This is my first Tilley lantern (unknown model), bought this from the big auction house didn’t paid an arm and a leg for it bit since the big has gotten me... so I pulled the trigger and now I need to find the globe and preheater cup of course I will need a set of seals, pump cup to fettle. But living in the USA these things are harder to get and not very usual as Coleman parts. First to know would be model number and then start getting repair parts for her. Thanks Francisco
Hi @Pancholoco1911 Your lantern is a Tilley X246 sometimes called a Tilley Guardsman. By the numbers on the bottom of the fount (tank) your lamp was built March 1957. You can buy any parts from the Fettlebox featured on this site or from “Juliands” via eBay. These lamps are very reliable and it will give you good service. Hope this helps. Cheers Pete
@Pancholoco1911 Your model is an X246 also known as The Guardsman. The fount is dated March 1957 and if I remember correctly this model was produced until 1960. She cleaned up well! Regards Jeremy Edit: crossed with @AussiePete
Tilley's are simple lamps that are very easy to work on and the Guardsman is definitely one of the better models. The globes come up all the time on eBay but the price varies a lot so don't buy the first one you find - wait a while and shop around. You might even find an old X246b with an intact globe cheaper than a separate globe - folk are strange like that but be sure to ask the seller to pack the glass in a separate box with plenty of packaging!
Hi @Pancholoco1911 , that’s a good Tilley as others have mentioned, a tough simple lamp that’s easy to maintain. The Tilleys use a clip on pre heater rather than a fitted cup, like this: Again, you’ll find these for sale online. Look forward to seeing the lamp up and running!
@Pancholoco1911 Francisco, you have the last of what I consider the best Tilley X246 lanterns made. These are strong, reliable, and well made. Love those speculum plated tanks, too. A real find!!
You will enjoy your Tilley, Francisco! They are very quiet and reliable runners and very easy to work on. You will at the very least need to fit a full seal kit from our host Tilley Washer Kit - The Fettlebox If you do not have a pre-heat torch, you can use a pre-heat cup from a Coleman 237 or make your own from a 1" copper end cap and a short piece of copper pipe. You can improvise a double tie mantle from a Coleman 1111 or Peerless 111 mantle by cutting off the stitching at the closed end and tying that end around the mantle support spigot with a spare piece of mantle string.
@AussiePete and @X246A Thanks for the date info on fount, I'm more into Coleman than Euro stuff but this is a nice one an I want to get it running. @ColinG You're right on that. Sometimes you find lanterns cheaper than a separate globe. Already I got an offer for the globe from a CCF member, not too bad but still more expensive than what I paid for this old lantern. @george Thank you sir, I am pretty sure this won't be the last. @phaedrus42 Thank you for those awesome tips, I'm sure I going to do that for now. Cheers to all and Happy Hollidays!!!!
I was having problems ordering from Fettlebox, but I just completed my order for washer kit. Now I need to find mantles and glass. Thanks all
Today I’ve finished gathering all parts and assembled my lantern filled with kerosene, added a mantle and what a disappointment; I’ve failed in something but don’t know what. Put pressure and preheated generator couple time and still no light. can you guys help me what’s going on with this? Thanks
Better to give it nice a long 2 minute pre-heat with no pressure, valve open and pump/fuel cap loose, then close pump/fuel cap and pump 15strokes, wait a minute or two , pump another 30-40 strokes. If this still gives the same result, is the vaporiser clean and the jet aperture not over-size?
@Pancholoco1911 This looks like it’s running way too rich. As @phaedrus42 said, either the generator’s jet is oversized or there is an air blockage in one or more of the burner’s air tubes. Either will cause too a too high ratio of fuel to air mix ..... to run rich. Has the actual burner been fully cleaned. You may have to dismantle it to fully clean it. Hope this helps. Cheers Pete
@phaedrus42 I’m new to Tilley lanterns, way more moving parts and a bit more complicated than Coleman. I’ll try your tips this afternoon thank you. @AussiePete all parts were fully cleaned. Generator was quenched like 5 times, I have 2 extra generator but they are for R55 a bit longer than the one required. I’ll try the burner on my R55 to see if it glows hehehe.
You can test by fitting the 169 7" vaporiser from the heater. The burner will be 2 inches higher, but it will work just fine to test whether the burner is good. If it works properly, it would be safe to assume the fault is with the 606 5" vaporiser.
Well after trying everything recommended here I’ve found the issue. Issue is inside burner chamber, main tube coming from vaporizer is too long and touch the burner cup. So did a permanently fix and screwed just a tad the burner cup to see if should get it working and it did. Going to cut a bit with pipe cutter when time comes available. thank you folks
Aha, it is an older style burner which had a tall dome and long tube. Someone put a new style short dome on it. The tube is steel and unscrews. For the short dome, the tube is 25mm long from where it screws into the burner. 1" should be OK. Just saw it off and file it flat.
