So I picked up my first Petromax last week, but I've hit a snag in getting the preheater working properly. Both side orifices will pass air if the lantern is sitting still and will pass fuel if the lantern is gently shaken. As you can see though, the center jet (if it actually has one) seems to be blocked. So naturally, I tried to unscrew the rapid preheater from the fount, so I could clean everything. But when I went to unscrew it, I found that the shutoff mechanism wouldn't clear the fount and seems to be press fit onto the preheater. I can't seem to find any info on how (if it's even possible) to disassemble it. The question is, is there a good way to disassemble it, or should I leave it alone and try to clean it another way? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Here is a parts list attached, so you can imagine how to disassemble the preheater. There ist one Hole in the middle of part 221 you should clean careful. And there are three holes in the part 224 (the inner for kerosene, the two oute for air flow), you should also clean careful. Also this link could be helpfull: a technical description on how to perform a complete cleaning and restoration of a PETROMAX 829 500 - Pelam.de Forum Regards - Steven
@MantleMonger All parts can be dismantled with the help of two well-fitting wrench. The parts are not pressed. You have to completely disassemble and clean the parts because the riser pipe and the intake filter are often clogged.Mechanically with wire or with an ultrasonic bath,if you have one. It often happens that the small holes are worn out and the mixture of fuel and air is no longer correct.Then you have to replace part 224 or the entire connector 225.
You can download the restoration instrucions as a complete PDF-file from this site: http://www.eschaefer.de/hobbys/starkl/px-rest.pdf Good luck.
Parts 223 and 224 are definitely pressed together on my example. I can provide more pictures if it would help I'm just trying to figure out a good way to separate 223 from 224 so I can unscrew the whole assembly from the fount.
That was it, thanks. The nut on top was lined up so well with the bottom, that it just looked like one solid piece.
Good. I hope you sort it out. I have one similar (a Hipolito 502) and I prefer to light it using the meths cup but the rapid is always there for an emergency.
When cleaning the rapid make sure the tiny holes in the body part are clear. And check the fuel pick up tube for cracks and connection. Off coarse the small seeve on the lower end must be clear too. The pick up tube and seeve can be screwed off but make sure that whatever grip you use doesn't squeeze the tube flat. A crack in the pick up tube will cause problems too: it will suck the air out of the tank top part also in stead of fuel.
I'm a newbie and just went through this preheater issue on my recently acquired Petromax. After it was all said an done, I ended up just replacing the whole pre-heater/lever assembly. After cleaning it out, it still wouldn't burn correctly. I think the mixture was off due to someone enlarging the orifices with the wrong size wire. That and the fact that the new replacement pip, #229 from the Petromax kit, was longer than the original by about .050" causing misalignment and leakage. If you get yours burning correctly, you could probably add a washer between the lever and the pre-heater to correct this misalignment. Since I'm in the US, I ordered the Petromax replacement parts kit from Lehmans.com and the Pre-heater assy from Britelyt.com. Many of the Britelyt parts will fit the Petromax. They respond to Email quickly if you have any questions on compatibility. Basecamp has Petromax replacement parts, but are in Germany Petromax Spares Price List If this is your first Petromax, you are in for a real learning experience. Fortunately the guys in this forum are very knowledgeable and helpful. Good luck.
Hi @Paul R basecamp are here in the uk but there are also good German suppliers of course stuga cabana comes to mind
I once had to grind down a wrench so that it is thin enough to fit into the bottom hex: You need to hold the bottom hex in place with a thin wrench while you work loose the top nut with another wrench. Otherwise, the whole preheater bracket will turn together until it forces against the fount's side as in the picture.
Thanks for the advice. I was fortunate enough to find a wrench in my tool box that was already the right thickness to get under there.
If you don't have the spanner/gauge wrench, probably be a good idea to pick one up. It's handy to have around when working on the lantern and is needed to remove the nut holding the knob on.
