Very Cool MSR Reactor Modification

[Kai]

On the internet, I came across this very cool hanging kit and canister adapter modification for the MSR Reactor stove. Seems like MSR could/should make something like this available themselves. The canister adapter in particular would be useful for allowing inverted liquid feed (assuming the stove burner could be set up for this.)

[rasgoat]

Looks like it would be difficult to put the pot on and off???? guess you have to spread the support cables. They seem long enough to be easily pulled.

[Kai]

Getting the pot on and off probably wouldn't be too hard. I use the Jetboil hanging kit to hang my Reactor, and the cables aren't a problem. (They actually make the pot more stable on the burner.)

Anyone recognize the legs and other components used in the first two pictures?

[steve1111]

On the internet, I came across this very cool hanging kit and canister adapter modification for the MSR Reactor stove. Seems like MSR could/should make something like this available themselves. The canister adapter in particular would be useful for allowing inverted liquid feed (assuming the stove burner could be set up for this.)

Ok, I would like to do the same thing with a remote system
Do you know where I can buy it ??

Other question, you say "assuming the stove burner could be set up for this"
Where is the problem if a canister is used inverted with the current MSR REACTOR, won't it work though ? in liquid feed ? in extreme cold like the Jetboil Helios does ?

Thanks for your reply

[logsden]

Looks like the Brunton add-on... I can't find it on their website but it looks similar to one they used to make...

I checked into this (inverted canister) with the Reactor and was told by MSR that it was (as expected) highly not recommended. Ymmv...but the problem is that there is no pre-heat on the fuel line like there is with all other inverted systems. You end up with liquid fuel coming out of the burner or the jet and either a nasty flare up or a pretty non-functional stove. Exactly what might happen with the Reactor's combo of actual "burner" (no open flame) and pressure regulator system...who knows...but I was told it wouldn't work ... or i might die... =)

a useful/interesting link to some workarounds though...

http://pedaldamnit.blogspot.com/2010/02/jetboil-personal-cooking-system-remote.html

[steve1111]

Hi Logsden

Did they really tell you, you would "die" and would not work
Here below, you see a small video that the shows the very contrary !

1/The stove has a copper to pre-heat the fuel line which couln't be otherwise
2/The so called flare are ridiculously low
3/The gas canisted was coming out of the freezer

I have yet to see a manufacturer telling me it's dangerous
The truth of it is that MSR failed to invest enough on their Reactor and have just done like in the video
the modification for the MSR Windpro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW16S9Co ... ure=relmfu
+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_E2Bt_AdXk

As far as I see, there are only pros, and I have yet to see cons.....

[logsden]

Steve - That video isn't "showing the contrary"...it IS showing a stove with the same pre-heat modification I linked to in my post. An unmodified stock Reactor carries some risks with flare up if you simply flip the canister over and run liquid fuel.

Your question was "Where is the problem if a canister is used inverted with the current MSR REACTOR, won't it work though?" Answer: Potential flare up issues and (ack!!!) you might die!!! =) But yes, there are mod's to work around the "problem".

More power to ya if you want to go all DIYer. The concept is perfectly sound and it gets done all the time on other stoves.

[adventurer]

I use the Jetboil hanging kit for my MSR Reactor. I've never had a problem using the stock Reactor in very cold temps down to -15F. When not in use, I keep the canister warm in an inside pocket next to my body.

[radson]

I used the jetboil hanging system as well. I wish I had time to drill a hole into one of the arms to make a tighter fit.

[coldfoot]

That does look like a Brunton stove stand, but the end that attaches to the canister is different. I think it is a "Fire Maple."

I don't understand the point of using the stove stand as is done here, unless it's just to use that different shape of canister. It doesn't have a preheat tube so you can't invert the canister. I have never used a Reactor, but in general with canister stoves, the stove radiates a little heat to the canister, so moving it away makes the canister a little colder. The point of the Brunton stove stand for a non-hanging stove is so you can use a windscreen, IMO.

Edit to add: maybe the Reactor's regulator changes the behavior enough that you could invert the canister? Not sure this is plausible. Feeding liquid fuel through a pressure regulator doesn't sound like it would magically work.

[steve1111]

Hi Radson

It is a very nice view you shared with us
I can recognize K2 in the distance,
Were you climbing the Broad Peak ??

I have ALWAYS wondered how you can work a gas stove on a 8000 meter peak
if the temperature turns down to - 40 F ????

Many people used the Reactor up to 6000 meter on Aconcagua and had good results
But what about above or on cold mountain like Denali ?

Are you obliged to go with a stove like Primus Omnilite TI ?

thanks you and good climbs !

[radson]

Howdy Steve,

Yeah we were on BP. You can see my collection of dispatches at http://www.summitpost.org/something-steep-this-way-comes/814539

I dont know if I have ever been down to -40 F or C. We did have a recalcitrant cannister/stove at Camp 3 that took a while to get ignition but in fairness we had left the thing outside in the vestibule so it was kind of understandable. ( I am reluctant to guess the temperature that night, but I thought I was goig to lose my toes)

After that, I always tried to sleep with the cannisters or at least keep them in the main part of the tent. On out trip we had Jetboils and Reactors but everyone ended up using the Reactors. We found them so much quicker to melt snow and boil water. One other thing if course is to use blended canisters of Propane/Isobutane which if memory serves me correctly were sold from $7-10 per canister in Skardu.

The Jetboils though are more stable and the MSR Reactor could improve in this area.

[dskoon]

Radson,
just curious. . . So, are more people using canister stoves now at high altitude? I was under the impression that canisters were good up to a certain elevation/temp,
so most used white gas, etc, at higher elevations, despite the differences in weight, etc.
Thanks!

[johngenx]

Canisters are affected by cold, but not by altitude. The pressure differential between the contents of the canister and the atmosphere grows as you go higher.

[steve1111]

Hi

I have just received a trakker adaptator
http://trakkerproducts.co.uk/product.ph ... d=18&sid=2

Thought it would work, silly me !!
I tried it on the Reactor, the screwing goes well but there is no gas flow at all !!
While it is ok with the Pocket Rocket, it just does not happen with the Reactor !!

I had a closer look at both, and the inside of the screwing system is split in 2 for the Reactor
with a half open side (for gas flow), whereas the Pocket Rocket is straight.

So will I have to adapt the adaptator ??? That makes a lot of adapting.....