Hi All, I need to take apart, service and put back together a petromax HK500 that I bought on ebay. I'm aware that there is a manual written by Rob Earl's but I can't seem to get hold of it. I've tried base-camp and Maidstone angling but to no avail. Does anyone know where I can purchase it? Thanks
As I remember Rob worked for Maidstone Angling so if they can't help then it might be difficult to find. I can copy you the instructions for a Hipolito lantern. Same as Petromax since they made both in the same factory for years. PM me with your email and I will send you a PDF. ::Neil::
Ah, that explains the link with Maidstone Angling, as I thought it was a bit random! I'll PM you with my mail address now. Thanks a lot. Dave
Interesting: the label says Use only kerosine (Nur für petroleum) and it has a straight gasoline vaporizer.....
I have that information plate on three of my Petromax that happen to be Bundeswehr issue. I have never seen it on my civilian ones. As regards the vapouriser, I never seen a one minus the loop. Which leads to the question...Is the loop essential?
That is a somewhat controversial subject. On the Primus 1020 burner, the vapouriser and burner cap are one monolithic unit with very efficient heat conduction. This results in very good fuel vapourization in a wide range of operating conditions. With the petromax design that excellent heat transfer from burner to vapouriser is lost and it is compensated for with the preston loop.
I know the Swiss Army discarded the loop in their Px 250, has there been any issue with these running on Kerosene I wonder?
The preston loop is for usinf kerosene, the straight one is for using gasoline at your own risk @eiremax , do you have evidence of this disgarding ? Written on paper I mean.
My personal experience with ex Swiss Army Petromax 250 lanterns with straight vapouriser is that they burn O.K. with kerosene as fuel BUT Carbon builds-up more quickly in a straight vapouriser than it does in one with a loop. When outside, they soon flare-up if there is a wind blowing. Henry.
Hello Mackburner would you be kind a send me your pdf file to restore my petromax lamp thanks in advance my e mail is jimufa@gmail.com
I have a wartime Px 2827 from the German army (1944) with a straight vap. The tag on the lantern collar indicates it's for gasoline, "B2827". I never burn gasoline in it since it has no positive shutoff valve. I want to keep it authentic so I left the original vap in the lantern. I rarely light it so it makes little difference about the fuel, therefore, I use kerosene. I have used a mixture of 60% kero and 40% gas and it was easier to light but I watch the damn thing like a "bird of pray" just in case.
@Milton See here for full restoration instruction for Petromax lanterns a technical description on how to perform a complete cleaning and restoration of a PETROMAX 829 500 - Pelam.de Forum
Hi guys. I live in Portugal and some of my oldest and nostalgic memories involve these lamps. When my brother told me he found and bought a used one, I jumped on the wagon. I found an original Petromax 821 for sale so I bought it. A couple of days later I found a pair of Hipolitos (a 250 and a 350) for a decent price so I bought them too). Crazy, I know... So, while I'm waiting for them to arrive, I'm starting to learn as much as I can about their cleaning, restauration and maintenance and everywhere I look, people talk about the Rob Earl's Petromax Service Manual but I can't find it for sale anywhere. Do any of you have a copy by any chance? And what spare parts site do you recomend in Europe? UK could be an option but just as a last resource, since any orders would have to go through customs. Thanks in advance.
Should be helpful: youtube, King ColeMan channel and "Restoring and Rebuilding a 1950s Petromax Lantern" Restoring and Rebuilding a 1950s Petromax Lantern (youtube.com) all the best, Piotrek
@Kabral : There is an easier way: look at my signature and find a very good restoration guide © made by : Jan Moeller and translated by: Erwin Schaefer, both from Germany.
Thank you, Wim. I received it today. As soon as I got it I started looking at the parts and how to disassemble it and got stuck in the handle. I will have to try and get some parts, but my first priority is the disassembly, so I can clean and evaluate what is on working condition and not. There's a inner screw on the parts that hold the handle, and I don't have any screwdriver that fits. Do you have any idea on what screwdriver I need? TIA
The carry handle stays on and "can not" be removed. Can't is relative to the force used. But not with a screwdriver. The visible end is deformed by a press to prevent removing it.
