MSR Stoves: Stove Pump Maintenance

[@IanCanfield]

You just earned a customer for life.

[@GreenManLeather]

Defect? Careful what slander you spray. This gear I’ve used for the past 30 years In all conditions and emergencies and repairs a snap in the fields. MSRs stoves have always worked at its best. Everything functions with purpose. I replaced both O rings easily and in a moment of watching this video.MSR rules!

[@mfcriz2561]

26 years and the 1st change of o-rings. Great stove & good video. Tnx MSR!

[@pkinnb850]

Same deal for me: purchased a Whisperlite International in 2001 and have had zero problems or issues with it since. I’ve dragged it all over North America and Europe and it has run perfectly on a variety of interesting fuels. I wish more kit today could be built this well and last so long. These stoves weren’t cheap when we bought them, but now we know why.

[@stevensavarese5570]

Great video, very clear and far easier than reading the instructions :) Took my Dragon Fly away camping last weekend, and had fuel leaking out of the pump control valve. Luckily I had a back up butane stove to get me by, but will be doing the full service as shown in this video now. Great that they've made a product that you can actually fix in the field if need be.

[@NORDLandetNET]

Thank you for this great instruction! I bought my MSR Expedition Stove way back in time - 15 years or so. It has been through three long expeditions in Canada, several sled dogs races in Norway and between 50-70 times a year the last 15 years on forest and mountain trips without the slightest problem of any kind. It has not even needed maintenance. Not until now. In preparation for a new tour this coming weekend, I checked its status as usual. To my great surprise, the pump did not manage to get enough pressure into the bottle. What should I do? I found the expedition service kit which to date has barely been opened (except from checking it out wondering when I should be lucky enough to try the spareparts ... ;) Hmmm .... how to do this? It had to be googled. So, I found this video. I followed it closely. I did as the instructor did. The pump was a bit hard to open, but I managed at last and discovered that it had become a bit dry. So, I lubricated some oil. Checked the other things told to be checked. Everything looked fine. No damage found. No replacements needed. Good to go! New test! Booom! It worked immediately just like new! Amazing! Ready for another tour - and I've no doubts or fears; it'll be ready for the hundreds of tours the coming 20 years or so! Best stove! Thank you for the video -- and thank you for MSR! :)

[@mwj5368]

Hi! I just bought the International model that works on any liquid fuel. How did you go for so many uses and not have to clean the stove? What kind of fuel did you use?

[@NORDLandetNET]

@@mwj5368 Hi there! I did use kerosene for many, may years before switching to a more clean fuel (purified gasoline, Primus Powerfuel or MSRs own fuel) I've used that for many years now --- and since my last post here, my stove has worked just great! It's a workhorse! :)

[@robertm4050]

Still have the Whisperlite stove I bought 22 years ago when I was in my teens. Still works and only had to replace the pump 2 years ago.

[@robertm4050]

Actually it has been 23 years.

[@DarxusC]

What part of the pump failed?

[@Botanifiles]

These videos are super helpful, I love your stoves, thank you!

[@JohnCornellier]

3:30: on some older types, the check valve parts are loose and you may lose them if not careful.

[@keithmcelhinney8126]

Very helpful video, just what I needed to get my XGK-EX back in action. Thank you. Used it regularly backpacking round New Zealand and Australia. The (dirty) unleaded fuel I was using eventually took its toll and the pump began to leak. I bought the service kit a while back but never got round to fixing it until I saw this video. Just as well I did as I'm heading to Torridon (UK) tomorrow for a weeks hillwalking. Can't wait :)

[@НиколайАлешин-щ9ш]

У меня есть горелки почти всех брендов, но MSR - лучшие. Что бы там кто не говорил что насосы ломаются и прочее - сломать можно что угодно, да и брак бывает. А вот то что кроме насоса в этих горелках НЕЧЕМУ ломаться - факт. В отличие от других горелок тут всего 1 узел с уплотнительным кольцом и тот в насосе. Боишься что сломается насос - носи запасной, тем более что он не дорого стоит. Это по любому надежней чем менять кучу резинок на морозе, что бывает в других горелках. Короче говоря: у нас, в России есть АК-47, а в США есть MSR))) Только так могу сравнить)

[@kathybriggs9570]

Very helpful video. I need to lubricate the pump cup and O-rings, but I am unable to find the MSR pump oil in my local stores. Can the mineral oil found in drug stores (normally used as a laxative) be used as an alternative? Drug store mineral oil has a 2% vitamin E additive in it, so I'm wondering if this would be harmful to the pump cup or O-rings.

[@MrRacerhacker]

i know this is a year late, but any oil really works, coconut even

[@kathybriggs9570]

Thank you for getting back to me. You are not too late, as I will be oiling and reassembling the stove this spring.@@MrRacerhacker

[@MrRacerhacker]

@@kathybriggs9570 baby oil also works, try to get one with low perfume, vaseline works as well if you cant find the other

[@blessedarmadillo8257]

I've got an older XGK with the yellow pump. It is unclear how the control valve can be removed to check its O ring. It unscrews to a point of course, but only to a point. Am I supposed to just grab and pull at that point?

[@MSRGear]

Good luck on your adventure in the hills of the UK!

[@michaelsrowland]

At 6.10. I have reassembled the control valve. I have screwed it back on but now the control knob just keeps turning and doesn't stop. What is the problem? It's a dragonfly

[@alexmontalvo3980]

Hi MSR, I have an older Whisperlite stove pump (I bought used in 2005 so it could even be older), and fuel was leaking out of the control valve, so I attempted to replace its o-ring. However when I opened it, there wasn't an o-ring; instead it had a hard red plastic ring that broke immediately as I tried to pry it off. The smallest o-rings in the maintenance kit are way too big to fit properly in the spot where the red plastic ring was, they just fall to the bottom. Is this is a different type of older pump model that didn't use o-rings? Is this fixable or is it time to buy a new pump? Thanks for any info

[@Euronasa]

Hi Alex😀I have the same issue, I found a red O-ring in the expedition kit that was slightly fatter. Now it seals well. One of those O-rings that the red paint comes off. Ulike the red that was there from probably 2005 same as you describe.

[@JohnCornellier]

6:25: The annual service kit (that I bought anyway) does not include the smaller of the two control valve o-rings.

[@pascalbruyere7108]

In this video, there is no O-ring between the large red seal and the bottle: is that normal?

[@michaelwhitby2986]

I have two Whisperlites, both with shakers.I keep one in Europe for use there. Can I get the isoPro fuel adaptor and jet? As its far easier when travelling in Europe to get butane canisters!

[@THUvidz]

I have a MSR Whisperlite universal bought new in Norway 2017. After 1 liter of Coleman gasoline used i took out the plunger to lubricate it. Then i discovered there was a cracked white part under the pump cup (in the pump body) I think it is a "pump bore filter" that i could find on another MSR pump diagram. How to replace? It is not in the service kit. And why is it so quickly damaged?

[@neilreece3]

actually mistakenly left my dragonfly for 2 years under petrol pressure and even after checking all the seals it is fine, would recommend this but just goes to show

[@lifeisgood070]

What is pump cup oil? Mineral oil? Probably going to use some raw silicon grease (not the spray kind). I find it works great on rubber. Keeps my motorcycle brake pins floating well.

[@lifeisgood070]

Good video

[@MSRGear]

Yes, the pump cup oil is mineral oil. Thanks!

[@lifeisgood070]

found dupont teflon silicone lubricant - 4oz bottle (liquid / non-spray) is an excellent substitute for mineral oil. But most kinds of lubes should work well.

[@GlenGatin]

I find nose oil works fine in a pinch. Rub the leather on your nose ( or behind your ear) ready supply of a standard lubricant.

[@d.jensen5153]

I've been using #2 Diesel in the Dragonfly. Is this practice going to shorten the stove's life? So far it has worked flawlessly.

[@daganjurjans3438]

I have lost my fuel filters little white bit at the end, shown at 4:53 I am in a country with no msr branches and dont have a way of getting one mailed to me. Do you think a piece of styrofoam would work? Any ideas would be very appreciated!

[@MSRGear]

We do not recommend creating your own components, but if you email me at [e-mail] we can see if there is any way to get you the part you need.

[@mwj5368]

I just bought the international model and want to practice using it before I go for a 2 week journey. I bought the Coleman fuel, a gallon. When you get your pump brand new do you have to go into the pump and lubricate it? I'm intimidated about how many parts and maintenance there is and wonder how easily the plastic pump could melt or get heat damage. They never told me about the repair kits when I bought it from REI. There are two small tools and a tube of lubricant that comes with it and a couple of brass parts. Also I wish there was a hard shell case. I emailed the company and they said they have none and only suggested some other brand of bag or to make my own. I'm surprised no one seems to need a case. I'll be packing tight and might have to make my own case. Does anyone know where there are instructions to make a hard case? The stove seems somewhat delicate and when packing tight I really wonder if you can damage it or stress the fuel line and cause a leak. Thanks for this great video!!

[@MSRGear]

Glad you like it Steven!

[@blessedarmadillo8257]

One other question: the air hose on my older XGK has dried and cracked (a common problem apparently). I'm going to try to replace it with plastic tubing as found on chainsaw and weed wacker ignition systems. Good idea? And how do those retainer pins work? - are they supposed to unscrew/screw or do I pull them out and punch them in to the new tube?

[@martin1940m]

Hello, I have a question. I own an older type of Whisperlite. It's a perfect, easy stove that can burn diesel, gasoline, white gas ... anything. However, from my point of view, its weakness is a pump. I have had the stove for many years, and today, I had to buy a third pump. Both previous pumps were leaking from the correction valve. It is the brass part. The seals seemed to be undamaged in both cases. Could you advise me on how to tackle this issue?

[@MsQuisch]

My pump leaked recently so I took it apart to check all part which seem to be all fine, including O-Rings. But, when I went to put the control valve back in it would not fit properly and when I tightened it the control knob wouldn't turn. I suspect it is a problem with the plastic inside wearing away but I couldn't see into the narrow tube. Any thoughts? I figure I need a replacement pump.

[@jessadanont]

Why can't I dim the flame of the oil stove? I have changed the O-ring on the control valve to an MSR whisperlite stove. Where else do I need to check?

[@petera7403]

Yeah, well, that's nice and all, but would you mind telling me why my brand new (UNUSED) MSR Whisperlite International leaks fuel from the O-ring/brass connection? The supplied replacement O-ring did not solve the problem. Now I have a new stove that's not useable. I'm rather disillusioned, after having had a previous MSR stove that was not primarily plastic. It worked really well. Peter Askin New York.

[@MSRGear]

We’re really sorry to hear about the issues with your MSR stove. Your gear comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty and we take pride in making quality products that can be easily repaired. Please head to our Warranty and Repairs page ( www.msrgear.com/msr-warranty.html ) for info on getting your gear back in full working order.

[@tritoniadiomedea]

My pump would not pressurize but my pump cup appeared to be undamaged. I replaced the check valve assembly because the ball was gone! (did it dissolve? i never took it apart before). It still would not pressurize, so I replaced the pump cup anyway. Now it pressurizes! So did my leaving the pump inside the fuel bottle with fuel cause the rubber to shrink??

[@gavin.b.rumble]

My Dragonfly failed to pick up fuel (about 4-5 oz remained) this weekend at 15F in SW Virginia just before heating my oatmeal. Upon inspection, my fuel pickup line was nearly parallel to the pump tube, just as is seen in several portions of this video. That tube (white) starts at a pretty good angle coming out of the molded body, but weeks or months of storage, or perhaps the way it was packed in the nylon sack the day before, but something had bent the tube. At the cold temps mentioned I did not try to bend the tube back down for fear of snapping it off. MSR...please show the folks the best angle for this item, and describe how a little hot water will soften it for bending so they won't have to eat cold oatmeal!

[@Margokatt]

I can't pull the pump cup out.

[@gsylass]

Can you change the fuel tube bushing to convert a dragonfly pump to a regular pump? Bit of a shortage of regular pumps ATM...

[@MSRGear]

No, you can’t change the size just fit a different pump. It will not work.

[@idahomountainelk]

Does the expedition kit include o-rings for the bottle cap? Mine dry out often.

[@MSRGear]

All Expedition Service Kits include Fuel Bottle O-Rings.

[@shahabadolf3227]

Hello, I bought a new msr wisperlite international, and from the first time I attempted to use it , there was a failure in the pump, I couldn't get it pressurized as the rubber cap inside the pump arm kept on snapping from the inside, I tried to trouble shoot the system, the rubber cap is undamaged I just don't know why it kept on snapping while attempting to pressurize the bottle .

[@MSRGear]

We’re really sorry to hear about the issues with your MSR gear. Your gear comes with a Limited Lifetime Warranty and we take pride in making quality products that can be easily repaired. Please head to our Warranty and Repairs page ( www.msrgear.com/msr-warranty.html ) for info on getting your gear back in full working order.

[@kathybriggs9570]

or would clipper oil be a better choice since it is a lighter weight oil?

[@BrettGilmour]

Just did the first full service of my Whisperlight Int'l. Bought it in 1993/4 so that's 26 or 27 years with just 2 jet cleanings. Will updating to modern pump or jet with shaker needle make a performance difference?

[@MSRGear]

Hi there, We introduced the shaker needle jet technology in 1992 on those WhisperLite International stoves. So it should have that technology. As far as the pump, our current Standard fuel pump is the latest model. If the original fuel pump has not been maintained, the O-rings could be dry, brittle and cracking which could cause leaks in pump and/or pressure of fuel bottle. It would be recommend to purchase the newest pump-it will fit the all WhisperLites.

[@BrettGilmour]

There's no shaker needle in mine so I must have bought it before 1992, could have been as far back as 1988. I replaced the o rings last week, they were cracked and dried out. Since then it's burning well. I'm doing a boil test today to measure time to boil.

[@jeremymullins1294]

I can't get the plunger to turn to the left in order to remove it. It's an older simmerlite model. Do I have to do something different?

[@MSRGear]

Jeremy Mullins Make certain that the tip of the #1 arrow is flush with the top of the red cap that holds the plunger in place. Sometimes it can catch a bit and be a little difficult to twist, but yes, left is the proper direction to turn. If you have further troubles, please send a photo to us at [e-mail] and we’ll try to help you out however we can.

[@jeremymullins1294]

MSRGear Thanks for the reply. I finally got it to turn with a little elbow grease. I think I was just being too timid with it. I used the stove in Yosemite this weekend and it worked like a champ! thanks again!

[@MSRGear]

Jeremy Mullins Glad to hear it Jeremy!

[@kaaren56]

+Jeremy Mullins Yes this worked for me too, a bit of wiggling and some firm pressure and it finally clicked open.

[@Abitibidoug]

I had the same problem disassembling the pump, and found the solution from MSR worked and I successfully got it apart. Thanks for the tip here on the handy dandy KZbin school of how to fix anything!

[@SuperDonaldk]

My Dragon Fly fuel line, brass insert, to the pump is larger in diameter than the pump fuel line insert for my Whisperlite. I am not sure what you mean when you say that the pump is the same for all MSR stoves. I need to replace my Dragon fly stove pump because it is cracked . Will any new pump that I buy fit my Whisper lite and my Dragon fly ? Or are they different ?

[@daveybernard1056]

Dragonfly stove must use a Dragonfly specific pump.

[@steamboater05]

Go with me on a journey. Say you had a MSR whisperlite stove. Your partner has a MSR XKG. Say your partner's bag was filthy and the filters on both his pumpswere trash. Say he put your pumps in his bag, so yours are dirty too. Say you brought an expedition repair kit, which you both should have, but he didn't.Say you were down to 1 good normal pump and 1 probably good cold wx pump. What would happen if you just ripped filters off of the other pumps? Would they work?

[@fatkorn]

If it was me... I'd yell at my boy an tell him to keep his dirt to himself.

[@steamboater05]

72 hrs later they got avalanched and then a helicopter ride. Next time there will be less dirt and more parts.

[@michaelsrowland]

Does the new pump fit the older stoves?

[@phoenixrising4073]

As far as I know, yes it does.

[@akaytheking]

There is some kind of information mean diesel not OK with this stove?

[@MSRGear]

The MSR XGK EX (and previous XGK stoves) and the DragonFly are the only stoves that can burn Diesel fuel

[@akaytheking]

@@MSRGear thnx for the answer. A little advice if you pardon me, I think if the pump turn in to the metal, it's may be better. By the way I order already fully set of your products... have a good days, best wishes from Turkiye.

[@duenge]

I have a Whisperlite that has seen VERY little use. Last time was about 15 years ago. Kept in garage, never used by anyone but me. I dug it out and went to fill the bottle with gas, and discovered the check valve had been melted (appeared to have burned), the spring rattling around freely in the bottle. There was no fuel in the bottle. What could have happened?....

[@MSRGear]

Without physically inspecting the fuel pump, it’s hard to give a definitive response. So, just by guessing, it appears there was enough fuel in bottle to be touching the check valve section, which, over 15 year period the constant contact with the fuel could have deteriorated that part. Fuel does evaporate.

[@fatkorn]

Do you happen to have any garden gnomes?

[@kin8445]

I watched the video over and over again, but can never remove my plunger no matter how i tried. What is the trick?

[@MSRGear]

+Kin Hey Kin! If you wouldn't mind emailing our customer service manager directly, he will be able to better explain it with photos. [e-mail] Thanks!

[@Margokatt]

Same here!!

[@Botanifiles]

Same here

[@westonmarkham1294]

Same here!

[@mustafaguctekin9617]

Allah sizden razı olsun 😘

[@johnstack5008]

It's a great stove but I'm on my fourth pump so far. The plastic threads in the body where the valve screws in fails, and the valve seizes requiring replacement of the pump. In my opinion, the pump should be made of metal. Definitely pack an extra pump on an outing.

[@MSRGear]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@Euronasa]

John Stack, What excactly happened? I almost ruined the fine threads in the pump body when I failed to screw in the valve itself but only screwed in the brass stop nut. Luckily I did not use force or else I would have ruined my pump. Need to screw in the valve itself first some and then the stop nut some. Or did you have a different problem? Did the valve fail to enter the threads and plastic threads were ruined? Cheers.

[@johnstack5008]

@@Euronasa You try to open the valve but it gets stiffer than normal. If you continue to turn the valve, the plastic valve threads will break or get damaged. If the valve gets stiff or stuck, what you should do is to use the tool to loosen the locknut a little. That should help free the valve up. The problem here is the plastic valve threads. Metal threads should solve this problem.

[@Euronasa]

@@johnstack5008 Thanks for the Quick answer. I did not know this could happen during normal use. Thanks.

[@ronaldpalle6144]

what's wrong of my pump since I saw this video I put an oil in the pump cap then everytime I used the stove it became dry ..

[@ArabRebel666]

My Stove Pump pressure wasn't working, I found out that the "pump cup" fallen off from the plunger. I used a pen to remove it. How did this happen and how can I avoid such problem? Note: this happened the first time I really use the stove to cook outdoor. I only tested it twice at home before that.

[@MSRGear]

+Juventusist The best way to ensure that doesn’t happen is to make sure you lube the pump cup before each camping trip with mineral oil.

[@mcbrian5]

I have the same issue on 4/5 of the whisperlite international stoves I just bought after just the first camping trip. I lubed the shaft and the pump cup itself but the rubber cap still stays stuck in the shaft. Ideas on how to prevent this? 4/5 stoves is kind of crazy and left my whole adventure therapy program high and dry in the Andes.

[@ThatMontmorency]

4:41: "Replace the pump shaft by lining up the bushings with the shaft..." - this is just a nonsensical sequence of words with zero information in them. I understand that reshooting the whole video just becuase you misspoke in some middle point might be expensive. But standard practice is to add a subtitle that would correct the error.

[@DietmarF-l5t]

Hallo, unten, im Pumpenzylinder, befindet sich eine weiße Scheibe. Vermutlich eine Art Filter. Bei mir war diese nach einer Woche benutzen brüchig und ein Teil bewegte sich im Pumpenkörper. Wo bekomme ich dieses Teil her bzw. habe den MSR erst seit einem halben Jahr gekauft. Garantie?

[@simoneverett6081]

Have faith. The MSR is bulletproof and easily repaired in the field. My Dragonfly is 22 years old and I have only just watched this video to do a service on it, even though it probably doesn't need it. A set of O-rings in 22 years, I can't complain! Watch the two videos, I am sure you will see how to keep your stove running perfectly.

[@neilreece3]

Never a hint of a problem

[@robertocastelano7887]

Gooood

[@neilreece3]

Had mine 8 uears

[@Cozy1984Boy]

なんとなく解る・・・w