Hi Folks,

About 5 years ago I found a steal-of-a-deal at a local garage sale, I bought a Coleman Single Burner Portable Stove (Model 505A) for $5.00; of course it did not work and ended up in my garage under all the other stuff that does not work.

Lately I have had the urge to buy a new liquid fuel stove and have received some terrific recommendations from ETS Forum members seen at this post http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=125124&fpart=1

I thought I would give the old little Coleman stove another try today, before I went and spent more money on outdoor equipment.

The old stove had the same problem as before, even though the pump was working properly, and the fill cap was on tight, I could not pressurize the tank. It was strange that fuel and air would squirt out through the pump thumb-hole, never seen that happen before.

So I did a basic Googe Internet search and found this excellent site, The Old Town Coleman Center at http://www.oldtownyucca.com/coleman/ The site discusses models, repairs, supplies parts and has a collecting Coleman section, excellent.

After reading the detailed instructions on how Coleman products work I went over the trouble-shooting section and determined that my tank pressure trouble was proabaly resulting from a stuck tank-pump check valve. I followed the step-by-step procedure on how to remove the check-valve from within the tank (quite tricky) and sure enough it was encrusted with fuel residue. I cleaned everything very well, lubed it and did the re-assemble.

The tank now seemed to hold pressure and on my second match the little stove roared to life and ran without a problem for 1/2 an hour! I also found out on the website that the month/year of manufacture is stamped on most Coleman products on the bottom of the tank, mine was made in February 1980.

So if you are having trouble with a Coleman stove or lantern I encourage you to check out the Old Town Coleman Center website, I found it very useful today.

Mike

Standard Disclaimer here: I do not have any connection to this site/business at all, they just saved me from needing to buy a new stove; but I will proabaly buy another stove anyway because I am a gear addict and cannot help it.

Good info, thanks. I have bought a lot of Coleman products at yard sales, none that worked. EVERY one was put back into working order with nothing more than a new generator, which can be found just about everywhere for a few dollars...

The generator problem is why I quit buying Coleman gas-fired products. I got tired of the need to buy a new part for the stove or lantern every year or so. I have a Svea 123 and it never needs any new parts to work like Coleman stoves do.

I do have several Coleman propane fueled items that work without the need to constantly buy parts.

I don’t understand why Coleman has not made gas fueled stoves that work long-term without needing new parts like other stove manufactures are able to do?


To me it makes Coleman stoves the last choice for survival planning. Who wants to have a stove around and not be able to use it when you need it?


I won’t even look at them at a garage sale, even if they were free, I would not take a gasoline fired Coleman stove home.

In their defense, I have a Coleman stove that I bought new probably ten years ago and have used a lot. Still on all original parts. I once fired up my dad's single mantle Coleman lantern that had been sitting with the same fuel in it for over 20 years. Fired right up, and still works like a charm...

I stand by the idea that Coleman gas fueled stoves & lanterns are problematic, if they weren’t why does about every store in this country that sells camping items always have a selection of replacement generators? Every Cabalas, Gander Mountain, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Dick’s Sporting goods store have Coleman generators. Shelve space cost money and they only put things on them that move and sell well.

Hi,

I have had little trouble with Coleman generators, I think I have replaced one in 30 years of camping use.

Could it be because I only burn "cleaner" Coleman Fuel and not auto gasoline full of addititives that I have not had many problems?

Mike

Hi BDT,

Check out the site I posted for info on your stove problem.

If I were to guess I would say you have debris or spiderwebs in the gooseneck or gas vapour pipes. Try blowing them out with some compressed air, but be sure to wear eye protection because a lot of crap can accumulate in there.

Good Luck,

Mike