Handi Kero-Pet Lanterns

Hi all, what a great forum and resources site. First post and questions. I have recently acquired four Handi Kero-Pet Lanterns in varying stages of decay. The best one of the four appears to be the one that runs on shellite. I came to that conclusion after reading some other threads here. It looks like some of parts have been mixed and matched as the original owner had them all together in a couple of boxes. Some had left over kerosine still in them. I've examined the generators in them and they all look the same to me to be honest. So here's my list of probable mistakes so far. I've cleaned the Shellite one up, bought the only type of mantle I could buy locally ( made for gas lamps) filled it up with shellite, pressurised it, and tried to light it. Shellite drips from around the adjustment knob which of course ignites when I try to light it. If I can get it to light, the mantle burns white in the middle but quite yellow around the top with way too much flame. I am a complete novice so forgive any obvious blunders. I'll get some pics and upload them later. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

 

@Wretchedrichard

Don’t try to light the lantern at all with Shellite (petrol) dripping out of it; and especially don’t try to pressurise it enough to get the mantle glowing: fireball and destruction looms.

Post photos of your lamp and spares.

You will need a full set of washers and seals before your Shellite lantern is ready to be safely operated.

There’s a bloke in Queensland who will have what you need.

Cheers

Tony

 

Thank you Tony

 

Welcome to CPL @Wretchedrichard

Suggestion, check the air inlet tubes and burner for insects.

That one has Kerosene on the label.
Really, the only difference between the Kerosene and Shellite lantern is inside the generator. The kerosene gen has a spring like coil around the pricker shaft and the jet (hole in the nipple) is smaller ( ~0.2mm). The Shellite gen has a roll of brass mesh around the pricker shaft and the jet (hole in the nipple) is slightly larger.
Kerosene


Shellite



To stop the leak from the shutoff cock shaft tighten the gland nut on the shaft. It will compress the fibre washers and should stop the leak.


Handi Kero-Pet

 

@ROBBO55 That's really helpful, thank you. The generator is definitely for Kero then, as there is no mesh, just the coil spring as per the pic. I'll take some better pics soon. I will try those suggestions and see how it goes, and using Kerosene instead of the Shellite. That mantle is from Bunnings and is a gasmate brand designed for Gas lanterns so I was not sure if that added to my issues. Thanks again for the reply. I can't wait to get it going to be honest

 

@Wretchedrichard Welcome to CPL

If you're buying the generic mantles from Bunnings or BCF etc, look for the ones marked S3. That translates to a single tie 300cp mantle, which is the right size for a Handi.

Another way to check if the lantern is for shellite or kero is to look at the top of the nipple (jet). The shellite one has a circle stamped into the top. This out of focus photo shows the difference.

 

@Nils Stephenson thank you for that picture and reply. I think that's one reason why I was confused about whether or not it was Shellite or Kero because the jet has a circle stamped into the top but does not have the brass mesh in the generator like illustrated in the photo supplied by Robbo55. I also took your advice about trying to source the S3 mantles at Bunnings & BCF with no luck looking online. I'll go in personally and inquire about those. Thank you again for the response and knowledge sharing, it's most appreciated.

 

I think previous owners have tried swapping parts which might be why my jet has the circle stamped into the top and a kero pricker shaft...

 

@Wretchedrichard
It's all part of the fun.
With that jet it won't run well on kerosene.
You can get some brass mesh and make one.

 

@ROBBO55 , great advice and yes, I tried Kero this afternoon which was a failure. I could light it, but lotsa yellow flames and lovely black smoke. Looked like it was pulsating too which was surprising. I'm going to use one of the generator's from my spares and give it a whirl tomorrow. Thanks again for the info and pics, brilliant.

 

Let's see some photos of the others as well. We might be able to determine which parts originated where.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Does anyone have suggestions on how to clean the generators. Some of the spares are really gummed up, and I don't want to damage the metal. I thought a soak in a mild acid like vinegar might loosen things up.

 

Thank you Jeff

 

@Nils Stephenson thank you I will get some pics of the rest. In the meantime I'm really happy the collective wisdom here has helped me get one going. Pic to follow.

 

@JEFF JOHNSON thank you

 

Diluted vinegar will work fine but don’t leave them too long. Take them out when the brass begins to go pink.

I use carburettor cleaner or acetone on gummed up generators.

Cheers

Tony

 

Was very excited this afternoon to see and hear this burning. Much gratitude to the helpful suggestions so far.

 

@Tony Press thanks heaps for the confirmation. It made my day to get one actually burning. Just need to sort out the usable parts next. I'll post some pics when I can stop lighting and playing with the one I got going today

 

If you can get the spring etc out, I would heat it with a blow torch to burn off the carbon and fuel residue. Don't do this too close to the cleaning needle or you could melt the actual needle. Heating and quenching the generator body also helps loosen stuff inside it. Then a good soak to finish it all off.

Congratulations on getting it running. It seems to be working well. Is there any pulsing at all?

 

Well done, looks good. The filler cap has a nice profile, different to others I've seen. Cheers.

 

@Nils Stephenson . Spot on advice thank you. I took a blow torch to the generator (minus the pricker ) heated/quenched a couple of times with success. I'll include pictures in separate section below. The pulsing has gone, however, there seems to be a small leak that I suspect is the stopcock. When I pressurise the tank and light the metho bath I can hear a faint leak and there is a small flame that ignites almost immediately within the mantle despite having the stopcock turned firmly in the off position. Also although it burns beautifully, it looses pressure and goes out after about 10 minutes unless I pump more pressure into the tank. Thanks Nils

 

@Paul Aslanides thanks Paul, yes it's different to the others in my box of spairs. It was the only one that would seal properly under pressure so I used that one.

 

That is the last filler cap used by Handi. I don't know when they were introduced, but it has to be somewhere in the 70s.

You can always do a dunk test on the lamp. Empty the fuel, remove the top and cage then pump up and unscrew the pump. Then dunk the whole lot in a bucket of water. That should reveal where any leaks are.

Love the cap on the meths bottle. I remember finding an old bottle of Pine-o-clean when I was clearing out after my Mum. Brings back memories.

 

Wretchedrichard S3 Mantles are have not been available, at least in this southeast area of Melbourne, to the best of my belief and searching, for some years. T.W. Sands do stock them though. BCF, Bunnings & Tentworld do have, on a good day, S1, S2, D1 and maybe D2 (Double Ties, and smaller than a Tilley double tie mantle). No doubt they are more suitable for propane gas lanterns. S2 are cheap, good for tryouts, though coarse knit, but will tear easily from the top as they can't take good pressure for very long. 25 to 30 pumps is o.k. You can give 60 to 80 pumps, but the mantle won't last. Cheers. Paul.

 

@Nils Stephenson that's another great idea, I'll try the dunk test. I did a recent clear out of my mother's things, so I appreciate your sentiments about the memories some things bring back. Just wondering if you, or anyone else would have a guess on the age of this particular Handi of mine. I know it's probably difficult given the switching around of parts. The filler cap was one of the ones with Brisbane stamped into it, but I replaced it with the one you see here which you've already estimated was 70's. Thank you

 

@Paul Aslanides yes I've discovered the same in my searches at the local BCF's and the like. Good idea re tentworld tho, I'll give them a try. The gas (Gasmate) ones that I got from Bunnings do work for the tryout, so I'd be keen to see what the difference is in those other ones you've suggested. I'm still to do the dunk test to figure out whats leaking, so once I've done that I'll look at getting some more mantles. Thank you for the reply and ideas.

 

I assume you are talking about the one you have got working. Anyway, this is the variation that had the longest run without change, so it could be anywhere from the mid 60s to mid 70s. There were two or three changes to the style of the label in that period which is still impossible to date, but yours is most likely from the earlier period of the timeframe. That's the closest I can get to it.