Seeing as how I experienced similar symptoms at higher altitudes
(though not nearly as high as Pauls area), I can only wonder that
there is some kind of air pressure difference that happens at air
intake, due to, in part, the hot exhaust coming out beside the intake
port, and difference in oxygen (?) at higher altitudes. This is what I
was thinking at campsite when having trouble lighting fridge in the
morning. AND/OR it's like the exhaust coming out gathers near intake
tube opening, and prevents oxygen from getting in. I can't explain any
better, but I "see" this happening.

In my case, flame would go out at night after turning fridge down.
(never did that before). I would turn down fridge from "max" to
roughly a 10 o clock position. Sometime later on, flame would go out.
Likely when flame would go to "pilot" setting. (smaller flame)

In the morning it would light, but only stay lit if I pumped in air
with pump, or bicycle pump through drain tube. After quite a few
tries, it would stay lit. I had to pump, and hold safety it seemed,
and this would do it.

Ah now I remember. I actually took off flue grille and SS disc to aid
in air flow. This helped. This coincides with what you found Paul.

All this was at 1200' plus altitudes.

Neil.

On 8/17/07, Paul Chubbuck <paul@takingflight.net> wrote:
> I should add that I live (and bench test at 5000 ft. and camp at 10,000 ft)
> Not sure if that is a factor here.  I have a new brass gas nozzle, just
> installed.
>
> Paul
>

--
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Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil