My trusty camp stove died halfway through a trip last weekend

I was at Big Bear Lake trying to make dinner Friday night and the Coleman two-burner just stopped putting out gas. The valve got stuck and I couldn't get it to light no matter what I tried. Ended up eating cold canned chili and granola bars for the rest of the trip. Has anyone else had their stove fail on them like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

roberts.leo17d ago

@gavin469 is right that carb cleaner works wonders on those old Coleman valves. A drop of light oil on the stem after cleaning will keep it from locking up again for years.

ben_lewis17d ago

That Coleman valve issue is a known weak point. Had the same thing happen on a trip to Joshua Tree a few years back. A little shot of WD40 or silicone spray on the valve stem before you store it can keep it from freezing up over time. I'd take the stove apart and clean the valve with some carb cleaner if you want to keep using it. Otherwise, the new propane stoves with the push-button igniters are way more reliable in my experience.

gavin46917d ago

Wait, so you're saying the valve issue isn't just bad luck but actually a design flaw that shows up over time? I always figured it was just me getting a lemon stove, but hearing you talk about it being a known weak point makes a lot more sense now... I bet a little preventive maintenance could have saved me a lot of hassle. Definitely gonna give that carb cleaner trick a shot on my old stove instead of just tossing it.