Here's my Blanchard 1000 which has waited patiently for around 10 years for me to fettle the broken vapouriser tube on the burner. This example has an all brass tank and a porcelain insert in the pump knob. Note the small dent to the left of the pressure release screw. Henry.
Hi Pete, yes it runs well though I have to build pressure slowly at first, otherwise it tends to flares a little even though I use 10 or 12 mils. of spirit to preheat it. Patience is definitely a virtue ! I did have some fumes escaping from where the needle control shaft comes out of the burner - what a stink. Just as well "The Management" is away for the weekend. Not wanting to try and stretch the spring and risk breaking it, I used a horseshoe washer from a Tilley pump leather assembly as a shim between the spring and sleeve which the control knob fastens onto. Not perfect but much much better. Henry.
Henry, you can safely stretch the spring on the picker pin spindle with out fear of it breaking, just remove the spring and with the back of an old knife, just insert it between a few coil's and just give it a gentle twist. That should add all the tension you need to cure the escaping fumes, not to much or the spindle won't turn at all. If the worst was to happen, don't worry I've got springs hear. Jim
Hi Jim, Thanks for that tip, I'll give it a try. Since my last post, I've had a go at re-seating the needle control spindle using a light smear of fine valve grinding paste which I then cleaned out with cotton wool buds dipped in paraffin before doing the same with Autosol metal polish. Now, there isn't even an odour, let alone a "stink" and it burns much brighter too. Henry.
