Just wanted to brighten up a dull day

Discussion in 'Lamp Action Gallery' started by rayw, Jan 11, 2021.

  1. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    It's been quite dull today but the snow has disappeared, so I unpacked the latest acquisition.
    A Coleman 295, it's pretty tidy but refused to work, stripped down the vaporiser and cleaned everything up a bit, but still no joy, used the ultrasonic cleaner and stripped down the on off valve. After a bit of messing it fired up but pulsed at a slow rate.

    20210111_151605.jpg

    After about an hour it was much better, but I fear it needs a new generator, looking at replacing it
    On the left is my 185 which I bought years agp when littlewoods closed their online service paid less than £20 brand new.
    Both of them do not shut down when the valve is shut, they gradually fade away over several minutes.
    I wonder if that is due to the little Schrader valve failing.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
  2. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    And why not indeed ? - has the 295 vapouriser not got the paper insert ? - or did that come out before the ultrasonics...
    they both look nice and clean without the usual rust on the tanks
     
  3. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Didn't find any paper in the vaporiser, but is suspect that someone has been trying to mend it, jet needle is damaged but I didn't pay much for it and it's pretty tidy, so I'm happy, tank is very good with no rust and hood just has a couple of specs on it,
    .
    One on the left is like new with box funnel, and little flint spark device to light it (I've never fitted that) it's had little use.

    Would love to hear from anyone who has experienced the situation where they don't shut down when the valve is closed, the system is fairly basic and seems to rely on a Schrader valve to shut off the fuel.
     
  4. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    @rayw It will be the schrader valve. Do you want a couple ?. I have been there.
     
  5. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    That's very kind, but I have ordered some on e-bay I'm assuming they are just standard Schrader valve like the ones in car and bike tyres.
    I also bit the bullet and ordered a vaporiser, prices for them seems to be pretty much the same everywhere.
     
  6. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Ah - one needs the ones that are fuel resistant. The normal bicycle/car ones last about 10 mins. The test is to leave one in a small jar of fluid and see if the rubber swells.
    The ones that are rated for air conditioning seem to work. But beware they come in different sizes as well as shapes. I could open a shop with my many purchases... ](*,)
     
  7. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Ah can relate to that, I have a garage full of bits and spares, so often when you need one item you can only buy ten.
    If you have some spare ones which are up to the job I would be happy to buy a coupl, should save me lots of time and experimentation.
     
  8. Wim

    Wim Subscriber

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    I think it is rather normal for a Coleman lantern to slowly fade away after shutting them down. The vapouriser (generator) still contains some fuel, and it can only evaporate in one direction! Some of my Colemans can take a minute or 2, ending with a small candle-like flame.
     
  9. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    That's what mine is doing now, but I seem to remember it shutting down much more quickly than that.
    At first when I turn the valve it's as if nothing has happened at all then it slowly starts to dim ending with a tiny orange glow on the mantle, but if I flick the valve open the tiny glow fires up instantl, and its back to full power.
     
  10. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    I agree with @Wim

    @rayw what you describe is perfectly normal behaviour for Coleman petrol lamps & lanterns.
    Given the age of the lanterns, there's no harm in replacing the Schrader valves. Prevention is better than cure.
     
  11. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Well I dont use them so often, maybe I'll just try to find some fuel rated Schrader valves and replace them whenever I can, as Henry says can't hurt given the age of these lamps.
    When I do I'll report what I find and share it with everyone.
     
  12. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    I didn't have much luck obtaining the correct valve core here in the U.K. (I couldn't see the point in buying a pack of 500) but Mike at oldcolemanparts has these which should work in your lanterns.
    275 Valve Core
    If you choose to try a couple, ordering online is not possible for people outside the U.S.A. You'll have to contact Mike via email.
     
  13. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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  14. ColinG

    ColinG United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Quite a few lanterns have this 'slow shutdown' feature where the 'bubble' of burning gas gradually retreats up inside the mantle until it finally goes out. I'm no expert but I assume it's due to the fuel that's still in the generator when the valve is turned off. The generator is still at operating temperature for a few seconds so any unburned fuel in the system above the control valve will vaporise and continue to expand until the metal cools sufficiently. Most if not all of my Coleman lanterns do this as well as my Veritas lanterns which are somewhat similar in operation.
     
  15. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Ive been looking at different sites, but now managed to source a couple of Schraders which are fuel proof so Ill update when I change them
     
  16. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith United Kingdom Founder Member

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    I've always found the 'slow turn-off' feature on Coleman lanterns useful when camping. You can turn off the lantern and then you've a minute or two to get yourself into your pit and snuggled down before it goes completely dark... :thumbup: :)
     
  17. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Yes there is that, but when I leave it in my garage I get the refrigerator light syndrome, just wondering if it really is compleatly out before I release the pressure, when the little 285 lamp was new I used to treat it like the old Tilley shut it down and leave it on the kitchen draining board to cool without releasing the pressure.
    I depressurise all of them now after use, but I worry about letting out Napther fumes if its not srone dead
     
  18. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    A bit brighter today but decided to do a bit more, I call this one variations on a theme, these are all lamps I have bought since my first tentative enquiry in September.

    Left is a nice Optimus 350, middle is the Petromax father Christmas brought, right is a Hipolito I found on e-bay and was surprised to win, still looking at that one at the moment

    @David Shouksmith do you recognise the Optimus, just tidied it up a bit but I may leave it at that, its not quite as bright as the Petromax but not far off which is good considering its 350CP as opposed to the Pmax 500 CP

    Lamps.jpg
     
  19. David Shouksmith

    David Shouksmith United Kingdom Founder Member

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    Well I wouldn't have so I'm glad you pointed it out! Good to see you got it running so well... :D/
     
  20. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Nice trio - I think an earlier Optimus 350 model ?
     
  21. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    I believe so, but I'm a relative newcomer and no expert, but I understand that this one with the fuel level gauge but no pressure gauge is one of the early ones, I did a few bits to it and cleaned up the vaporiser, I also made a slight modification, . Optimus 1350 knowledge needed

    but it seems to work pretty well now, and it seems to be much more economical that the petomax even allowing that it is a 350 as apposed to the 500.
    I think this is one of those lamps you could use regularly and it would be reliable.
     
  22. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Oh yes - I remember the other thread now... old age and infirmity creeps on - or is it lockdown fever...
     
  23. bp4willi

    bp4willi Germany Subscriber

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  24. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Well the schrader valves arrived thanks to @Fireexit1
    , but the weather has been shocking
    finally fitted them to the Coleman twin mantle lamps and decided to try them out

    20210118_141121.jpg

    Also fitted a new vaporiser to the 295, and it behaves nicely now, the 285 had a new valve just because it must be getting due.
    The middle one is one I picked up in a job lot, wasn't working, but a bit of a clean and blow out with compressed air and it seems to be quite happy, it seems a good little lamp, and lights up on a thimble full of meths, I filled the cup but it was still half full when it fired up.
    I think Colemas can be just a bit troublesome, and that's why you sometimes find them being off-loaded fairly cheap, both the 295 and the kerosene lamp came to me that way, but with a bit of maintenance and patience they can be fine.

    Re the shutdown as discussed earlie, I timed the 295 and it took one minute twenty seconds to extinguish, fitted new valve and vaporiser and it took just over one minute five seconds, so precious little difference perhaps the new valve closes a bit better.
     
  25. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Fine light ups!:thumbup::thumbup:
     
  26. Henry Plews

    Henry Plews Subscriber

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    Three lanterns working well. Looks good.

    There's a lot of brass in an Optimus or Petromax vapouriser, the Coleman kerosene generator is thin walled and doesn't need as much spirit as the heavy duty types found on European lanterns.
    I don't have a 214 kerosene lantern but I do have its predecessor a 201, they're a bright little lantern.
     

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