Hi guys, Great forum - lots of information. I am a total novice to pressure lanterns. Despite this I have just acquired a late-manufacture Austramax 3/300 brand new and in the box. If you're thinking it's the one with the stainless steel base and the plastic release valve, you'd be deadset correct. My problem is that the directions are vague. Here's what I've been doing - Step 1 - Preheat the thingy by filling the cup with metho and lighting it. Step 2 - Wait until the metho flame dies, then give it a couple of pumps to pressurise. Step 3 - I've then been opening the pressure release valve in an attempt to douse the flames, then I've been leaving it in the middle of the back lawn until it goes out. Problem - pumping the valve two or three times is causing oil to literally drip down through the mantle. Doesn't matter if I pump it twice or ten times. This causes a flareup every single time and happens regardless of whether the metho in the preheating pan is almost completely burnt up or not. Any suggestions would be most appreciated since there are no instructions for the Austramax 3/300 which provide a step by step leading to anything other than flare up and a strong desire to kill said lantern with a 32oz ball pein hammer. I'm too young to have "used one as a kid" so I'm coming at this technology from a complete standing start. Cheers
Here is how I light my Austramax (almost brand new - same as yours): 1. Make sure the pricker knob points down. 2. Unscrew the pressure release valve (red thingy) a few turns. 3. Make sure the kerosene is not too full (500ml is enough). 4. Fill the spirit jar with metho and light. 5. Let it burn for 2 mins then tighten the pressure release, and pump 15 to 20 times to get the mantle glowing. 6. When the metho has burned out completely, steadily pump (70 pumps with 500mm is the maximum). It should be very bright! See how this goes. Let me know if there is any weirdness at any of these stages. Cheers Tony
Greetings, Okay you have got it all wrong. The mantle has to be placed on first and lit so it burns into a white colour. Caution because after that it is now brittle. The control knob I assume is the one with an arrow shape. Ensure that the point end is upwards. Closed Make sure the red plastic knob on the filler cap is closed and the cap tightened. Now without moving the knob pump the lantern about 10-15 times only. Fill the dish completely with metho. I am assuming you have filled the tank with kerosene!. Light the metho. Wait until the metho is nearly gone and slowly open the knob by turning it downwards. Open The mantle should light. Then give it another 15 of so pumps. Note If it appears to be losing its brightnes rotate the control 360degrees. That way the pricker can clear the jet. To turn it off release the pressure by opening the red plastic knob on the filler cap. See how that goes. Peter
That's hilarious, Tillio! Two opposite methods... I always leave the pricker down (arrow down) because of the warning in the manual to not turn it 'up' until the lamp is hot (to protect the thin wire 'needle', I presume). And I don't tighten the release valve, because with the needle down the meths will cause the kero to exit the vaporiser... Cheers Tony
Peter: Most times that method will work, but the cleaning needle is not designed as a valve and you can get kero coming past it. That's why the accepted starting method is to pump first when hot.
... By the way, if anyone wants a set of instructions for Austramax lamps I can PDF them to you tomorrow (6 August). http://0flo.com/index.php?posts/42704 Cheers Tony
In my opinion Tonys method is the best way on anything that are going to be started that uses liquid fuel. Lamp, stove, blow torch or whatever. You do not need to know if it has a valve or if the valve is leaking. You only wait until the alcohol is soon to be burned out and you close the pressure release valve and pump a few strokes to see that the mantle start to light. If not you open the pressure release valve and release the little air you just have pumped in and make a second preheat. If the mantle lights up normal you wait a little so the vaporizer is heated up fully and than you pump it up. This will give you no surprises when starting something with liquid fuel. Michael
