I'm working on Thomas Kerosafe lamp with a generator that has packing. My question is if I blow through one end, should air pass easily or at all? I keep messing with this thing and have started to wonder if the heat is supposed to suck the kero through to the burners. Any info would be great.
@Parkguy . The packing is there as a reducer, to allow the mantle to heat up the generator to turn the fuel to a gas, and out through the jet. The packing my be aspestos. Care to be taken if you are thinking of removing it or substitute. Not sure what your lantern looks like but the contents under pressure will be pushed out not sucked up. Please post a picture or two. If you are trying to clean your generator. I would try soaking it for a day or so in acetone remove the jet will help soak, check the colour of the acetone to see if that is making a difference, I hope this helps.
Thank you. I have been heating and quenching it, running it through the ultrasonic cleaner, soaking in white has, etc. No luck so far. This album shows the lamp (right side). I have the tip clean but this gen is much different from the Coleman lanterns I crank out. Lamps
@Parkguy You can post photos directly to the post by using the “Upload a File” button, loading your photo and placing it in the post at the point where the curser is by clicking on the “Full Image” button. The packing is most likely asbestos. The blockage may be in the generator (build up of carbon) or a blocked jet. I always test the generator first without the nipple (jet; tip). Tony
I haven't found a generator yet that I couldn't get apart after repeated heating and quenching. Some take 10 cycles or more. I always replace the packing with some twisted bronze wool wrapped around the spring.
