I have two HandiLamp model 200’s, which I have refurbished to the best of my abilities thus far. They both seal and make pressure, hold pressure and light, but then suffer the black mantle after guttering. I have ‘serviced’ the generators, using heating and dunking, then some time in the ultrasonic cleaner. Both suffer from missing pricker wire. I believe this is the critical problem. One of them had the wire bent downwards and jammed in the jet. It broke off when I tried coaxing it into position and I never found it again. I have not been able to remove the pricker rod from the valve and I don’t know if it unscrews or some other method. I don’t want to break them by ham-fisting them out. I am asking for instructions on the removal and possible fettling of new prickles. I don’t have suitable wires, and I am not experienced in brazing skills. I have seen and enjoyed Darryl Durdins posts on pricker making and wonder how to proceed. I tried with Sands…no luck there.
I don't know your brand of lamp, but usually the picker can be loosened by unscrewing, it's a tiny, part,. I had a petromax lamp with the same issue, and I straightened the pricker, but after testing it, it was bent again, due to rough machining inside the jet, I smoothed the inside of the jet, and made a new pricker from a needle sewing treat thingy in my sewing kit
Hi there, @LesRiekie . You have a type 3 Handi kero pet. There is a few variations of the type 3. The Pricker needle and rod do not differ in length, I thick the wire is about a .03mm. Try to find a hypodermic needle . Like a diabetic insulin pic. Or get aqua puncture needles from eBay. Hollow brass tube 1mm/.5mm, hobby store. Micro tap thread cutter. Dose or has multi cutting taps. Your Pricker rod will unscrew. Lefty loose. Check your generator/ jet if it has a P stamped on it , it is a shellite fuel jet. The meth bowl suggests kero but not. Make your own crimping device. The generator has a coil spring like restrictor. You can remove it, heat and quench repeatedly. Gently remove the restriction. The pricker only needs to clear the jet. I have successfully replaced the restrictor with rolled fine brass mesh. I know it seems a lot but trial and error you will get there. It took me a while. I’m away from home for a week or to but when I’m home I’ll look up my records . The only difference in Pricker rod length is with the Handi Swiftlite v1 and 2, they are the great grandfather and grandfather of the Handi kero pet type 3, and it’s only a mm or two., it’s a different burner setup. I’ll help you out once I’m home. Handi lanterns are one of my favourite lanterns Vic Tipman RIP my mentor showed me the sun in a jar .
Thank you Darryl, and Loe. ‘first I will inspect and identify the lantern models and record any markings. Next I will attempt unscrewing the pricker rods and take measurements and comparisons. Then inspect the pricker stubs and take measurements of the rods and assess the construction ‘then look at the tools and supplies needed. ‘thank you for your replies. I will post photographs as I go
