Calor stove recommissioning

[dreamin]

My 71 Dormobile has a Calor gas stove that seems to be in good condition, but has not been used for a long time.

It is all original, as far as I can tell, including perished rubber hose with regulator at gas bottle end and brass shut-off valve at the other with a push-on connection which I am sure would not meet modern regs.

I think I am up for a new connection between the stove and gas bottle, but need some specs re gas flow requirements of these stoves and/or details of what setups others have so I know what to shop for.

Any advice and/or pics appreciated

Thanks

Roger

[RMS]

I can't help with actual specs, but on two old stoves we've got in our Carawagons (Dudley, made by Stoves Ltd.) I replaced the rubber O rings inside the taps/regulators as they were leaking.

I won't tell you how I found out

Cheers,
Robin.

[Dormy]

You will certainly need to renew the regulator which attaches to the gas bottle with one of the correct type for your bottles. In the UK these are cheap and easily got from most camping/caravan suppliers shops. IIRC Caravan club guidance is to replace these every 10yrs anyway.

The brass valve should be fine (subject to a soapy water leak test) and the push on connector will just need the hose secured with a hose clip.

Using a rubber hose to run the full length from bottle to cooker is now frowned upon (except free standing cookers and barbies obviously). So get a long enough length of the correct pipe from a caravan supply shop. This pipe should be flexible small bore copper, which can fairly easily be fitted following the original hose run. Don't try to run it through the floor support beams like the hose, just secure it in place with cable ties. For each securing point, cut a short length of hose and slit it length ways. Wrap this around the pipe before tightening the cable tie to prevent chaffing. Also do this anywhere else the pipe is likely to rub.

All that's left is to connect the regulator to the front end of the pipe with sufficient hose to allow attachment to the gas bottles and a short length hose to join the rear of the pipe to the brass valve. Use soapy water to help the hose fit and a hose clip to secure each join. IIRC the Caravan club recommends replacing hoses every 5yrs.

Additional to Robin's comments, there isn't much in the cooker to dismantle but take apart the gas rings if you can and clean out any rust, debris and spiders! The other thing to check are the gas jets which are small brass fittings with even smaller holes, located close to the regulator taps.

Once working, check the flames are blue. They won't burn as fiercely as a modern cooker, but any lazy white flames (or excessive soot on your kettle) means you have missed something.

HTH and happy camping/cooking !

Ian

[dreamin]

Thanks Ian

2 things:

Does the choice of regulator relate to gas flow requirement of the stove, and are there different options?

I would be surprised if the old style clamped hose fittings were still allowable here - are they common in UK?

Thanks again for your detailed reply

Roger

[jerryd]

Hi roger,
When I purchased my dormobile and enquired about registering in my name, I was told by Qld transport that the existing gas system was probably illegal in Australia and I would need to get it inspected and obtain a gas certificate I enquired about an inspection and was told it would cost $2,500.00 to obtain a certificate

I decided to dismantle the original gas system as I refused to pay for something that seemed to be working fine, I was then told by Qld transport that if it had no gas system it was no longer a "campervan" and would have to go through a whole new process of inspections as back in 1979 when it first entered Australia it seemed to escape all inspections and would probably now be unacceptable.

Luckily the previous owner had agreed to keep it registered in her name until I had a rwc carried out on it (so I could keep the numberplate), I then found out that if the vehicle is registered and has a rwc I can simply transfer ownership into my name with no inspections So it would seem that Qld transport make up the rules as they go along.

I now keep a small gas bottle in the kitchen unit and just use a rubber hose connected to the gas tap, I'm now pondering whether the gas bottle could be kept under the rear wheel arch in a cradle on the driver's side ??

[Dormy]

Does the choice of regulator relate to gas flow requirement of the stove, and are there different options?

The regulator should only fit the cylinder containing the gas it was designed for. In the UK, Butane cyl. fittings are completely opposite to Propane cyl. fittings. But as each regulator will operate at the correct pressure for the type of gas it supplies no further adjustment is needed at the cooker.

I would be surprised if the old style clamped hose fittings were still allowable here - are they common in UK?

Sorry, didn't consider regs might be different with you. Yes, the clamped hose fittings are still common in the UK wherever a flexible hose is needed.

Ian

[dreamin]

Thanks Ian, and Jerry, for your replies

I'd be happy to connect gas when I want to use it - rather than have it plumbed in all the time, if that makes a difference.

Will ask my local caravan place what the options are.

Thanks again

Roger

[dreamin]

OK - cleared all stove parts and plumbing with compressed air, made up and fitted new hose, tap and regulator, checked everything over and lit it up.

Small, even blue flame on each burner and grill underneath - looks not to have done much work. Boiled a kettle, but took a while.

I notice that the gas controls are not connected to burners by pipe, but a sort of nozzle that directs gas into a chamber below each burner. I can put my finger over the end of the nozzle and the flame goes out.

There is an adjustable screw with locking nut protruding into the 'neck' of each burner chamber - does anyone know if these screws are for adjusting gas flow/flame size? I can't find any information on these stoves on the web.

Thanks

Roger

[Dormy]

There is an adjustable screw with locking nut protruding into the 'neck' of each burner chamber - does anyone know if these screws are for adjusting gas flow/flame size? I can't find any information on these stoves on the web

There should be no need to touch these screws, just make sure there is no debris in the chamber. These screws simply provide an obstruction around which the jet of gas must flow so it mixes with the air more effectively. The fact that your's is burning with a blue flame shows you are good to go.

Dormy

[dreamin]

Many thanks, Dormy

I will enjoy the blue flame while I wait patiently for my cup of tea.

Also, I am not planning to leave the gas bottle connected all the time, under the drivers seat - too many rules about that sort of thing over here. Instead, I have bought a longish hose and thought I would hang the bottle off the rear grab handle when in use. Does anyone else do this or have better ideas about how/where to store and use gas?

R