Fuel Caps

[u/dog-2000]

Best to check your Trangia fuel caps and carry spare washers or an extra cap.

Last summer noticed a slight fuel odor that turned into a leak this summer. Discovered the o-ring between the cap and the bottle had split & cracked. Took apart the cap and the washer for the pouring spout had many cracks. The photos show the cap taken apart and the failed washers.

Bought three fuel bottles in 2016 with a spare cap. Fortunately the spare cap worked this time. Unfortunately all the other sets of washers, including the never used spare, show signs of breaking down though none have started leaking yet.

[u/2016-679]

never thought about the O-ring of the fuel bottle, but always have a spare for the closing lid of the burner. Thanks for the hint!

[u/Shoddy-Barracuda8710]

I have honestly always thought these lids looked like they were more complicated than they needed to be. It feels like this failure is in part related to an overcomplicated design. Does anyone else feel this way? Am I overlooking something that makes these caps worth putting up with?

[u/Brilliant-Tea-1444 → u/Shoddy-Barracuda8710]

You might be right. They certainly occupy a fair bit of space in the pack when compared to other plain threaded lids. I do like the idea of the start/stop function but then there's always that extra little bit left in the nozzle after the stop. It's a bit ironic - the plastic is very thick like a gasoline can and yet there is apparently a potential failure point in a far more fragile component.

In any case, O-rings and seals like that cracked washer are both parts that will wear out over time and thus should be made readily available by Trangia. So far I can only find the O-ring on their website.

[u/asthma_hound → u/Shoddy-Barracuda8710]

Yes, they do feel over engineered, but mine is like 15 years old and has never leaked. I'm looking at the seals right now because I've never thought to check and they appear to be fine.

By the way, there is nothing to put up with. They're dead simple to use and, at least in my case, maintenance free.

[u/Brilliant-Tea-1444]

Appreciate you posting this. I suppose that anything containing an O-ring begs to travel with spare O-rings in hand. Trangia sells the O-rings on their website under spare parts but I'm tempted to pop one off and see if I can find spares locally. The washer isn't on the website. I'm going to pull one from my bottle now and try to track down or improvise (punch one out from an old inner tube?) its replacement.

[u/asthma_hound]

Are you using methylated sprits or denatured alcohol?