Dismantling for cleaning and service, unscrewed the little valve to let fuel up to the pre-heater and noticed a blunt end where I had expected a needle? So tapped the control cock on the bench and voila !
The fuel shut off valve in the control cock was jammed shut... even with everything taken off it was tight in there... but managed to free it and gave it a clean... it was caked with stuff that reminded me of limescale? Maybe some sort of fuel residue? You can see bits of it in the threads of the control cock 8-/ It was ‘interesting’ trying to get the control cock off as well...
I think we all have found all kind of 'deposit' in tanks etc. I have given up trying to guess what some people put in tanks and the efects of moisture/time/corrosion. Yours looks like some sort of dried gum - maybe turpentine ? Looks like it's all cleaning up well tho
Thanks! To be honest, it’s not too bad? But I always like to see if a lamp will work before I do much cleaning as there’s no joy in trying not to scratch new paint as you strip it down for the umpteenth time :/ And talking of scratch, as I tried to unscrew the control cock I noticed something...
@podbros There are two versions of the BR control cock. One version like the one you’ve got with the 2mm ball bearing. The other type is a valve with a tapered end. I’m not sure which one pre dates the other.
@BigStevie ... Thanks Stevie! I'm only guessing but I would say that this type is later as it seems more work (and more costly) to taper things? ..And to get the control cock central
@podbros If your control cock is aluminium, it probably is limescale you’re looking at, so a bath in citric acid would be in order. Cheers Tony