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Honest mistake
So I bought a Trangia multifuel. I allready had the pans and the pretty much useless alcohol burner, so it was the natural choice for me. I was warned in the shop that I propably shouldn't use it more than a few times before cleaning it, if I intended to use petrol from the tank. Which I did.
So I fired the thing up for the first time, and I must say I was pleased with it. There was quite a bit of flaring in the beginning, but I pressumed it was because it was the first time. No biggie, and my test-water was quickly boiling. The simmer control seemed to work fine and I was generally pleased with my choice. I packed it up and put the success in the back of my mind. A few days later, my nephew was visiting and I let him play around with the burner. He turned it on and off a couple of times with some hours intermission (I was told this by his mom who was supervising his play). Sometime during the afternoon the system clogged up. Then I remembered the dealers warning. Slapping of foreheads ensued. So, rather lately, I decided to give it a good clean. It seemed simple enough to take apart and the supplied multitool fit where it should. But then disaster. The head of the bottom screw that holds the burner head together and reveals access to the valves, snapped in half. Not the whole screw, just the head. Swearing ensued. And my nephew, eventhough not being at fault, hid behind his mother to watch the fireworks. "Ok, I messed up" I thought. I had recieved warning that it may clog up when used more than a few times without cleaning it. Had I cleaned it? No. However, this did not account for the breaking of the brass screw head when I did try to clean it. Apparently the dealer was of a different oppinion. He categorily refused to warranty handle the problem since I had misused it and not headed the warnings. So I asked him if snapping the screwhead BEFORE the system had clogged up, would be a situation he would handle. He agreed to this. So I asked him how breaking the screwhead was even remotely related to the clogging. He was unable to account for this, but held firm to his refusal. So much for being honest. So unless I get a realy good idea of how to get the screw out and cleaning the thing, it's 155 Euro's out the window. Ugh! Needless to say, I'm a bit miffed on the whole situation. I think the dealer has been less than forthcomming, eventhough strictly speaking, he is just sticking by the rules (however rigidly). I could have just lied. You could also take head of my little story here and maybe put your purchase of the trangia multifuel on the back burner (haha). Having excellent simmer control, quick heating of water, and snugly fitting in my cookset, doesnt make up for clogging after a few uses and snapping of screws rendering it totally useless. Reading this thread, there seems to be other and better alternatives. |
Hey, that is a sad tale McThor but don't let it get to you :nono:
Any half decent workshop (local bike shop?) will get that broken screw out for you and then you get it replaced and you are underway again. |
You could write a calm complaints letter to the manufacturer, and give them all the details of what happened, including the names of all the people involved (if they're not doing their job properly, drop 'em in the crap, I say). If the manufacturer is decent, they may sort you out, and give the dealer a bollocking. Make sure to mention this site, and give them a link for it, so that they can see for themselves that they'll be getting lots of unnecessary negative publicity.
I had a problem with my TomTom Rider, and got no joy (on any of several occasions when I was forced to deal with them) from TomTom customer support, so I wrote a letter to TomTom Head Office in Amsterdam, giving them precise details of my complaints, with references numbers, names and times, etc. It took a few months (I wrote the letter about 6 weeks ago), but lo and behold, I got a phone call today from one of the people who was unhelpful to me 6 weeks ago. They've upgraded my maps to the latest version gratis, (which is handy, cos the later version supposedly has decent coverage of Ireland) extended my warranty by 6 months, and finally sent me out the part that they never returned when the unit went in for repair.. so I'm back on track with the unit.. but only because I persisted. Ni carborundum illigitime! Colm |
Yeah right! :)
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Actually it's true. Just for clarity's sake though, could you confirm whether the part that they had not returned to you during all this time was the SD card, which you had sent to them with your unit?
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If nothing comes of the complaints and you do not want to waste your 155.. go to the nearest hardware shop and buy some screw extractors (often called easy outs.. kit usually cost a tenner). All you have to do is drill a small hole in the broken screw and then use the easy-out to (which screws in reverse tread) to extract the screw.. i have use these 1000000000 of times and are easier to use then they sound..
good luck mate. |
McThor,
while still travelling by push-bike I loved my Trangia (using methylated spirits), but later on, for the M/C tripsI decided to change to a petrol stove for the same reason as you did: using the bike fuel. My choice was a MSR Dragonfly stove with a self-cleaning "shaker jet". I have used it for over a years' travelling in Africa and Oz, after that it's been lying around for 1/2 year. It still fires up immediately although I have never cleaned the stove or the pressure pump inside the fuel bottle up to now :-) Doesn't seem to be necessary. Hans |
Normal 'ezy outs' -bolt extractors - from a hardware store may not do the small sizes on the stove. Take it to a watch maker .. they are used to very small things and will think the stove screw is huge and easy to do. No harm in asking if they can do it and about how much. Must be cheaper than a new stove.;..
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Yep, lots cheaper than a new one, but of what use is a stove that gets clogged up so easily when using fuel from the tank?
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Quote:
As for the clog up.. I have a new Primus muti.. and it burnt very yellow the first time i used it to.. up on pulling it to bits to clean it I fount that the jet was just very loose.. and since then the flame is much better and it is runnign all together better.. also TO clean out the preheater..run it with some white gas (shelite/colman/) for a run or two.. I was told that Primus (can speak for any one else). dont do a great job of leaning out all the manufactoring oils/waxes/polishes and expect the punter to use lpg or white gas for the first few runs to "burn it in" but this was just from a friend in the bussiness and not from primus.. so give that a shot too... |
Thanks for all the responses
I fear the dealer battle is lost. I gave it one last go and talked to the manager. Same story. Last time I've shopped there.
Anyway, I'm looking into two seperate solutions. 1. Fix the one I allready have using the tips in this thread. And then figure out a surefire way to keep it clean so it doesn't clog up. 2. Simply purchasing a different brand. In this thread, and in several others, the MSR dragonfly comes highly recommended with regards to it's reliability. Only problem is that it is quite expensive. Cost about the same as I paid for the trangia. Not sure if it can be made to fit into the trangia cooking set but if it can, I might simply dump the trangia all together and be done with it. Again, thanks for all the good tips. |
Sorry to hear that the day is lost.. not good of trangia to piss this group off,
I say have a go at fixing it.. it is al ot of ££ not to try.. then buy new.. I have had the MSR whisperlight and now i have the primus multifuel (the newest one.. cant remember its name.). I spur of the moment bought it at the HUUK meet.. and am happy with it.it does all fuels including lp gass which the dragon fly dosnt (i think..??) . so look at that one as well. |
Good news
Took the cup and the cracked screwhead to my mechanic. He took a small hammer and a flatheaded screwdriver (don't know the correct english term for this tool) and tapped on the screwhead continuesly. He was then able to take the screw right out (the head wasn't completely broken).
I'm happy we didn't drill it out, because in the center there was a small hole where the fuel comes out. Had we drilled the center, we would have drilled the fuel outlet to bits. So I cannot replace this screw with an iron screw since this is the nossle. Suffice it to say, it now works as it should and I am very very happy. And that's not all from my helpfull mechanic. He had an old worne brass bristle brush which he gave me. The single "hairs" fit perfectly into the fuel nossle. I've made some indents in the "hair" by lightly tapping it with the sharp end of my pocket knife, thus making a simplified filing tool to grate out the soot. It works perfectly! I'm as dissapointed with Spejdersport (the dealer) as I am pleased with my mechanic. I placed an order of some catalyst free cans for my XT by him. Spejdersport on the other hand, will propably not see any more business comming from me. The burner now works, but that's not because of them. It's in spite of them. |
That's life McThor - best forget it and move on (life is far too short); glad that the burner now works BTW.
Shops, who needs them - go online next time and buy there? Still, it does show the utility of a local mechanic who is prepared to turn their hand to do anything. |
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