I'm mixing and matching parts on this Italian Solex with my Chinese Solar. Should I try it with a mantle, is it worth wasting one? or should I try to get a nice tight blue flame instead of the yellow mush?
Yes, I might try a judicious hammer! -Make a ball end drift and tap the jet inside to see if the orifice will close up a little, -does anyone do that? Though before that I'll try swapping the jet (on this Solex) for the one on the Solar. (The jet is tight).
Depending on what the rated output is (200, 250, 300 or 500) you should be able to find a replacement jet easy enough. Peening the existing jet orifice is possible (so i hear) but it seems hit and miss at best - far easier to buy a replacement. You'll find them listed on eBay under replacement petromax jets or anchor lantern jets, but they should fit so long as the threads are the same. Most petromax 'clones' used compatible parts. Also, you often come across lanterns that someone has tried to fix without knowing what they're doing and it can be hard to figure out the resulting mess they've left behind. For instance, they might have replaced the original jet with an oversized one and it can take a while to determine what's happened! Anyway, im sure you'll sort it out and when you have, we'll need some photos!
That's interesting Rob, I'll try that. I found that the jets for the Solar and the Solex are slightly different heights. I had to make a copper washer to fit under the shorter one to lift it so that the needle would go over TDC. Maybe I should revert to the other jet and try to adjust the air gap.
The correct way is to adjust the needle rod, ideally so that when the needle is up, it protrudes between 0.5 and 1.0mm.
