MSR Pump failure modes

[Buck P]

I have a broken MSR pump from a XGK EX that still works (luckily) but others haven’t been so lucky. When researching a new white gas stove, I took this into consideration and decided on a Primus stove (Omnilite Ti) with a mostly metal pump. REI still sells MSR replacement pumps despite the bad reviews. Have you had a broken pump, if so, where did it break? The thin stem on the pump seems like a likely place. Do you keep buying MSR stoves despite the plastic pump?

Here’s mine and also a picture of the Primus pump:

[Glenn O]

I have broken the plunger on a several MSR pumps over the years. The first thing to wear out for me, if the stem doesn’t break, is the pump cup that creates pressure–cheap easy fix. I kind of hope to never own a white gas stove again, ha. If so I’d not rule out MSR personally.

[Jeff McWilliams]

Mine broke while winter backpacking in the Adirondacks High Peaks 2 or 3 years ago.  Some of the plastic bits around the plunger broke, so I could no longer pressurize the fuel canister. Luckily it was our last night when it broken, and our group of 5 brought along two stoves.

I’ve been un-trusting of that shitty plastic pump ever since.  If my life depended on it, I’d bring along a 2nd pump as a spare.  I like the look of that Primus!

 

 

[Buck P]

Here are some more possible failure points shown:

 

[Tipi Walter]

I just got back from a 17 day January trip with my MSR Simmerlite stove and had to do a field-repair replacing two rubber grommets in the pump.  Normal wear and tear.  After thousands of meals with my Simmerlite I have never had a pump failure or have a pump break. Just carry the usual repair kit and you’re good to go.

But plastic is plastic (stuff breaks) and new pumps costs about $35 so just go ahead and upgrade to a new one even if the old one still works.  I do this with many pieces of backpacking gear—replace before breaking.  I’m sure there’s an engineering term or a NASA term for going in with new gear.  It’s something like—“Hours of usage equals Replacement Time.”  No sweat.

I carry several pieces of redundant gear on my trips—a spare pack hipbelt, a spare spoon, a spare mini Bic etc.  And also a spare MSR stove pump.  It’s light and never used . . . yet.  But when a pump truly dies in the field a spare is great to have.

[USA Duane Hall]

Get an old yellow pump.  The metal ones can fail also, just MSR has sold so many stoves, bound to be failures.

Duane

[r m]

At the time I was reading MSR pump reviews, I recall people breaking them via standing on them. I figured two things: I won’t stand on mine, and if its extremely important, I’ll bring a second pump.

I’ve had it around 8 years now, had leaking due to an old oring once, but apart from that its been fine.

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