I would like to set my Coleman 228E up for kerosene operation and that means, at the very least, installing a preheater cup. There are several available at oldcolemanparts. Which one would work for my model? I am partial to the one intended for the 249 model, but am not sure it will fit. The generator appears to be a type also used on the 220. Will I need to change that?
If you want to use kero in the 228, You should replace the paper sleeve in the generator with a stranded copper wire coil. Such is better suited for evaporation of kero . Should have opposite wind direction than the inner steel wire coil. To have good combined effekt with both coils.
249's pre heater cup is way too big, use the 201 for exact fit or the universal for cheap. And what willi said, there was also something like mixing a 201 gen with the 220 gen (changing the innards/coils and their gas tips).
Thank you both for the helpful advice! I will take that for action - need to disassemble the generator and have a look, but this is what I suspected. I will be back with whatever results I get.
@Norman has converted many Coleman lanterns to Kero. Also of interest will be the make your own cup story from @ColinG here: Coleman 128c table lamp Otherwise I would have thought one from a 214 would do the trick.
Good, good. I think I have settled on the new generator and spring, as well as the preheater style. Don't have the tools to make my own cup. While I am waiting for the new stuff to roll in, I am taking a crack at the tarnish on the brasswork. Can anyone tell me why it resists steel wool? Seems awful tough!
The new “201” Preheater cups for sale all over the web are on the loose side, they don’t fit snug the generator like the old ones did (aka 247, 234 cups) like others said, change the innards from a 201 generator to your 220E5891 <—-(generator part number) and you are done. I have never converted one myself but I have read a lot about it.
Just one question; why set it up for kerosene at all? In my opinion, gasoline in one of these Coleman lanterns is safer than a Tilley burning kerosene, etc. lot of safety features go into one of the Coleman lanterns. I guess I missed the point, as usual…
I want to set it up for kerosene because: Kerosene has a much lower flashpoint and is safer to handle and store. And kerosene is a bit cheaper than coleman camp fuel. Coleman fuel currently sells for about $17 a gallon. Kerosene is 'only' $10 a gallon. Yes, gasoline is the cheapest of all. But it requires a special generator so as not to become fouled with the additives found in unleaded gas these days. And it still has a high flashpoint.
Another aspect is the smell of the exhaust gases. Gasoline or CF smell is more repelling than kero fumes. Kero lanterns i use as well indoors. CF lanterns only if the run really perfect. I don't like the faint smell of unburnt gasoline. Kero smell is much less disturbing.
I have a 220e that I just put a preheater cup on and changed the cardboard tube in the generator to some copper stranded wire and it runs fine on kero. You can use the pricker assembly to fine tune the fuel at the tip if you need to. I'm at about 1200 ft above sea level. If you're higher up your mileage may vary.
What @bp4willi said; the 220 gen tube, a brass or copper spiral and in addition the needle and gas tip from a 200A. The original 220 gas tip will cause a very rich mixture. Part of the advantage of kero is the longer run-time per fount of fuel which you will forego by using the 220 gas tip. Sometimes it is necessary to mod the f/a tube so that it acts as a straight pickup tube: Take out the needle and block off the air holes. This is because kero has a higher viscosity than CF and sometimes but not always you get some air coming up into the gennie with the fuel. YMMV on that score.
I am about to do the same. , Has anyone actually done this. One says to gut the Genny add copper wire and a preheated cup, , then needle and gas tip change is added. Just solidifying my plans.
I didn't change the needle and gas tip in mine. I did replace the cardboard in the generator with the stranded wire and added the preheater cup. You can then use the tip cleaner to adjust brightness at the mantles by partially obstructing the tip if you like.
Ok thank you.did you just use a length of copper strand or a premade one? Can't wait to get this done lol. This place is another hole.
I stripped the rubber off of a scrap of wire I saved from an extension cord my dog chewed up as a pup. Idk how long a piece I use on each one, maybe an inch and a half. I just wrap until it looks right and trim the rest. Automotive type wire would do fine as well. Here is where I found my info on it and I give all credit to Nevada-Ed at the CCF. It works great whether you're running kerosene or Coleman fuel, Salvaging a generator - The Coleman Collectors Forum
Well , the preheat cup is ordered. I have a pile of wire to use. Thanks , I will come back with my results in a couple weeks, trying to pick up a few lanterns and work is picking back up to insane levels.
