Hi First of all i thank you for this forum, and ask you to have som patience with me =) I found a primus nr 981 and a optimus 350cp in my wifes grandfathers basement and took them! And now i have som problem operating them since iv never actually seen a preasure lamp before, but thanks to this forum iv read up on them. The optimus 350cp shouldent be a problem since it has a simpler construction. Its the 981 im having problems with. The quick starter is leaking, and because of that the burner doesent get the temperature high enough to get the lamp going. I thought i should ask here for tips before i startet disable it. So, how do i solve this? Regards Antonio Herrero
Hello Antonio, I'm afraid I'll be no help. But no doubt that someone will come along shortly with a spot on answer for you. Welcome to the forum and congratulations on a couple of very nice finds.
Hello Antonio and welcome aboard! Those are 2 fine lanterns to start your collection with, have you pressure tested them to check that the seals are okay? Does your Primus 981 have a meths torch? If so, then pre heat the lantern with meths. The link below shows a 981 and the meths torch can be seen, Jeff. http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/508
Welcome to the forum Antonio. A nice pair of lanterns you have found. They look to be in good condition for their age. The Primus must be from 1938 or 1939 and the Optimus looks like it will be from the late 50s or early 60s. I can see you do not have the alcohol preheater cup fitted to the 981 so the quick starter is the only option. Where is it actually leaking from? Knowing that could point in the right direction for finding a solution.
Wow thanks for all the answers. The 981 comes with a sort of torch yes, its exactly the same lamp that Christer writes about here http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/508 He also has uploaded a video on youtube to show it, great stuff How do i pressure test it? I guess that what i have done, when the pressure gets up it starts leaking from the torch. Check out my photo, iv marked the place where it leaks Regards Antonio
It looks like it is leaking around the shaft of the quick lighter. This would indicate that the gland nut is not tight or that it needs more packing. Originally they used graphite packing but twisted teflon tape (plumbers tape) works well. To remove the gland nut you will have to remove the lever. Yours is the older flat metal style that is held on with a nut on the end of the shaft. The lever also fits onto a tapered section so can be very tight to remove. Be careful not to bend the shaft or break the lever. After the lever is off it is almost self explanatory to remove the gland nut and fit more packing. A leak test is when you pump up pressure when the lamp is empty and then put in a bucket of water. That will show you if there are any leaks.
Actually my lamp also had a leak at that very same position. I tightened the gland nut pretty hard, and it almost stopped. Not entirely, but enough to make the lantern useable. It just might seep a tiny bit of paraffin now. I don't want to tighten it further, so I am about to exchange the grafite one of these days.
Again, thanks for the answers! So, tightening the bolts stopt the leaks, moving on to next problem Now, it doesent seem to come any gas out of the torch? did me fettling with the bolts mess that up? Regards Antonio
It shouldn't. My first guess is that the orifice of the torch just has been obstructed. Perhaps your tank wasn't cleaned out thouroughly enough? Lanterns with quick-starters came with cleaning needles for the little hole where the paraffin squirted out. (I'm not sure if jet is a correct word for these non-exchangeable "holes"?) Anyway, try to clean this little hole out first. You'll need to lift the top, the inner "hood" with the mixing tube, the glass and then unscrew the flame forming tube of the torch. Prick the orifice ("jet") with a suitable wire. Normally these are around 0.2 mm., or so. If you don't have a suitable wire, you might just take out the cleaning needle for the regular jet of the lantern, and use that one to gently clear your quick lighter. It's small enough.
Hi You were right, the hole was obstructed by some dirt. But, after some more fettling with the old leak i pulled the bult round, so now i cant get if off to replace the packing. I immagine spare parts is pritty hard to come by, any tips? /Antonio
There are some spares available. I guess it's the deformed gland nut you're after? Fogas might very well have them. (www.fogas.se) They are in Älvsjö, so probably not too far from you?
Hi Thanks again, fogas had great stuff. They dident have any ready servicepacks for the 981, do you know if parts from another model will fit? I think i read somewhere on the forum about that. Sorry for the 100 questions, im starting to feel a bit irritating i really like the lamp! I posted a pic marking the bolt witch is round. Regards Antonio
Hi This one is supposed to fit! http://www.fogas.se/shop/2036---munstycke-till-primus-991/ fogas in only 3km from my home luckily! /Antonio
That's the main jet. It has nothing to do with the quicklighter you are having problems with. The jet is only needed if it's worn, and I'm not sure you have run your lantern enough to judge that yet? That nut you have gotten round aren't the one you shall tighten to tighten up the gland. It's the smaller hex closest to the lever. It compresses the grafite against the spindle. The larger hex is just seated against a metal rim inside the torch and makes a seal that way. Take a look at this cross section from the patent: View attachment 24432 Regarding the jet at Fogas; The jet for 981 was originally called 6438, while the one for the 991 was called 6348, but I actually think that they are made exactly the same, so it is probably correct as it says on Fogas that it fit both lanterns.
Yes, that's correct. No. 19 compresses the grafite (No.20) to make a good seal against the rotating spindle (III). If you have a leaking gland, that is. It is of course possible that the paraffin can leak under the larger nut (17) aswell, but since it's obvious that that one is tightened up very hard, it's not so likely. So you could try to tighten 19 a bit more if it's not too tight already. Just don't use too much force. If that should be needed, you rather should change the packing inside according to Nils´ post above. And if everthing fails, you always have the easy option to just simply remove the entire quick-lighter and plug the hole in the tank with a tapered screw! Then you just need to add the normal meths cup instead, and use alcohol for a gentle and nice preheating.
Great! I screwed the buld a bit tighter, now it deosent leak when the leaver is closed. But, when i open it to light the torch it starts spraying all over from the bolt. So, of to get some plumer tape it is =) Ill take a ride to fogas tomorrow! I will post pics once i get i working. One final question, can the glowing mantle (is it called that? glödnät in swedish) get old? /Antonio
As long as the mantle is intact, it should work. Age is seldom a problem, but they will break sooner or later. Even a tiny hole in it can produce a sharp and hot flame that might crack your glass, so take a good look of the condition of the one you still has on your lantern. You might just as well buy a couple of new mantles if you are going to Fogas. They will come in handy sooner or later. And I wouldn't be surprised if they also has the graphite for your quick-lighter, so you might not need to use the plumbers tape. Good luck!
Jeff- I'm having a language barrier problem-when you say "Meths torch" you mean the little alcohol preheating cup right? Not the rapid preheater? I ask because the rapid preheater uses atomized kerosene, not alcohol, which I presume is what you mean by "meths". Over here we would call the rapid a "torch" VBW Dan
Hello Dan, yes, that's correct, but there are several designs of the alcohol cup and torches are also used. I shall add a photo of a Tilley meths torch and a link which shows an early Coleman meths torch. Jeff.
Hello Dan, the link below is for a page on Terry's Marsh's website and if you scroll about halfway down the page, then you will see what a Coleman meths torch looks like. Jeff. http://tgmarsh.faculty.noctrl.edu/lantern/coleuslampbeforemid1920s.htm
