Please can someone point me in the right direction as I am confused what I am doing wrong! My lamp is an Anchor 500cp which I bought over 10 years ago for an expedition trip I was planning. The lamp has never worked successfully from the day I bought it. The initial problem was that the lamp would flare after being lit for about 10 mins, almost as if there was not enough heat being generated. (Please note that I am using anchor mantles) I have stripped the lamp down numerous times (this may have been my undoing) to find the problem but to no avail. More recently I learnt that the pricker was protruding through the jet to far, aha I thought. So the height was duly adjusted and hey presto the lamp was working much better, remaining lit for prolonged lengths of time, however, instead of a bright white light, I've got an orange light. The cause of this seems to be the flame is burning outside of the mantle. Closing the valve just results in no fuel flow and the lamp goes out. (I'm guessing that these are kind of on or off anyway) The vaporiser tube will also glow cherry red which leads me to think it's burning too hot. I am currently at a complete loss as to what to do with it and I'm hoping that someone can help and save my embarrassment when I next camp with the Scouts!! I would like to get this lamp sorted as I know that when it works, it is much much brighter than a Tiley lamp.
From what I have seen posted here before the jet may be enlarged and letting in too much fuel. The air gap setting can also make it misbehave. Others here will have more detailed knowledge.
Hello, this design can be a bit testing on a man's soul sometimes but since you have had it running correctly already it should not be too difficult. Check that the jet on the tight on the vaporizer and that the nozzle is tight on the burner tube. Both of these have a tendency to come loose fairly regularly. So long as you have plenty of air pressure in the lamp and the air tube baffle adjusted it shouldn't glow, I would guess that it's related to one of the two items above.
Thanks for the reply's. I pump the air pressure to a point above the red line on the pressure gauge before lighting and try to maintain it. The air tube baffle you refer to, is that the tiny 'blade' in the vaporizer tube just above the nozzle? That doesn't seem to make any difference at the moment. The vaporizer tube is adjustable above the jet, what height should it be set at? I see that Tiley lamps have a 'gauge' to set this. The paperwork that ame with the lamp doesn't explain much t all. I'm going to order a new jet, pricker and some more mantles (have destroyed what I had)and see what happens. Fingers crossed
The vaporizer tube is the one with the loop around the mantle the mixing tube is the one where the air and fuel from nipple mix (J shape) this is where you sometimes get burnback from slow pricking or impurities in fuel The air gap (500CP) is 13.5mm from top of nipple. Hope this helps. You can test burn without a mantle
But not for too long. The vaporiser loop doesn't get enough heat and the base plate could get too much heat. But it is still a good way to check the flame before 'wasting' a mantle. The height of the mixing tube is important and Graham has given the gap. All parts should be tight as has also been mentioned. It is possible that the jet has become worn if the needle was not clearing it properly when it was down. These are good lamps that work well when set up correctly and everything is tight.
Welcome aboard! The most likely cause of that problem is an enlarged jet, perhaps you should obtain a new jet and try it, Jeff.
If you wish to check the air gap and you don't have the wrench that would have come with the lantern, you can use a 13mm or 13.5mm drill bit. Make sure the needle is down, put the shank on top of the jet and adjust the height of the air tube so it just sits on top of the drill shank.
Here is a guide that will give all you need to know about those lanterns, very well written and with pictures.... http://light.papo-art.com/tech-n-info/Petromax_technical/restore_pmax_rebuild.html#Chapter_5_-_Adjustment_of_the_gen%3Fs_rod
Thanks for the replys. The link to the Petromax pictures is very helpful and does seem to suggest that the jet has become enlarged. Will report how I get on once the parts have arrived!
