restore.

[@MrPaul1f]

Thats a great little stove

[@BensWorkshop]

It is an interesting stove. Also very compact.

[@edwinbarrios8882]

I found one at a yard sale for $5. Planning a road trip from Alaska to LA. So happy I found one 😌

[@BensWorkshop]

Whilst that is $5 more than I paid for mine that is a very good deal. Test it before you need to rely on it. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@Patatteke1]

Years ago someone gave me a new one from the Soviet Army (they made copies it seems) ; I have my safe camping gaz and didn. t dare to use is since the fuel is gasoline . But your nice video makes me think to give it a try.....thanks.

[@BensWorkshop]

A pleasure. I would do your first few light ups outside though. It is a nice little unit. Thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@Patatteke1]

@@BensWorkshop OK! Liked and subscribed your channel. :-)

[@BensWorkshop]

@@Patatteke1 Many thanks, I am very grateful.

[@baginatora]

Yes, the soviets did copy it. Its called PT-1 (ПТ-1). There are alot left from the former USSR. I have one as well. Heavy, smelly, reliable. The only maintainance it needs is the safety valve on the tank. Shame nobody makes them anymore.

[@alvarokerosene6257]

Beautiful stove, with greater stability than others of similar calories.

[@l.v.i.bushcraftandsurvival6692]

I had an 8R ages ago. Called it the “Lunch Box Stove” because it looks like one when closed with the handle.

[@BensWorkshop]

I can see why you called it that. Very dinky. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@jayk3784]

저소음 연소캡 잇써요

[@BensWorkshop]

On that stove? Many thanks for watching! Please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@dozukime]

After a strip down & clean I have discovered I needed to change the gasket on the filler cap, also if you leave the stove in the sun, you have a self prime . But now I have a new problem, I cant turn it off, I have to remove the burner top, any ideas why it wont turn off?

[@BensWorkshop]

Perhaps the seat that the valve seats on has dirt on it?

[@anriehoogendoorn5147]

That you very much. I inherited one of these and had no idea how to use it. Will only petrol/benzine work, or can you use other fuels as well (i.e. paraffin or ethanol)? Person at the hardware store says using petrol to cook your food on doesn't sound healthy at all.

[@BensWorkshop]

The instructions in my one say petrol (gasoline). The only alternative would be Coleman fuel which is a cleaned up petrol. As for not sounding healthy, once it's burning properly it is very clean. I would only light it outside for the first few times and you have to remember petrol is very flammable so be careful. Don't light it if you have spilt either petrol or coleman fuel until the spill has evaporated or you can move far away from it and don't light it if you have any on your clothes. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@anriehoogendoorn5147]

@@BensWorkshop Thank you very much. I have since discovered that Optimus is still around and have found the manual for the modern version of this stove, which they call the Optimus Hiker+. In it they indeed say only to use petroleum-based fuels.

[@BensWorkshop]

Yes, definately not paraffin or ethanol.

[@jjaylad]

@@BensWorkshop As I understand it, an Optimus stove was used by Sir Edmund Hillary on his historic Mount Everest Expedition and its operating principle is what inspired the function of the 8R. I used one from the mid 60's through the mid 90's on countless backcountry and mountain backpacking trips and extended canoe trips. It still works as well today as it ever did. Now we use a little 'pocket rocket' canister stove because of its light weight and instant heat and also our altitude remains below 4000', To me the 8R was and still is ...the best stove I've ever owned. Ultra dependability. They burn any flammable liquid and work at altitudes many other stoves (like Butane) won't.

[@BensWorkshop]

@@jjaylad I'm not planning on going up any mountains but thanks for the information. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@alvaroblacidoramirez8314]

Hola Amigo, con que tipo de combustible funciona.

[@BensWorkshop]

That one works with unleaded petrol. I suspect it would also work with Coleman fuel.

[@andrewjones5513]

"Normal petrol garage petrol " has additives that soot and clog it up, better to use " Aspen t4 " which is cleaner petrol sold for chainsaws etc or panel wipe which is just as good

[@BensWorkshop]

Many thanks for the advice. That said once going it runs without soot and does have it's own inbuilt pricker. Most of the time I use paraffin stoves though as I have bigger ones.

[@andrewjones5513]

Another thing I found is to use a couple of squirts of hand sanitizer / alcho jell to prime it , it doesn't spill and is very flammable

[@BensWorkshop]

That's a very useful tip. That said, one of the downsides of a paraffin stove is carrying a bottle of different fuel, whereas the Optimus not only uses the same fuel but you get it out of the tank. I suppose it'll depend on how much room you have in your pack for extras. Obviously the hand sanitiser can come in useful for other things like sanitising your hands. :) PS, so can used tea bags, as they are handy for cleaning after cooking.

[@damianashman7604]

Great video Ben, thanks. I have an 8r which was given to me by an elderly neighbour - boxed with instructions. I've never dared start it ! :-D Do you have any advice about ensuring it is safe? In particular checking or renewing the safety valve and tank cap seal? Many thanks, Damian.

[@BensWorkshop]

Firstly start it outside first, have to hand a wet cloth or similar that can cover the whole thing in the event of an unexpected fire. I'm not sure about safety seals. I might pull it and it's manual out over the weekend. If the tank does not seal you will not get fuel out of the tank when you warm it. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@BensWorkshop]

I have made a video which may be of help, see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpDUfn6VbrR3mLM

[@douggt2220]

Hi Benedict. Thanks for the great video, I've heard of people using the main tank fuel to prime one of these but never seen it done. I normally use meths. I'm intrigued that yours has a carrying handle. I have two 8Rs in my shed, neither of which has a handle, though I'll check tomorrow. I thought only the larger Optimus 111s had handles?

[@BensWorkshop]

Can't answer about the 111s, but my 8R definitely has. It is a kind of dinky little stove though I do prefer the paraffin stoves I have as I am a little less scared of them! Please like ans share, and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@BensWorkshop]

Many thanks for watching, for some reason KZbin has hidden this comment. mine is as supplied and in the box.

[@mickmac7264]

How cool is that!!!

[@BensWorkshop]

Not cool at all. In fact, it's hot enough to make tea! ;) I also have other paraffin stoves and lamps....

[@BensWorkshop]

Oh, also, please like, share and subscribe :)

[@mickmac7264]

@@BensWorkshop did all that months ago.. I had a load of english tilleys etc old Coleman and petromax stuff. Think my favorite English lantern is the tilly PL 53

[@BensWorkshop]

I have no idea what my Tilley's are though I have 3....

[@dozukime]

So glad I found you. For the last 50 years I have been filling the bowl with fuel & lighting to preheat , now I know the correct / safer way! Cheers!.

[@BensWorkshop]

All I did was read the instructions in the box but I am pleased to have helped! 👍 Please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe!

[@MasonJarGaming]

Benedict White Hello, I was looking at the manual that came with mine and it says nothing about putting your hands on the tank. My manual says to use some sort of burning paste. What does this mean? (I use one with a key instead of a nob)

[@BensWorkshop]

@@MasonJarGaming I suspect yours is much newer than mine. Mine dates from the 60s.

[@MasonJarGaming]

Benedict White I don’t know how old mine is, but we got it in the 90s.

[@dozukime]

@@MasonJarGaming Maybe a more recent model, what year is it from?

[@elgee1976]

Just bought one as a project not knowing how to properly light it. Man what did I get myself into this thing is sketchy as hell. Also once it gets going and i shut off the stove it still keeps squirting a stream of fuel for awhile, is that normal? The valve pin is intact maybe its not sealing tight enough?

[@BensWorkshop]

No it isn't normal to carry on squirting fuel. It should just shut off.

[@baginatora]

The clearing pin might not be properly adjusted and it stops the valve from closing. Or the seal on the regulator is gone. Mine had the first problem (soviet copy PT-1)

[@outdoorseyfun9842]

No,thanks ill stick with Coleman.

[@pradolover]

Looks much more exciting than the gas aerosol burner!

[@BensWorkshop]

Certainly is. Nothing quite like a hot tank of petrol to provide the excitement! Don't forget to like and share :)

[@scottmasson3336]

Is that the Russian clone?

[@BensWorkshop]

No, that is the Optimus on which the Russian clone is based. Many thanks for watching, please like, share and if you like the channel, subscribe.

[@ninasipinen]

I have these 3 and soviet union copies 4 and 3 111 optimus

[@BensWorkshop]

Nice. Generally I prefer paraffin ones, but this one was a gift, in its original box as well.

[@alvarokerosene6257]

Beautiful stove, with greater stability than others of similar calories.

[@BensWorkshop]

Certainly a fun stove. Most of the time I need a bigger stove as I make tea for around 8 people on track days. That said as a stove for 1 or 2, it's great. Compact and very functional. Comes in a nice little box also.

[@alvarokerosene6257]

Okay, the ideal stove for 1 or 2. and with good stability in fragile terrain.

[@BensWorkshop]

Very much, yes. It's a good stove.

[@ronnieterry7616]

I dont mean to be off topic but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost the login password. I would appreciate any tips you can give me.

[@rylandbrayden5270]

@Ronnie Terry instablaster :)