Good afternoon, I have just serviced my two X246B Stormlights with an SP1 service kit, new mantles and "Caldo Paraffin Extra" fuel. One also has a new vaporiser tube (because I had one). Both lamps burn dull, with orange flames around the mantle and black patches on the mantle. Any suggestions what's wrong? Thank you
The most likely reason is that the vapourisers jets are enlarged, but there could be muck in the fuel feed pipes, if you are using those aluminium control cocks then they are often faulty, sometimes they are so poorly made that they do not allow enough of the fuel and air mixture through to the vapouriser. Carbon building up on the pricker wires can cause poor light output, inadequate pressure causes problems. If there is a strong smell of paraffin then some part of the burner will be loose.
Thank you Jeff, What are the "fuel feed pipes"? Never any problems in the past. The only thing that has changed is the paraffin and maybe the mantles. I see you favour Esso Blue. That's what I always used. The fact that one lamp has a new vaporizer, leads me to believe that it's not that, as the problem is the same with both lamps. What's your thought on mantles, ie, with or without Thorium? Different brands don't seem to have much effect.
If is was me, I would place the mantle(s) at the bottom of the list right and check out the control cock and burner. Jeff many be right, are you getting a kerosene smell?
The fuel feed pipe is soldered into the bottom of the socket which the control cock screws into and over the years muck can build up in there. I use tying wire to clean them, just shove it down the fuel feed pipe until it touches the bottom the tank and then repeat that action until the FFP., feels clear and give the tank a good clean out afterwards. Try vapourisers which you know are working properly and if the lanterns then work correctly you will know that the other vapourisers are faulty. It's unlikely to be the mantles, but I prefer the thorium mantles. If the new vapouriser is a modern one then they are often problematic. Do let us know how you get on.
I would also consider trying some ordinary paraffin. Caldo is sold for heaters, is more refined and has a higher flashpont. Chris
Thanks all, a few things for me to try this morning. However, a few more questions in the meantime: Can the control cock/valve be serviced? The "stem nut" won't budge, and Tilley don't appear to have a service kit. How do I tell if the vaporiser is the modern or old type? Around here I can only get greenhouse heater paraffin. What paraffin, and what source would you guys recommend? As for getting a "kerosene smell", I'm not sure. The Caldo Paraffin Extra claims to be odourless.
The "stem nut" is not supposed to come out. Apart from the filter on the base of the cock and the gland seal on the stem it is not disassembable. re: Paraffin there are now many types but the equivalent of Esso blue is what you want. The manufacturers sometimes make life difficult for UK lampies it seems. "C2" grade will get you away from domestic heating oil (which will work). Unfortunately the super-deodorised ones such as caldo paraffin "extra" can also claim C2 as it is a minumumn spec. I suspect the Caldo grade "Pre-Pac" paraffin will work just fine, but have never tried it. I use Bartoline from my local hardware store, it is as"ordinary" as it gets. I have also used Barettine. Both claim to be "premium" but are just paraffin. Both available on ebay/amazon but overpriced. Sometimes B&Q. if you are in a very rural place often the local garage will stock it or even have it on pump. re:vapouriser box says Guildford, top cap (jet) of vapouriser is welded on not spun over. have fun C
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think we're making some progress. Removed, stripped and cleaned the burner assemblies. Cleaned vaporisers with carb cleaner. Rodded out the fuel tubes and flushed the tanks. Fitted new Base Camp #8140 mantles. Filled with fresh Caldo fuel (it's all I've got at present). New seals already fitted from SP1 kits. Both lamps are now improved, but flames still burn outside the mantles (they may have done before, but I never noticed it), and one lamp is a little more "yellowy" than the other. Next task is to track down some Esso Blue or Aladdin Pink (I should be so lucky), or whatever the current equivalent is. Thanks again.
Where is "around here"? Anybody can be helped better if a country is known, and someone near you could have very practical information. Good luck, Mike
@Bosun - sorry a correction "C1" is the grade of paraffin you want. But not the "extra refined or odourless" one. "C2" is heating oil also known as 28 second oil. https://www.yell.com/s/hardware+stores-langdon+hills.html - this will get you the local hardware stores.
Thank you Fireexit1, but I'm confused, or Barrettine are telling porkies. Their "Premium Grade Paraffin", conforming to BS2869C1 (apparently), says "NOTE: NOT for lamps or torches".
It gets even more confusing as "lamps" includes indoor oil lamps and hurricane lamps. Torches I do not know about as the circus didn't want me I have used it - and in fact was using it last night in an X246 Guardsman. This "premium grade" is C1 without being super de-sulphurised or "no odour" like some others. The other stuff you have of course you could use indoors happily if you have a wick lamps.
I would really guess it is a vapouriser problem ... by the way have you examined the burners? located in the hood . stripped and cleaned them , no debris/ insect nests in there ?... the best way to clean vapourisers is to insert and spin braided cycle brake cable and shake out the carbon the the ends a laboursome task good luck
Thank you Alby for the tip about cleaning vaporisers. I've ruled out vaporisers as the problem because one lamp has a new one and the other a cleaned out original one. Both lamps are now working as best I can get them, but still with a less than bright white glow and some flaming outside the mantle. It all started with the demise of Esso Blue and Aladdin Pink paraffin that the local hardware store and garage sold (from a machine), so I'm erring towards the fuel. It's also the common denominator.
Hi Bosun, for what it's worth, I had the same problem on two Tilleys last year. Both lamps were fixed by replacing the vapourisers. As Jeff Johnson has already mentioned, new Tilley vapourisers can be troublesome, this happened to me when one lamp still ran badly, despite me fitting a new Tilley vapouriser. Tilley replaced my vapouriser with another new one and that lamp performs perfectly. Regards, David.
Yes, even NOS vapalux ones can be not right or work poorly I bought one off fleabay a little while ago and the hole had not been punched/drilled Although the modern Tilley International ones can be poor at least they do seem happy to replace like for like Hope you can get it sorted
Thanks Chaps, I've heard a a lot of bad press about the "new" Tilley vaporisers, but what is it that makes them so troublesome?
They are made with more modern production techniques- the top part looks TIG welded on But the main problem is the way that the hole is made in the tip Folks have had flames coming out of the airtubes on the burner and when stripped down and pressured the jet of paraffin can be seen to squirt at silly angles instead of straight up also poor burning similar to a vapouriser with a worn or oversized tip But perhaps I have been lucky :-)
Tilley outsourced their manufacture to China (probably). Unfortunately they did not seem to have opted for quality over cost. I suppose they're getting them so cheap they can afford to simply replace like for like and still make money...
