I'm trying to remove the leather from the pump but the two washer type pieces holding the leather are stuck. Is there a tool to get it off? How do you guys get it off?
Now David, get your mind out of the gutter and help the man. Sam, I regret that I don't have an answer for you.
My Anchor lantern has a bolt there I can take off with a socket but the old Petromax has that stupid washer that's driving me crazy.
Yeay, I got it removed. I just used two vise grips to muscle it off but left some scars on the brass rod.
Me, answer a question about Petromax lanterns? - you have got to be kidding! Most people here have forgotten more about Petromaxes than I'll ever know... I've just looked at a Hipolito H-502 Automatic which is the nearest to a P'max that I have handy. The pump leather appears to be held on by a circular metal washer with two flats either side:- I'd be using a pair of pliers to unscrew it - but you don't have to be Stephen Hawking to work that one out, so presumably the P'max is different... Edit - just noticed the man's removed it already...
My Petro looks just like that and I already tried the pliers without success. This was an old crusty Petro that probably never had the pump leather changed before, that's why it was stuck.
As ever brute force and ignorance tend to work best. Shove the pump end in a blow lamp flame and after the leather is burnt off get the metal dull red hot and quench in cold water. You will find the the bits are hand tight after that. ::Neil::
Yeah in ths game your blow lamp is often your best friend. Heat and quench will free off stuck threads every time. Burns out hard rubber from filler caps as well. ::Neil::
Well, this had a big fat fairly fresh mantle on it which suggests I may have had it lit before. Notwithstanding that, I had a fancy to try it out tonight:- Left, with flash; right, without It lit without bother and was awesomely bright i.e. OK as long as you didn't look directly at it, otherwise glaring. However, it ran for over an hour without getting black-mantle disease - amazing for me and these P'max clones...
