I recently acquired an x246 with the loop bail attachment. I waiting parts particularly to sort out the NRV. In the meantime time I fitted a mantle and screwed in the pump from a fully functioning x246b that I have here. I'd previously worked on the vaporiser on the x246 and got a good plume of fuel. Replacing the hood on the x246 I was sceptical that the lamp came with a later burner apparatus. It has a split ring rather that 3x gland nuts which I think is on the older Tilley lamps. It's not very bright, certainly not as bright as the x246b, and the mantle shows red filaments. Could this be due to the hood/burner mismatch and tolerances? An x246 hood/burner would cost more than the lamp!
@Seamanjive As I understand it, the X246, older type with the loop bail attachment, is fitted with a later model burner type with an air tube split pin retainer. As you surmised, the correct burner for the earlier X246 has the 3 threaded air tubes that use retaining bushes to secure the burner into the hood. This burner has a longer domed cap than the later. I believe, members here, have carried out some comparative experimentation between the earlier burners and the later ones. I think ...... that the earlier burners were empirically found to be a tad better. Have you tried swapping the hood assemblies, that is, the X246B assembly onto the X246 and visa versa? If the problem moves then we’re looking at the hood assembly/burner as the probable cause. Cheers Pete
Yes Pete, swapped the hoods. They do look very similar...the x245b looking like new. The later lamp has had very little use and when mounted on the old lamp definitely improved the incandesence on the mantle. Swapped back and the x246 is a tad brighter but nothing like the x246b. I thought of swapping the vaporisers but I'm not sure they are interchangeable. I got a great plume of fuel on the older lamp so I think it's ok. I now suspect that the x246 burner needs a more extensive clean-up than I gave it. Externally it looks pretty sooty. Thx for your advice...and congrats on the Ashes. Aussie has outplayed us poms throughout the series!
Tilley 5" vaporisers and burners are interchangeable in most lamps and lanterns with exception of some older or special products with 7" vaporisers
In general the later "modern" burners average about 150 to 180cp from new. There are of course exceptions and some actually do over 200cp but these are rare. New in box a 1950s X246 would make near 300cp almost always. The vaporisers are the same so it is the later burner that is poor. The problem that Tilley burners die of old age so often an older burner does not work as well as it should. The vaporisers also get old and deteriorate with much use. You might improve the light by cleaning the burner but chances are it won't get much better. You might also improve matters by fitting a new vaporiser but I doubt it since you have shown the old burner is weak. My advice would be to live with what you have. At least they both function. ::Neil::
The cost of new parts would far exceed what a paid for these lamps so I think your advice is well founded. If I do need a really bright lantern I recently fettled an old Optimus 1550 which lights up pretty much my whole patio!
Yes if you just want to avoid bumping into furniture Tilleys are OK but for decent light then German, American or Swedish lamps are the way to go. Mind you for some reason Tilley table lamps do seem to be brighter than the lanterns. Probably a combination of better aspiration and no upper shadow. ::Neil::
Mmmm.... none of the X246, with loop bail attachments, that I have found have the “split pin”. I have only found the split pin on post 1955 lanterns... Cheers Tony @AussiePete
