Need help with lighting up a Primus 1020 from 1936

Christer,

The flames didn´t came through the mantle at all. It was just the alcohol in the cub which was heating up.
We used the mantle which we bought at Fogas, so this shouldn´t be a problem.
We also cleaned the jet and it looks normal. From what we can see the air tube is clean.

 

WAUW, we tried again and succeeded!! thx for all the help, esp. Crister. Se photo (sorry but the glas is upside down)

One question is left: we think the lantern is shining not so brite we thought is should be. Any comments?

 

First, congratualtions on getting it going.

How much have you pumped it? You should be able to get 40-50 pump strokes in them. Basically just keep pumping until your thumb hurts.

It could also be because the jet needs pricking. Even with a clean lamp, when it starts and gets hot there could be some small residue that carbonises and then gets stuck in the jet. Not blocking it off, but reducing the hole.

 

Good man! Now your hooked.
It's fun and satisfactory to struggle with a non-working lamp, and then suddenly getting it to work, don't you think?

I was also about to suggest the pricker when it comes to your weak light.
When a jet is starting to get clogged - and it will eventually do that, even in a perfectly running lantern - the light starts to dim, just like yours.
Just a quick operation of the cleaning needle, and the light turns bright at an instant!

Since you said that your lantern missed that needle, I would suggest that you'd try to find one.
Perhaps Fogas has them, but I don't know.

 

Fogas does have the cleaning needle on stock, so that´s okay.

Thx again for all the help.

Our next project shall be an Optimus 930.

 

Come to think about a thing regarding the needle!
You wrote: "...we decided to unscrew the ''munstyck''. We expected to find the cleaning needle but it wasn't there..."
-I assume that you atleast had the rod there?
It shall be clearly visible just under the rim of the vaporizer after un-screwing the jet, even if you miss the needle itself.
If you didn't saw anything down there at all, you also miss the cleaning needle rod (Part no. 6157 - rensnålsstång in the link to Fogas I supplied earlier).
You probably knew this, but I thought I'd better mention it, just in case...

 

No, it´s not the cleaning needle rod... found it when we were cleaning it. T-yellow is quite expensive and I have already used half the bottle, so I´ll order paraffin at the nearest Fuel Station.

 

Just a quick question... what is the difference between a (product number) 6132 and a 6131?

6131 is the cleaning needle for a primus 1020, but where's the 6132 for?

 

6132 is not a part number I know. Got to be in the catalogues but from what info I have here it is not a jet or a pricker. I have a file here which gives all the jet and pricker part numbers for all the lamps. I would post it here but it is an Excel file which will not post to be readable. ::Neil::

 

Hi Neil, it sounds like an interesting list.
You could always attach the Excel in the form of a ZIP-file.

 

You have to be joking. I can just about manage to attach Jpegs. Things like PDF and Zip just don't work for me when I try to upload them here. I will bung you the file though and you can load it in here if you wish. ::Neil::

 

Thanks Neil!
I got the file. It's a good thing to have these parts compiled into one document. It saves alot of searching through different catalogues.
I might try to upload it. I guess the Catalogue and Parts section would be the proper place.

Cheers,
Christer

 

I know it saves me a deal of time searching for the right parts for a lamp. I spent a deal of cash a few years back and bought some of every jet and pricker Fogas had so I could probably fettle any Primus lamp that rocked in. I had made the list so I could make up the order and found it handy to have available so I retained the file. Wants posting if you can. ::Neil::

 

Yes, it's a handy thing to have so we will absolutely post it.
Ross might turn it into a PDF file and put it in the Primus spare parts section.
PDF is better, because most people have Acrobat Reader, or similar, installed, so they can always see those documents.
Excel is not that common.
Keep an eye out for it.

 

My Primus 1020 marked AC30 won't light up properly at all. This is my first Primus and maybe I am doing something wrong.

I cleaned the vaporizer and removed lots of carbon but after preheating vigorously I still get very, very bad flare ups. I switched from paraffin to spiritus and now it kind of burns on very low pressure (2-3 strokes) but very dimly.

Any hints on what else I can try?

Cheers,
Götz

 

That certainly sounds like the jet is way too big. It could even be that there is an alcohol jet fitted for some reason. At least that would be the first place to check.

 

Do you have any other paraffin lamps that you could compare the jet & pricker needle size to?

 

Yes, I did and the jet & pricker both seem to be pretty big. The bore of the jet is bigger than a 500CP Petromax jet.

Maybe it is indeed an alcohol jet & pricker. What would I need to do to run it properly on alcohol?

Regards,
Götz

 

The alcohol conversion also included a restrictor in the end of the air tube. This was just a short brass tube with the correct diameter hole that was crimped into the end of the tube. The alcohol models that started out as such also had a short section of the cleaning needle rod that could be screwed off and a small brass mesh disc fitted that was flush with the inside of the vaporiser tube. I believe the alcohol jets had a hole around 0.3mm where as a kerosene jet should only have a hole of 0.19mm.

 

I've heard that they work best in Cambridgeshire....

 

They don't work in Great Lumley, that's for sure...

 

With a new jet and pricker it Runs very well now. 8)

 

That's good news!

 

That looks like the way a 1020 should work.

Is the spirit cup one you have adapted yourself?

 

I really do love these Primus lamps, really solid. I still never got around to check the overheating of my third one mind. Greetings from Ireland.

 

I am working on a 1020 right now and this discussion really was a big help in fettling mine. I forgot that these lanterns do not have a positive shut off, so there is always some air escaping from the jet.

After doing a dunk test, I found that I have a check valve leak so will try soaking it in carburetor cleaner or something similar. If that does not work then time for a new check valve.

I am sure I can get it running properly, even though I am an American and this is a Swedish lantern! The explanations and photos are a big help. I learn something every time I work on one of these. Thanks to Nils, Christer, David, Mackburner and all the other more knowledgeable members on this site for all their great advice.

Jake

 

I'm also sure you will get it running!
There's not many lanterns that are so simple and easy to work with as the 1020.

The check valve you mention. I assume you mean the one at the bottom of the pump tube (the nrv)?
You can always try to 'flush' it first.
Just pour some kerosene in to the tube, re-install the pump and push all the kerosene through the check valve with one push.
Sometimes it helps. Not often, but it's worth a shot.
If not, you probably need to remove the valve and service it. New rubber pip, etc.. Or get a new valve and put in there.

Good luck!

 

Yes sorry, I meant the NRV. I forgot it is called that in the rest of the world. I will try the kerosene soak and flush. I need to purchase a tool for removing it. Fogas is probably a good place for that?

Jake

 

If they will post to you - they seem to not like dealing outside the EU now. VAT/Sales tax issues I think. I have had sucess with larger screwdrivers...

 

It's easy to make your own. One option is to find an old ½" socket extension that is long enough to reach the bottom of the pump tube, then cut a 5mm wide and 4 - 5mm deep slot in the end. Make sure the edges are nice and straight and sharp.