Category: Customer Feedbacks

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My propane burner’s flame no longer turns up to a high flame

Customer (PF13L160EI): 

My propane burner will only produce a moderate flame now. At first, I thought that my propane was getting low, so I had the tank topped off, but that didn’t help. Do you have any ideas of what could be wrong and how I could fix the burner?  Thank-you.

Outdoorstirfry:  

 Our latest regulator has a leak protection feature that may limit gas flow once it detects leak.   Can you send a picture of your regulator to confirm?  Before you turn on the propane tank valve, you should turn off all stove side valves such that the regulator detects no leak.  

 If your regulator is a bit older, then it might be another problem.   A picture of your regulator is the 1st step to diagnosis.

Customer:  

The pictures are attached. Thank-you for looking into this.

Outdoorstirfry: 

You have our latest regulator.  It has leak protection feature.   Attached is the user installation guide.  Page 4 item 8 talks about this new regulator.   The basic steps to turn on the stove are:

  1. Close all stove valves, both left and right valves, tightly;
  2. Turn on the tank valve on top of the tank;
  3. You should hear a clicking sound from the regulator right away when you turn on the tank valve;
  4. After a while, usually between 10 seconds to 1 minute, you should hear another clicking sound from the regulator.   This indicates that the leak check is complete and it is giving full pressure out.  
  5. You can ignite the stove now.

The 2nd clicking sound is usually not as loud as the first one.  If you don’t hear the 2nd clicking sound, you should be able to hear hissing sound from the hose to the stove.  Identify the leak and fix it.   Usually it is just one valve not closed. 

Let me know if this is able to get you going.

Customer:

Thank-you. Your instructions worked very well. My burner works great now!

Posted on by

Missing Part Replacement

Customer (PF13L160): 

Hi there, I have one of your PF13L160 that I have been using for many years. We recently moved, and it seems that I have misplaced the small metal ring that sits atop the center of the burner to disperse the flame. Is it possible to get a replacement for this part? Without it, the flames are rising very high up the side of my wok.  Thanks!

Outdoorstirfry: 

To make sure we understand fully and we will do our best to find you a compatible part, can you send a picture of your burner remain?

Customer: 

Hi, Please find a picture attached.

Outdoorstirfry: 

Thank you for the picture.   A picture is more than a thousand words, I have to admit.   You still have the center piece of the burner, except that it is now upside down in the picture.   Flip it upside down, you should be good to go.  

I notice that your wok support adaptor has a crack, you can do a spot welding if it start to bother the wok cooking. 

Let us know any further question.

Posted on by

Hose clamp

Customer (PF13L160EI + Carbon Steel Wok Set): 

I open my wok package today.  I was disturbed to see the use of screw-down clamps instead of crimped connection for the propane gas line.  I don’t think this is safe.  Do you know the size of the hose and fittings so I can buy a pre-made hose with crimped-on connectors?  What is the rating of the regulator?

Outdoorstirfry: 

We can’t do a complete crimped type hose for this stove because of the valve assembly requiring a hose barb connection.    We have a lot of customers using our stove as we make it – screw-down clamped hose.   There is no pre-made hose out on the market that will fit to this stove valve assembly.   We make it to order. 

Outdoorstirfry: 

Some more detail,  the hose has proper press crimped stainless clamp with the regulator.   It is the burner valve side where we have to use a worm type screw-down clamp.   Typical application is that the cook will have to turn on the propane tank valve before using the stove to cook.   If there is any leak from the regulator along the hose path to the burner, the regulator will detect it and will not give full pressure power output.   The cook should be able to smell gas leak as well.   At this point the cook should stop and start diagnosis where the leak is to correct it.      

Our manual stove PF13L160 no long uses worm type screw-down clamp.    There will be fewer chances of gas leak.  However if there is a gas leak, replacement cost and fixing it is much costly.  

Let me know if this makes you feel better and please let us know any further question.

Posted on by

Wok Size Recommendation

Customer (PF13L160EI): 

I would like to know the maximum size wok that can be used on this wok burner. I am in xxxxxxxxxxx and I think you are in xxx  xxxxx.  By the way I have already ordered one from you; but want to inquire anyways.  Thank you

Outdoorstirfry: 

For PF13L160EI stove, there is no limit on wok size because the burner flame travel along the wok bottom surface and is able to heat the entire wok.   However we would suggest to limit total weight of wok plus food to be within 35lbs.   Optimal range of wok size is 14~18”.

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Gas smell with PF13L160

Customer (PF13L160): 

I have been noticing that there is a gas smell with my PF13L160 when I’m cooking for a longer time, around 10 minutes. However I don’t notice it if I’m cooking within 2-3 minutes. I’m a little concerned, is this normal?

Outdoorstirfry: 

Can you use soap water to test all joints from regulator to burner to see where it leaks?   Can you send a couple pictures of the hose joints with regulator and valve assembly such that we talk the same things?  

Any outcome on the gas detection?

Customer: 

Thanks for the troubleshooting steps. I tried it out a couple of times but did not notice any bubbles after adding soapy water from the tank, along the hose, to the valves. I don’t smell gas every time, so I’ll try again the next time I smell gas.

Outdoorstirfry: 

If there is significant leak, the regulator will refuse to open fully during startup when you first turn on the tank valve. If you don’t see bubbles, I think it is safe to use the stove.   I agree that you can check it again next time you smell it.

Posted on by

Customer feedback

Customer (PF13L160EI): 

I have been using my PF13L160EI with a 20lb propane tank for the past two years. The unit is reliable and I love cooking with it: the high pressure opens up new cooking textures and flavors. Your website clearly mentions the electronic ignition—which reliably produces a spark but doesn’t reliably ignite the pilot line—which is the only fault. If only you could solve my cold winters, which decrease my propane pressure. Happy customer!

Outdoorstifry:

Thank you for your feedback.   You mentioned that electronic ignition in cold weather is not reliable.   Electronic (piezo type) ignition head deteriorates over weather and can be hard to ignite.  We would suggest to use a long nose BBQ igniter and treat it as a manual stove.   Sorry for the inconvenience.

Customer: 

It’s a two year-old PF13L160EI with barb connectors, yellow tape and hose clamps at both ends.

Earlier this spring the hose suddenly popped off the stove connection and turned into a flame thrower. Fortunately I was nearby, yelped in surprise and grabbed it, pointing the hose somewhere safe while turning off the tank. 

This taught me about the amount of pressure in the line. I’ve probably overtightened the clamps now, just to be sure that this doesn’t happen again. I no longer take the safety of this thing for granted, but check the connections often. 

The material of the hose appears to be breaking down, particularly close to the regulator, and since a crack in the hose could be disastrous I feel that it’s time to change it.

I’d like to replace the hose with a more durable material. I have my cooker on a small iron frame/tile top table with the propane tank underneath. I rarely move the setup, so the hose stays immobile and I don’t step on it. It’s located under a roofed patio so the hose doesn’t receive direct moisture or direct sun. It is exposed to -20C to +35C air temperatures over the course of a year.

Your recommendations are welcomed!

Outdoorstirfry: 

You have a PF13L160EI stove.  I agree with you, stir frying is high power.   The cook should be nearby.   Frequent check up is also necessary to prevent running into dangerous situation you experienced earlier.  

Your hose has deteriorated.   We can send you a stainless braided hose as replacement.   

Posted on by

Not stable during tossing

Customer (PF13L160): 

Thanks for the guide. I noticed that the legs are stable enough for normal cooking but wobbles when rapidly tossing food. I’m thinking that it can be much more stable if the legs are bolted to a metal triangular plate and a weight like a propane tank is placed on the plate. Have you tried that?

Outdoorstirfry: 

You have very good thought.  Making a plate holding the tank is a very good idea.   We did not try it out but we are sure it should help to stabilize when tossing.   Making a plate like what you describe requires welding.   A simpler way is to tie 3 strings from the long leg adapters (next to the stove base plate) to the tank to lift the tank up a bit, or hang some heavy weight like bricks from the strings.   We don’t offer these as shipping charge of these does not make sense.

Posted on by

Send me a link to a correct regulator that I can purchase for PF13L160

Customer (PF13L160): 

If possible, would you be able to send me a link to a correct regulator that I can purchase, just in case?  I don’t want to get the wrong one if I have to pick one up.

Outdoorstirfry: 

We don’t have it as a separate item for sale.   The closest one is our 0-30PSI adjustable regulator at this link https://outdoorstirfry.com/?page_id=338#0-30Regulator.   This will require customer to find a ¼” MPT x 3/8” hose barb fitting at its output port in order to mate with the hose.  

Typically we support our products as much as we can.  Most convenient way is still to ask us for help.

Posted on by

Smell Gas

Customer (PF13LQN120): 

I just installed my burner. A few questions:
 
1. Is it normal to not see the flame in daylight?
2. I smell unburnt gas when using… is it possible all the gas it not burning up?
3. What is the round cast iron ring for? Must it be used at all times? 
 
Outdoorstirfry: 
 
1.  You are right.  It is difficult to see the flame in daylight.
2.  Whenever we smell unburnt gas, we need to check if anywhere has a leak.   The stove was tested before ship, we did check for leak before.   Have you noticed that the pilot light does not have flame?   Is the pilot valve turned off fully?   Is there any orifice from the main burner not lit up?   Please check it in the evening time such that you can see the flame.   Are you using the quick connector pair we shipped to you.   Any picture of your setup would help.  And Let’s us know.
3.  If you mean the silver cast iron ring, it should sit on top of the stove wind guard to support a wok.   It is called wok adapter.   It needs to be used all the time otherwise the stove flame may not come around the wok and may not function correctly. 
 
Let us know any further question.
 
Customer:
 
Thanks so much for your quick response. Follow-ups:
 
As for point 2. Yes I have used the supplied adapter. Yes I have used a soap water to check for leaks at all connections, my connections as well as yours. There are no leaks. I’m concerned that there is gas coming out of the burner while burning and just not fully igniting 100% of it. 
 
 As for point three, I’m actually talking about the attached pictures. Does this piece always need to be on? Do I have it installed correctly?
 
Outdoorstirfry: 
 
Yes by picture I know your quick connectors are installed well.   
 
for item 2, please view all orifices during evening time such that you can check if all are with flame.   If not all having flame, the stove needs to turn on more power.
 
for item 3, this is the piece that covers all stove orifices such that all flame can be focused toward the bottom of the wok.  Without this piece on top of the orifices, the flame may not be optimum.   There are notches on this piece that you need to align it right on top of the burner ring for a flush mount.   
 
Let us know any further questions.
Posted on by

Refurnbished wind guard and pilot light.

Customer (Refurbished PF13L160):

We used the stove for the first time yesterday and it was amazing! We have a lot to learn but the first dishes to come out of the wok were surprisingly good. We found an old wok at the house and a big wok in the storage room for our restaurants.
The heat from cooking cracked a few of the welds but the stove works fine. I will keep an eye on the cracks and let you know if it gets worse. No need to replace it at this point.
Is there a secret to keeping the pilot light lit? The pilot flame goes away each time I shut the oven gas off. I tried low, medium and high pressure on the pilot side and it always goes out. You can hear the pilot gas but the flame disappears the minute the oven ring shuts off…

Outdoorstirfry:

Glad that you were able to find a nice wok.
I believe some of those weld points cracked even before we shipped to you.   We did the repairs and paint.  When we prepared to ship, we noticed those cracks but they did not affect the holdup of the wind guard.  So we just shipped to you.   There should not be a worry because other weld points are strong.
About the pilot,  You would want to hold its flame low during cooking.   Another trick is when you turn off the main burner, turn it off slowly (not in a sudden).   This helps most of the gas inside the burner to be consumed by the main burner and not to create a too much a disturbance to the pilot light.   Also turn the air/fuel mixer wheel more toward the burner can help as well.
Let us know if you have any questions.