coleman 550b generator query

[Mike8472]

I have a coleman 550b stove and i'm trying to get a replacement petrol generator for it. the only ones i have seen in the uk on the internet are around the £22 mark.
But on looking at US ebay there are alot of 550a generators going dirt cheap.

My question to the knowlegeable stove fraternity here is are these compatible with my stove or should I stop being tight and fork out for the more expensive UK sourced ones?

thanks

 

[Shewie]

Have you tried base-camp? ..

http://www.base-camp.co.uk/coleman/Coleman .htm

 

[Mike8472]

I havent spotted them thanks rich. they price wise are slightly cheaper than the other ones i had seen so far but alot more than the stuff on US ebay even with postage included.
Theres some good stuff on here I might be buying some supplies for my vapalux lanterns from here though!

 

[Shewie]

Rik and Bilmo will probably have some others for you to try too when they see this

 

[rik_uk3]

Get one from the States, I got one recently for a lantern.

 

[bigroomboy]

I think I may have a spare one I could send you for less than that but it might be a kero one I can't remember. I'm heading home this evening so should be able to let you know tomorrow

 

[Mike8472]

Cheers bigroomboy, hope it is! Iv already got 2 spare kerosene generators as these seem to be readily available everywhere

 

[bigroomboy]

Sorry I only have kero ones. Have you tried reviving the one you have? I have had success soaking the gen in cilit bang (original lime and grime) or some people say vinegar works as well but I have not tried that. Use kitchen foil to make a tight fitting bath for it and soak for a few days. Then avoid using unleaded petrol, use aspen 4t or similar and add a few drops of engine carb cleaner to the tank and run it all through.

 

[Mike8472]

Thanks il give that a go and see if it shifts owt out of the generator

 

[Andy BB]

Any reason you're not going to fit the kero burner? Anyone know how these run on kero with the proper burner? I have one I'm currently running on UL (although must replace with Aspen), but personally prefer kero as a fuel.

 

[david1]

Then avoid using unleaded petrol, use aspen 4t or similar and add a few drops of engine carb cleaner to the tank and run it all through.

I run a wisperlite stove never had problems runing unleaded, what problems does it cause. Am I missing something ??

 

[bigroomboy]

I don't have a whisperlite but I have used one extensively but I do have an msr dragonfly which I'll talk about. With the dragonfly using unleaded is no problem except it soots a bit more and the jet needs pricking or shaking a bit more. But is does smell really bad to use and if it gets on stuff makes it smell bad for a long time.

On a coleman stove there is a spring inside the generator used to transfer heat to the fuel from the burner. Some of the additives in unleaded don't burn at the temperatures the stove works at so they carbonise in the generator causing it to become less efficient at vaporizing the fuel and eventually blocks.