Svea 123 R Camp Stove... just Awesome!

G'day guys, I was given this Awesome Svea 123 R camp stove by Mike in Florida and all I can say is AWESOME... but not for the reasons you may think! This stove was first made in the 1950's and can still be bought brand new today. This stove is not brand new and that's what I love about it. Hope you enjoy :-) Cheers... Mark
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• Playlist

[@leeallen8840]

Hi Mark. You can detach the key from the inside and re-attach the key to the outside of the wind shield. It is much easier to use that way and you won't lose it.

[@Jenx1337]

your supposed to feed the key back out through the key insertion point when the stove is in use, not up and back down.

[@toddwright9083]

You're going to love the stove. What I did to mine is I took a piece of carbon felt and cut it in a round to lay in the preheat divot. I use denatured alcohol to prime and it keeps the stove from shooting up. So white gas inside and alcohol to prime. The carbon felt holds more alcohol to give a good long prime. And your cleaning needle needs to be reseated. That's why it won't shut off all the way. There are instructions online on how to fix this simple issue. Good luck Mate!

[@toddwright9083]

Oh man Mark, you should consider taking it with you! Just think with that huge fuel tank on Max you could run the SVEA forever. You can run that stove on unleaded in an emergency.

[@buckcorrigan9595]

Threse are great stoves, I've used mine for years. The fuel control gasket is made from graphite and will be damaged if you try to shut off the flame by cranking it too hard ! Be gentle with it when you shut off the flame. Because the whole stove is pressurized, it will take a minute to go out completely. Otherwise, you'll damage the gasket and end up with graphite gasket material clogging the orifice. 😊

[@flyingbenny]

Great vid yet again, I love your genuine excitement with the stove. The box and everything, very cool. Happy birthday by the way.

[@BikerBits]

+flyingbenny Thanks mate! :-)

[@brettstevens7443]

Awesome bit of kit mate. I love tinkering with old school technology. Great vid champ

[@BikerBits]

+BRETT STEVENS Thanks! :-)

[@David_Rafuse]

Me: "ARE YOU SURE IT'S ON, MARK?! I CAN'T HEAR A THING!!!" Mark: "IT'S WHISPER-QUIET, MATE!!!"

[@Thereal111t]

It’s definitely a classic design... but it is by no means the first compact white gas stove. Compared to some of the previous ones the 123 and the 123r are quite refined. Some of the safety mechanisms on the early optimus 80s and Primus 71s were enough to make you chuckle. There was a rod that went through the tank. It was soldered into the top and also the concave base. It was fastened more securely in the bottom. The idea was that if the pressure got too great and the base started to deform out... it would pull the wire out of the solder in the top of the tank causing there to be a hole in the top of the tank thereby venting the tank before an explosion.

[@BikerBits]

Great stuff mate! :-)

[@VTPyzon]

Svea are awesome stoves! A bit heavy by today's standards, but ridiculously reliable and super hot. I used mine for years and years, rebuilt it and then used it some more. I run my on "white gas" (a.k.a. Coleman Fuel). It will also run on unleaded gas -- although I've never tried this myself. It's all about getting good pressure: make sure you cap is tight, don't use too much fuel to prime it -- use just enough. The heat expands and pressurizes the gas, then voila! Super Hot! You can also buy a cap that has a pressure pump. The pump enables you to pressurize before lighting.

[@catostueland9614]

Congrats with a great new stove! I like to prime it using the following method: Open the cap on the stove (there is a slight vacuum in the tank from the cool down after last use) then refill the tank to max level or whatever you desire and put the cap back on. Then with the valve closed just warm the tank in your hand (this creates a small overpressure in the tank) and crack open the valve, the jet will then start to squirt some of the fuel out, this will hit the flame spreader and start to flow down to the priming indentation. From there you just have to close the valve and light it up like normal :) This saves you from the need to carry an extra bottle of fuel for priming :D Oh and I'm scandinavian (from Norway) so these types of stoves has been used here for ages :P

[@livingthedream9400]

Bloody love the stove mark and watching you play with fire is always a laugh. Great vid. Thanks.

[@BikerBits]

+Living the dream LOL :-)

[@Chrisfrom_Dallas]

Had one of these growing up, lost it and just bought another. Always used to prime it by filling the tank, then pouring some all over. Then let it burn. Love the noise, like a high power engine. Sorry when it bothers the neighbors, though.

[@achmed20]

its realy impressive how wrong you handle this little bugger. quite entertaining though ;) few tips: - key comes through the same whole, you control the flame with - ALYWAYS remove the key when its burning. its gonna get freakin hot otherwhise

[@marzsit9833]

the 123r model was introduced in the early 1970's, optimus purchased the rights to the sievert svea and primus brands in 1967-68. the 123r model was created so that the same spare parts that fit the optimus 8r and 99 stoves would also fit the svea. the svea 123 was originally made by the max sievert company, sievert is still around but today they focus on producing gas torches for soldering and brazing and tar roofing. the sievert-made 123's were special because they had the svea 123 logo engraved on the windshield as well as the tank.

[@gertvanpeet3120]

Had a 8r in 1983.... Always run on car gas! Pre-heating with half an esbit tablet... And because of the wind, don't take it apart!

[@iRidetas]

beautiful stove, love the vintage and retro stuff. Hope you can one day show us a primus! Great vid im now looking on ebay for one. Thanks mark!

[@BikerBits]

+iRidetas Yeah I reckon that will be the next one! :-)

[@PhantomofthePrairie]

Great video, but I had to laugh when I seen you fishing the key out of the wind screen, those things get so hot.

[@marzsit9833]

actually, the primus 71 was the first compact white gas backpacking stove, introduced in the early 1930's. the svea 123 wasn't produced until the mid 1950's. the 71 has a slightly larger capacity tank that is taller than the svea but smaller in diameter.

[@mildcamper5429]

Nice, but a bit of a faff though. Should be great for forest fires! :) I've only used a gas pocket stove myself, but I'm tempted to try a folding box stove both with a Trangia type insert or collected wood.

[@steveyoung4107]

Don't leave the key in the valve, it will get very hot

[@nickholmes6376]

Things that work never go out out date, thats a cool stove, you need to cook bacon and eggs at the shack to give a real test 👍

[@BikerBits]

+Nick Holmes Yeah that would be cool! :-)

[@marshallman1au]

Pancakes!

[@davidcooper6704]

I understand there are some health risks with aluminium cookware. The Tatonka .5ltr mug fits over the stove perfectly and is a great alternative to the aluminium pan that comes with the stove.

[@jason65r]

Mark!!!! MAaate!!! You forgot the most important Biker Bits test!!! How long does it take to boil a Cuppa!! But I give this test two thumbs up. Great piece of kit, love the sound of it. Long time viewer first time post from an Ozzy, who live in NZ.

[@BikerBits]

+jason65r Thanks mate and good Onya! :-)

[@roncolpo5056]

i just got one the first thing i did was take a pair of pliers and move the key to the outside of the wind screen.....i use use a 4 inch pc. of straw to prime it....unscrew fuel cap....place in straw....put finger over straw pull ou release finger dump in fuel tray.....LOVE IT

[@BikerBits]

Bloody great stuff mate! :-)

[@alexandermenzies9954]

No great stuff; it adds soot to the structures. Use meths, no blackening. I had the clear impression the host knew very little about stove handling but was more intent on trying to sound like a media "Aussie"; what's next, corks around the hat?

[@markcash2]

I loved the video. That looks to be a rather useful little piece of kit. I liked the map on your wall even better. Looks like you've ridden the Stuart Highway for a bit in South Australia. Did you ever visit or camp in the area around Woomera, Andamooka, Coober Pedy, or such? I lived there as a kid, but live in the USA now. Thanks for the vid, I think I will look into getting one.

[@bruceparr1678]

I always run petrol in mine. Have done so for around 40 years. They seem to give out more heat on petrol, plus you can get petrol anywhere you can ride a motorbike.

[@rogerharris3951]

Love your enthusiasm, mate. Fun review!

[@BikerBits]

+Roger Harris Thanks mate! :-)

[@jacuswoczega9180]

I kill most "enthusiast" channels, specially with poor conetnt in seconds. Preffer calm speak (good content )

[@reiddryden9805]

Shelllight mate, keep the key off between adjusting, beaut might

[@Itchybite]

Another great video Mark. Keep 'em coming.

[@rubickon]

thanks mate. will it run with petrol 95/98 octane? thanks

[@BikerBits]

Not sure!

[@rubickon]

@@BikerBits I thinking about buying it. But will be using petrol. Thanks, I will try to find out about it

[@alexandermenzies9954]

NEVER use petrol. It will "work" of course but the partial products of combustion are recognised as highly dangerous (think carcinogens). I get the impression this guy knows little about the stove.

[@philipritson8821]

Svea 1..2..3 is the correct pronunciation and its effing brilliant

[@f22shift]

I love the sounds from this thing. Does it leave any soot on pots?

[@BikerBits]

Yes!

[@phillipscott9998]

Mate I'm so glad you didn't let all the dads down out there ,I mean instructions ahhhhh.who reads instructions anyway. But another good video another good laugh thanks mate

[@BikerBits]

+Phillip Scott LOL :-) thanks! :-)

[@leehenty3777]

the key chain should be connected to the windshield so no threading the key whilst lit.

[@BikerBits]

Thanks mate and yeah have now done that! :-)

[@u042]

On a Trangia, You can also use the grip tool to grab the simmer ring by the “ear” and adjust the slider on top or just place/lift it. Here in Sweden Trangia is very common and I have a couple tucked away here and there including my car trunk. :-)

[@martinerhard8447]

1. Put carbon felt around the pre heat pan 2. Remove the key and attack it to the windscreen 3. Do not remove the windscreen for preheating. Just apply white gas on top on the plate...it will flow down into the pan. The light the stove from the pan.

[@BikerBits]

Thanks heaps mate! 👍

[@WADZUP]

Nice stove Mark! Remember our chat about the heat diffuser well because your not able to ship to Tim buck two Canada I found a hilarious heat dispenser or diffuser whatever they call it and it works pretty bang up. Its not nearly as compact as yours but works in a pinch. If interested or if any of your Canadian brethrens ask the info is on my channel under COOK SET| WOLFYOK | Camping Gadgets. Cheers and thanks for the wicked reviews!

[@rockbiterhd]

Straight to the pool room

[@BikerBits]

+Rockbiter Hd That's it mate! :-)

[@robertrobhog]

It runs god on coleman fuel you can get a silent top for the burner it is expensive but it makes it very quiet

[@kadiocalc]

No barcodes on that puppy. Proppa old school

[@BikerBits]

+kadiocalc You got that right mate! :-)

[@sg7392]

I don't think you should have anything to do with fire. especially inside. Cheers Steve.

[@geoffnepo]

I'm watching an accident waiting to happen -

[@markharveytiger1991]

The clue is stamped on the tank I have one that I bought in 1978 just use unleaded petrol. I Cary a syringe and a length of hose so I can nick a bit out of the bike. Who needs to carry gas tanks and run out because you can bet your ass the type you want is the one they haven't got.

[@ronkierstead]

Mark Harvey & Tiger Have you any advice running petrol in it? I was worried about it gumming up but I'm really tired of packing white gas along on the ride. I figure a hose is a lot lighter than a spare bottle of white gas. rottenxxxronnie.blogspot.ca/2016/03/svea123-repairs-and-mods.html

[@markharveytiger1991]

I strip the head down every couple of years Twice a year Half fill the tank with fuel and shake like hell then drain the s*** out By using the fuel from the tiger I know it's fresh not been sitting in a bottle for six months Normally I let the tank run dry after each use. If I am storing it I leave a little fuel in it to stop seals drying out coming out of storage it's strip time only takes ten minutes to do

[@ourkid2000]

Hey Mark.....the old-timers around here would give me a wack on the hands if I tried using white gas for something like that. It's just too friggin volitile. You can see how volitile it is there in your clip. Very little of it can go up like crazy. Ithink with that stove you'd be better off using petrol. Still really volitile, but nothing like white gas.

[@ourkid2000]

It's the priming fuel I'm referring to.... forgot to mention. White gas in the tank is fine but you should probably use something else for the primer. When you light it in the open like that, it goes mental.

[@BikerBits]

+Chris Connors Thanks mate! :-)

[@philipritson8821]

Try using a Svea during a fire ban! No wonder they are hard to get in Australia! Effing good stove though.

[@tomsitzman3952]

The stove is started with the fuel shut off by turning the key, The tower is heated until hot, by preheating with fuel in the spirit cup at the bottom of the tower. When the tower is hot the key is turned to allow the warmed liquid white gas in the tank to rise in the up the tower, When the liquid white gas rises in the tower the heated tower vaporizes the liquid. The vapor strikes the hot burner plate igniting the vapor creating a chain reaction of more heat creates more pressure in the brass tank creating a faster rise of the liquid white gas. The increase in the heat turns the burner plate red hot creating more heat. Simple but effective. The stove has self-pressurized itself. No pump needed. The key regulates the amount of liquid white gas that can go up the tower. You can turn the heat up or down or all the way down extinguishing the flame, turning off the stove. Theis type of stove is called a roar burner, the higher the temperature the louder the roar. Seva 123, often called Seva one twenty-three. is designed to boil water for fast.one pot meals or water in the tea pot. It is not designed to simmer and do fancy three course meals. The larger versions of this stove require a pump to fully pressurize and requires a twin tower to preheat and vaporize the gas. There is a smaller version of this stove that runs on Kerosine that burns almost twice as hot as the Seva 123. It's almost too small for anything but an emergency situation.

[@u042]

Turn off by releasing the pressure.

[@davidnaus4417]

right turn is off.