Kerosene stove maintenance

[Jo Chamberlain]

We have a 3-burner HilleRange pressure kerosene galley stove. It was original equipment on our Cape Dory 33. I like the way it cooks and like the safety of kerosene, but need help learning how to maintain the burners. One burner will not light. My efforts at cleaning it didn't help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Maggie Rose
Cape Dory 33
hull #61



jchamber@crosslink.net

[Richard Feffer]

I used to have a Force 10 kerosene stove on my previous boat. If your burners are the same as mine, I suspect you have a clogged nozzle. Underneath the nozzle inside the burner should be a "pricker" which cleans the hole where the atomized fuel flows through the nozzle. These prickers are a very fine wire which can disintegrate over time or sometimes break off. Remove the nozzle with the appropriate wrench and hold it up to a light to see if the hole is clear. Make sure fuel supply is shut off! Replacing the pricker is a little tricky, so be sure to follow directions. You should be able to purchase rebuild kits from West Marine, Boats or Defender. They should also be able to supply new burners. Sometimes it's easier to replace the whole burner because carbon buildup inside the burner will continue to clog your nozzles. Be sure to purchase the cleanest kerosene available. Do not buy it from a gas station. Impurities are what clogs the burners. Good Luck!

Richard Feffer
s/v Adamarie
CD30MKII



RichFef@Prodigy.net

[Tom]

We have a 3-burner HilleRange pressure kerosene galley stove. It was original equipment on our Cape Dory 33. I like the way it cooks and like the safety of kerosene, but need help learning how to maintain the burners. One burner will not light. My efforts at cleaning it didn't help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Maggie Rose
Cape Dory 33
hull #61

With time carbon collects inside those burners. You need something that dissolves carbon. One of the things that is readily available is oven cleaner. Pack it with as much as you can get in there and let it soak. Doesn't always work but it's worth a try. As Richard suggests sometimes it's easier to just replace them. Oven cleaner is corrosive stuff. Wear gloves and eye protection and take precautions. Good luck.



TomCambria@mindspring.com

[sloopjohnl]

recently read in BLUEWATER SAILING to filter out the impurities use a bulb-type siphon hose with an in-line fuel filter to screen the dirties out when filling any container with kerosene.

We have a 3-burner HilleRange pressure kerosene galley stove. It was original equipment on our Cape Dory 33. I like the way it cooks and like the safety of kerosene, but need help learning how to maintain the burners. One burner will not light. My efforts at cleaning it didn't help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Maggie Rose
Cape Dory 33
hull #61

[Richard Stanley]

I concur that once it is clogged, unclogging is very difficult.

One trick I read, and now use religiously, is to tap the burner (whilst it is burning) with a good sized wrench or the like. This serves to dislodge carbon etc and it can then burn or otherwise go away.

Since I have been doing this, I have not had to replace or otherwise mess with a burner.

Additional bonus is that it sends sparkly things up, and looks really cool. Can you tell that I like to sail solo?



rlstanley@mindspring.com