i have a bialaddin fire bowl and it goes red , but flames are coming out of the bottom of the heater like a rocket , and going up about 25cm. i have swapped the heater and the other works perfect . has anyone any idea what the problem is thanks
Welcome aboard! I assume that you mean the burner and it could be that part of it's blocked or loose, photographs will help us to assist you.
@steven c Had it run properly somewhen before? Did you preheat once or twice or none? Any spiders or insects in the burner body or tubes?
Did you read the instructions? Assuming you pre-heated it properly, then I'd say your vapouriser is goosed and will need to be replaced... A version of the lighting instructions can be found here:- Vapalux lamp instructions (base-camp.co.uk) I know it says "lanterns" but the bowlfires are lit using essentially the same method. Note that the bowlfire has a larger preheater 'wick' and you'll need to fill the reservoir right to the top. Preheating time is 2-3 minutes indoors - outside, given these rarely have the windshield, you're on a hiding to nothing if it's cold and/or windy...
@steven c I agree with @David Shouksmith. First the photos look to me like an insufficiently pre-heated burner burning liquid kerosene. Trying to light one of these things outdoors without the windshield is fraught. As it is, even indoors, I tend to fill the preheater with metho, let the wick soak up as much as it can, then fill it again before lighting. I’d practice your preheating methods somewhere well away from the wind. Cheers Tony
Yep, that's exactly what I do - or did, anyway - I haven't lit a bowlfire for years... Outside, when necessary, I used to do what I called a 'strategic'* flare-up - once the spirit had burned out and the fire failed to light properly, I used the jet cleaner knob to control the paraffin flames within limits which heated up the burner quite quickly and the correct operation soon ensued. It also amused Trevor no end and he'd usually whip out his camera and take many pictures surreptitiously for later publication on CPL and CCS. * I suppose it was more tactical than strategic, come to think of it, but it worked...
@steven c If you’re talking about a new vapouriser, I think you should hold off changing the one that’s on there now until you see if your flare up is a result of inadequate preheating. Cheers Tony
Before replacing the vapouriser, remove it and then remove the cleaning wire and spring. With a strong length of wire, ream out the vapouriser. You'll be surprised how much crud comes out. Make sure you clean out right to the top. Also, check the ring of holes in the burner. If they have corroded and gone non-circular that can seriously effect performance. However, as others have said, it could well be a preheating issue.
Steve, if you have used either a pressure lantern or paraffin pressure heater like the Bowlfire before then igore the following, but if you're new, this may help... These devices work by vaporising the paraffin and igniting the resulting gas. The flame either heats up a thin silk mantle or in a heater like your Bialaddin, a thick mesh. However, you need to pre-heat the vaporiser first and this is done using methylated spirits. At the bottom of the vaporiser I can see that there's a pre-heater cup where you put the meths. Once this is filled and lit, you leave it to do it's job. When it's almost all used up, you can try igniting the vaporised paraffin. If all the seals are still OK and the jet isn't too worn, it should work. If you already knew all this, please accept my apologies. Anyway, keep us posted on your progress. Regards Colin
Well, I posted a link to some operating instructions and gave a bit of a commentary (see above, #8). Zut!
You certainly did David although I'm not convinced he'll be back which would be a shame as I'd like to see the money shot! I think we're seeing increasing numbers of lockdown hobbyists on the site which should be great, but once things go back to normal, how many lanterns will get put back into sheds and forgotten about? Quite a high percentage I'd guess.
Sorry i have not been back . It was the vapouriser at fault so new one works great . I use the fire bowl and tilley lamps as heating and lighting in a pub i have built in back garden . Thanks for advice .
Hullo @steven c Glad you managed to sort things out You built your own pub? In the garden?? Well, it would be great to see pics of your lamps and newly fettled heater providing light and warmth for the garden hostelry, if possible?
Glad it is running in time for the autumn. Like Podbros says, some pics in the lamp action section would be nice to see
