Hello all, I've got a small collection of old pressure lamps (mainley Tilley and Bialaddin) hanging up in the garage. I've bought them cheap at car boots etc whenever I've seen them and just hungb them up in there. But now I'm coming to try to get some of them going, mainly because I want to try ising them to keep a bit of frost off in a small greenhouse. So I've started by looking at the condition of my four Tilley X246Bs. Two of them are up and running with new seals, one needs a few parts but the other is giving me a few puzzles. The main problem I'm having is with the control cock, which doesn't seem to do much of anything. Perhaps it slightly reduces the flow of fuel, but it certainly doesn't turn it off. I've stripped it down as far as I can by pulling the plastic knob off and undoing the knorled cap to replace the seal behind it. But how do i replace the seals in the main body of the thing? There appears to be a bronze filter at the bottom and every reference I've found says this should screw off in it's housing. However I've tried everything and it won't budge. Looking at it I'd swear it's all one casting with the main part of the cock and not removable. So my first question is did Tilley switch to a non-repairable control cock at some point? I'm also having problems getting vapourisers working. The jet in the top is clogged on at least one lamp. Is there anything I can soak the vapouriser tube in to disolve the years of carbon and other crud? Or maybe you know another method to clean out the jet? Thanks, Andy
There are years of discussions about Tilley Vaporisers on this forum. Suggest typing it in the search box (top right above the lady with the lamp - support CPL) and you will find it. I have had the same opinion of a control cock but it did come apart eventually. I wouldn't choose a pressure lamp for the job of frost prevention. Eventually tank pressure drops and if you are lucky it just goes out, maybe leaking liquid fuel and leaving a mess. If not lucky it goes to burning up in the dome of the burner and you have an expensive parts bill because it all melts. Wick lamps for that job.
I have a load of hurricane lamps too, so maybe I'll try those in the greenhouse. I'd still like to get these old Tilleys going now I've started though.
@Andy Cooper Welcome to the board. Like JonD says there is much info to be found here, however in the case of Tilleys and Bialaddins the primary purpose of the "cock" or "jet cleaner" is to move the pricker wire up to clear any blockage in the top of the vapouriser. Turning these lamps off is best done by releasing the pressure in the tank/fount. Tilley 777 cocks do have a rubber seal internally so they do come apart. picture here: Tilley Aluminium 777 Query Bialaddin "jet cleaners" do not as they make no pretense of stopping fuel flow. To finish that off - even if the Tilley cock does kill the flame, still release the pressure or you will come back to a puddle of paraffin later on. As to vapourisers: some soak in brake cleaner, some heat up and hit them, and some just buy new ones. In my experience once they are on their way out I just replace them. You can clean the wire with very fine emery paper if it is coked up but be careful to not break the tip or lose the spring. good luck, Chris
Actually, that sentence should read: To finish that off - even if the Tilley cock does kill the flame, still release the pressure or you may come back to a puddle of paraffin later on. The Tilley control cock, if working properly, and with the seals fitted correctly, should stop fuel entering the vapouriser. A well made Tilley vapouriser should also function such that the pricker does shut off fuel flow through the jet. In the real world it is a precaution to release pressure in case your seals and/or the pricker aren’t functioning 100%. Cheers Tony
@Andy Cooper If the jet remains clogged after operating the control it's a good bet that the fine tip of the cleaning wire has broken off. Replacement cleaning wires for Tilley and Bialaddin are available from www.base-camp.co.uk but before ordering, try swapping the wire with one that does clear the jet and see if that does the trick.
@Tony Press - a further edit: after three "incidents" on the pine kitchen flooring my wife says - "Always let the pressure out as the Tilley cock is useless!" followed by "and don't tell me again how it should be OK because you fitted new seals and springs"
As @Fireexit1 wife said ...... I always release the pressure on a Tilley tank after use. I’ve learnt the hard way ........
