Hi folks,

I'm taking the family on a car camping trip in June, and want to pick up a good old fashioned Coleman "briefcase style" two burner stove. I know that propane is probably more convenient, but I like sticking to white gas / dual fuel which is what some of my other gadgets, and my smaller backpacking stove(s) use.

I've seen a whole bunch of stoves on e-bay, some dating from the 1970's, and I'm wondering what I should look out for when purchasing used. I seem to recall there that there's at least one member of the board who seems to collect the things, so I'm hoping for some advice.

Thanks in advance.

Jesse

I''ve been using one since probably the late 80s. The only problems I have found are that the generator (the little tube that crosses over the burner to heat fuel) can get clogged or gummed up. That is easy to fix since they sell replacements for probably all models.

The second thing I would look for is to make sure the pump seal is in good condition. That is a small piece of leather on the end of the plunger used to pump up the pressure in the tank. Unless the unit has been really abused, a little 3-in-1 oil will usually fix it if it is not compressing the air properly. It is simple to check. Then plunger assembly unscrews, making it possible to pull the entire plunger assembly out.

My only other concern would be rust in the tank from improper storage.

that would be me----
Ebay has lots of good buys but with the yard sales comming on with spring you may want to check a few of those out first so you have some hands-on with your possible buy.

i got this one a few weeks ago for $5..made in March of 1969,the month i got out of the Army no less.the date will be stamped on the tab that holds the tank to the stove.

this old guy still had fuel in the tank and as how it had that used once abd re-boxed look to it i would guess the fuel was in there that long--check the rust from the fuel that i dumped out..with any old stove that has fuel i would do that,you don't want crud like that in the needle valve.
the pump will need a few drops of oil on the leather.


last is the fuel tanks on the newer models--all the stoves are the same as far as parts and how well they run. i like the older ones with light green paint and smooth finish from the 70's..the darker green,pebble top are mid 80's. but the photo shows the major change Coleman made and you might want to think about.they moved the fill cap to the center,rear of the tank where it could not be opened without removing the tank from the stove.this of course keeps fuel away from a hot stove if you have to top off half way thru a meal.
thats about all i can think of but i'll try to answer any other questions..

Hey Jesselp,

I have used suitcase Naptha Coleman stoves for many years and have not noticed a big difference between them. In the spring you can usually find them here at garage sales for about $5.00 as people are switching to propane. A quick clean-up and they usually work fine.

It is important to use fairly fresh fuel as old fuel can burn poorly, with lots of soot. I learned this the hard way at my hunt camp one year; we forgot the propane stove and used an old naptha one we keep as a spare. It smoked badly until we changed the fuel, then it worked fine.

I recently learned a new trick for a naptha Coleman stove.

When the fuel tank is mounted on the stove the two tabs stick into the body of the stove. These tabs have a little hole in them and a cotter-pin (on a short chain) or door latch (mounted to the right side) can fit in this hole and prevent the tank from being accidentally removed. Most here will already know that if you pull the pressurized tank off while the burner is lit, you end up with a small flamethrower out of the regulator.

Mike

Hey Canoedogs,

I remember Coleman started using more plastic parts on the new stoves. I had trouble once with the plastic unit that held the fuel tank pump assembly, I think I broke it trying to remove the plunger? The older metal type that was locked in with a spring clip was better.

If you have no oil to lube the leather plunger washer, just about anything will work. I often use Chapstick in the winter and have even used margarine.

Was there an Easy-Light model of naptha Coleman stove, I think all of mine are older than that?

Mike

Don't Tell Blast! or, Blast, do you have that on video?

I've owned an used a white gas Coleman stove for many many years. A few years back - when my son was in Cub Scouts - the other adults proclaimed the advantages of the propane version that I finally caved in a bought one. I used it. I tried to like it. I really did! But I just can't seem to control the flame on the propane version nearly as well as I can on the Coleman fuel version.

Though the Scouts continue to use propane, I'll stick with the Coleman fuel.

Hmmmm...and I was seriously thinking about switching over to a Coleman propane stove in order to get away from storing white gas.

//sigh

Anybody else want to chime in with pros / cons / recommendations for or against a Coleman propane stove?

Swamp..i don't have any new Colemans but i did get a new pump in a bubble pack on sale at my local outdoor shop and i was sort of put off to see the pump leather was a plastic/rubber thing.
olive oil is big across the pond for pump leathers and i have used peanut oil,3-in-one,a bit off the cars dip stick.thats why leather is best,a bit of something greasy and it comes back to life..don't know about easy-light..all my stuff is old.
all i can say about propane is --don't leave the empty tanks laying around the woods!!!!!--

Somewhere, 100 years ago, I read of someone who cut a circle out of a (leather) shoe tongue, for an improvised replacement of the pumpleather.

I consider white gas in a proper fuel container safer to store at home than propane.

One thing to be aware of is that generators are not, in fact, available for all models of two-burner Coleman stove.

My ancient Coleman expired two seasons back, with a bad generator. The part was no longer available -- the current replacement generators are longer. When buying a used Coleman, look up the product number and make sure the replacement generator is still available.

I'm trying to anticipate what my lease might say when I move into an urban apartment...my guess is that liquid fuel will be a no-go, but propane would be acceptable. All speculation on my part.

A propane detector would join the ranks of the smoke and CO detectors, of course.

I'd guess your lease or local code would bar both generically, if the subject is addressed at all. Or if only one is allowed, I'd bet you're right, a propane cylinder is probably more likely to be accepted than a can of gas.

I had a dual fuel two burner back in the early 90s. I made the mistake of running cheap unleaded gas in it once3 and had to field strip the generator and clean all the carbon off it with my leatherman. I got it cleaned and borrowed a tank of white gas and didn't have another problem until the check valve on the tank pump went away. It still worked, but you had to keep your finger over the hole until you screwed the pump stem back shut or it would bleed pressure out of the tank.

The liquid fuel stoves get a lot hotter than the propoane ones, which is better for me.

Life safety codes tend to prohibit the storing of most any flamable gases or fuels stored inside the appartment. As a rental housing inspector I routinely order tenants to remove propane,white gas and even paint thiner from their appartments. If you move into a new place check to see if they have storage available. If not see if your new neighbors would be interested in jointly purchasing a flamable storage cabinet. It may be possible to store canisters there instead. You could also check with your local fire marshals, of Code Enforcement office.

I have actually tested this, and used a piece of my original basic training boots as a makeshift pump. I lubed it by chewing on it-it worked. Long term, it probably isnt the answer, but I made two meals using an old MSR Whisperlite stove, with that improvised method.

I'm not sure if I originally saw this on the Equipped forums a while back or somewhere else. Here is a really good link on rebuilding those stoves if you happen across one that needs some work.

http://www.oldtownyucca.com/coleman/tech/re_stove.htm


LW

I'm impressed that you actually got two meals out of that little disc of leather. Did you stretch it with rice, or noodles?

I reused it

The Boy Scouts require use of propane on their outings. Some perception of safety on the National organization's part.
I have an old, c. 1974?, Coleman white gas stove and bought an adapter for it to use propane also. The adapter is just a pipe that replaces the generator, and you remove the white gas tank to use propane. Coleman and others make the adapter. Having used this set up on camping and hunting trips in MO, CO, NM and AZ these are some thoughts on them.
White gas burns hotter and ignites easier and does not freeze in very cold weather. However, if spilled it takes forever to go away, and makes a mess and is a hazard while it's there. Spare parts, generator, pump leathers, oil, tank cap and gasket, etc. are necessary. Like any gasoline, it "rots" over time, but not as quickly as car gas. It requires pumping periodically, especially at altitude, and is prone to "flare up" when lighting it, quickly removing hair and sometimes skin from hands, arms and eyebrows. Using both burners also causes fluctuations in pressure, especially if one is turned off and on repeatedly. These pressure fluctuations also lead to erratic flame height, and temps, which complicates cooking. As Blast mentioned, if the tank falls off it can become a flamethrower. Don't ask.
Propane will not "spoil" no matter how old it is. Propane stoves can also use the bigger 20 or 30 lb. "bulk" tanks, giving much longer service than the little disposable cannisters. Propane lights easily, and goes away quickly if "spilled". It's self-pressurizing, so no pumping is needed and refilling is a no-mess proposition. I find greater control of flame height, and therefore temperature, with propane, especially with bulk tank and regulator, and it does not flare up when lighting it. There is little or no fluctuation during use, even with both burners going. Propane is cheaper than white gas. The little cannisters are convenient to carry around and are disposable, but can be refilled, with proper gear, from a bulk tank. The bulk tanks are easily stabilized by putting them into a milk crate made to hold four or more 1-gal. jugs.
That's why I have the adapter, and use both. When car camping with the family or Boy Scouts, I usually use propane and a bulk tank. When hunting in the cold or at altitude, say the Colorado Rockies in November or December, I use white gas, and am extra careful.
I'm guessing this is all pretty basic, and you already knew most of it. But, I hope it helps.