Hi troops I got a lovely FL6 Floodlight. It was working perfect but I decided to get it back to original as it was tatty. I stripped the paint and painted it etc. I’ve put it back together and pressurised it, but it’s blowing bubbles from the rear 2 pillars that hold the lamp in place. Any idea how I could fix this? Thanks in advance Glen
@Glen Campbell Just to clarify, you mean pressure leaks from the base of the two rear lamp housing support pillars? It sounds as though the paint, tatty though it was, was making the seal. My approach would be to strip the paint from the tank (again!), though just the top around the pillars would suffice if you feather the edge of the remaining paint when you get around to final painting. Empty the tank of fuel and use detergent in warm water to clean out the residue - because you’ll be taking a blowtorch to the top of the tank, pump removed. Strip the paint from the support pillars too. Thoroughly clean/burnish tank and pillars and apply a lead solder flux. Drape a folded kitchen tissue and drench it with water. Drape it over the pressure indicator ‘pip’ to prevent heat from the torch disrupting its bond with the tank. Pump mounting boss too. Use a blowtorch and flow solder into the joints between pillars and tank - I’d do all four and not just the two already leaking air. Pressure test before painting.
Thanks for that. yes you have it spot on. I was hoping to avoid the blow lamp, I was hoping the Soldering iron might do it, I’m a bit wary of the blow lamp in case I cause other damage. But I’ll restrip the paint again LOL and I’ll reseal all 4. Wish me luck
@Glen Campbell The solder joint works by getting the joint faces of the components to be joined to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the solder by a small margin. A chunk of metal such as the Tilley tank would too readily conduct the heat away from a soldering iron and a decent joint wouldn’t be possible. A fine-flame propane torch is right for the job.
The “sticky out thing” has a sliding bar in it. It moves up and down depending on the pressure in the tank (if working properly). Put a drop or two of penetrating oil in the top and leave it until you pressurise the tank. See here: Tilley Pressure Nipple gauge Cheers Tony
Thanks Tony, I had no idea this was in there!!! Ok, I’ll have a go at this in the next couple of days, wish me luck Cheers Glen
Hi Tony, so far it’s all good news! couple of things. The little pup is gummed up with paint. I have cleaned it as best as I can but I don’t want to stick anything in it to clear it. Any help would be appreciated. Next one is that I popped water in the tank, pressurised it and the jet went about 3m in the air so result!! Ive left the tank to dry out before filling it, so I stuck my finger in the tank and gave it a wipe but it’s filthy with some brown gunk, probs old paraffin, but the question is, how on earth could you clean this out
I use caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) but only leave it for an hour or so. I have not used it on a steel tank before, but many brass Tilley founts are sparkly clean inside here.
If the gunk is old fuel , I use automotive paint thinners. If rust I use vinegar watered down 1:1. Through in a handfull of steel nuts and shake vigorously. Repeat as necessary.
All good advice above. For the pressure pip, just clean the top gunk with fine (0000) steel wool, and drop the penetrating oil in. That should do it. Look to see if it moves with pressure in the tank. Tony
Thanks guys I would be scared to use a hand full of nuts just in case I damage the fuel sender unit etc. I’ll try caustic soda/thinners etc, see how I get on. thanks for all the help Really appreciate it
So the Caustic soda worked a treat! So thanks for that. Just another small question… Over replaced the nuts and bolts with Brass and it makes the black stand out. The only ones I having an issue with is the bolts that go from the lamp to the tank. I know they are 1/4” and half inch long but the thread size has got me as it seems to be a fine thread. Any idea where I might get the Brass bolts from or would you know the thread size? Thanks once again
I don’t know but the wingnuts on the sides are BSF others may know better or have both a FL6 and thread gauges Hopefully of help Chris
Hi Glen Good advice from Chris Apparently the nut that holds the wooden handle on the pump is 1/4 bsf so try undoing it and see if the threads fit ? Alternatively there are members in your neck of the woods.. ??? fingers crossed (not threads)
Thanks guys, it’s definitely 1/4” x half inch but it’s the thread that I’m stuck with. I ordered brass bolts but the thread was course, but I’ll try and dig out a BSF thread. I wonder would it be worth a new post for this?
Brilliant!! Thanks for that. I’ve managed to find some and order them Thanks for all the help, really appreciate it Cheers Glen
