Jr, it sounds like maybe the butane/propane mix is separating, and you're getting intermittent spurts of propane(which will vaporize better at low temps) and butane (which doesn't.) Hmmm. Maybe keep the canister in your briefs for 10 minutes, then shake it up really good prior to use (the canister.)

Your story made me laugh and remember the time in high school when a buddy and I were backpacking on the lower Rogue river, and I was a n00b with my old Svea 123. I didn't quite understand the importance of preheating the bottom of the generator tube, and before it was properly heated up, it was spurting huge fireballs. My buddy took off and watched from the bushes while I sat there defusing the bomb.

So we are a retailer for outdoor stoves and to be honest the jetboil is crap.....The only reason it boils water fast (which is not always) is the pot it comes with. MSR made one called the reactor is WAY hotter than jetboil. But to be honest there are only 2 stoves that I really like MSR Wisperlite international...it's the only one that really works consistantly and is easily field maintainable and also it will burn anything including airplane gas. And the MSR XKG which is out of production but was much better at handling the cold. The quality of the jets makes a big difference in cold weather preformance. Don't fall for the gimics, those jetboils and the reactor are just for boiling water fast, if you don't need water in a hurry don't bother.


Mike

Wow I love my jet boil, Its one of the first ones and I have burned at least 10-15 tanks of fuel. I buy the big orange tank Brunton fuel for winter use.
I left it outside last night to try but it was only down to 14 degrees last night so not very cold.
I shook the can like I always do in cold weather and it started right up and was boiling water for my hot chocolate in a couple min.


Jr you must have a dud take it back and get a new one.

Also the seal can feel a bit odd when new, maybe your not getting it tight enough, try a bit of scuba lube or fuel lube on it

kevbert wrote:My personal favorite stove has been a coleman dual fuel single burner that will take either white gas or unleaded. I've never burned avgas in it, but it would do in a pinch as long as you stayed upwind to keep from breathing the lead. It works pretty well in cold weather. It's rated at 10500 BTU/hour. I paid about $35 for it several years ago at Walmart. My only complaint is that it weighs far too much.

Avgas burns just fine in a Coleman single burner. My hunting partner and I used to do it all the time as we didn't want to have to carry another fuel source with us......just drain some out of the strainer on the 206 and presto.....also worked quite will in a Honda Big Red....

I've had great luck with an MSR Whisperlite Internationale. What I like the most is not having to pack fuel for it in the airplane. Haven't used it in really cold weather. I do want to try the Super Cat though.

The XGK and Whisperlite Internationale are as close to bullet proof as anything I have ever seen. I know both will burn JP fuel as well as gas ( leaded or unleaded), regular kerosene, and if it is not too cold probably could get diesel to work.

I have used them in a screaming wind and they still work. I think you could throw a lit XGK out of an aircraft at 10,000 ft and it would still be lit when it landed.

The XGK does remind you of a test stand engine run up.

I have to admit I have never used a butane or propane stove. I could hump a lot more hours of fuel for those stoves in my pack.

Just bringing this topic back up because I receieved a recall notice for certain Jetboil products. Seems there is a bad valve out there. Maybe your problem could have been one of these.
Here is the link to the notice:http://www.jetboil.com/recall